Work smarter not harder during your next workout!
By The Masala Team
Smart Jump Rope
Remember the rubber band jump ropes we used to play with when we were younger? Who would have ever thought that they would evolve into smart jump ropes (pictured above)! In comparison to traditional ones, when you use a smart jump rope, each complete revolution of the rope is recorded as a complete jump. By analysing this data, the rope can show you information about how many calories burned and how long you worked out for. With many variations available, one of the most recommended is the TANGRAM Smart Jump Rope Rookie (THB 1,890) that has an adjustable length and two handles. It’s battery powered and connects to your phone via Bluetooth to give you real-time updates about your workout progress.
The Apple Watch + Its New Features
Many consider the Apple Watch the ultimate all-in-one device, allowing you to track your health, emails, calls, texts among a plethora of other features like location sharing and listening to music and podcasts. First introduced in 2015, the newer devices (4, 5 and 6) now include more health-friendly features including an app called ECG that lets users track their heart’s rhythm and electrical activity. Functioning like an electrocardiogram, it’s a very handy addition for those who want a better understanding of their heart rate and to detect any abnormalities when exerting themselves. If you’ve got one of the newer watches, you can go ahead and install the option as it’s now available in Thailand!
Oura Ring
If you’re not a fan of smartwatches but are still looking for something you can wear on a daily basis to track your health insights, the Oura Ring is something to look into. Combining advanced sensor technology, the ring is linked directly to your phone to monitor things like heart rate, body temperature, movement, and sleep. When you’re awake it tracks your activities, but also collects nighttime data to let you know how well your body is resting. In terms of its hardware, it’s sturdy, has seven days’ worth of battery life, and it is waterproof! Prices depending on ring model ranges between USD 299 and USD 999.
Smart Weighing Scale
We all either own or have used a weighing scale at some point in our lives, but have you ever heard of a smart weighing scale? These scales don’t only measure your weight, but they can also track other details about your body. A smart weighing scale can also provide insights about body fat percentage, muscle mass, and bone mass. One of the most recommended and affordable smart scales on the market is the Eufy Smart Scale P1 (THB 1,290). It connects to your phone using Bluetooth so you can store all of your information in one place. It also allows you to track data for up to 16 different users!
Virtual Reality (VR)
We’re familiar with virtual reality (VR) in things like video games, but believe it or not, VR is also useful in several aspects of healthcare and exercise. In the medical community, VR can be used to distract a patient during procedures like chemotherapy and venepuncture, to help those suffering from mental health conditions like PTSD, and it can also be used by medical students to learn the human anatomy. When it comes to fitness, there are many applications and games available that will help you with aerobic exercise, endurance, meditating, and stretching. Beyond just getting your body to move, the apps are very immersive and introduce adventure aspects that can help motivate you to stop dreading exercise and even work out for longer. Examples include FitXR, Beat Saber, and Dance Central.
Smart Yoga Mat
Another revolutionary tool to add to your fitness arsenal, the YogiFi is the world’s first smart yoga mat. We’ve all been in the position where we’re exercising and we’re wondering “Am I doing this right?,” “How long should I hold this position for?,” “I can’t feel the stretch, are my muscles being stretched correctly?” Well, the smart yoga mat helps you tackle all of these questions. Combining integrated AI and computer vision technologies, this product can help you track your posture, give you real-time feedback, and personalise workout plans for you. It can also be paired with other devices including the Apple Watch for a look at your pre/post workout vitals, as well as Apple Pod and Google Home.
Smart Dumbbells
If you’re building a home gym, an entire rack of dumbbells can prove to be space-consuming. Enter smart dumbbells! Not only do they substitute a whole rack for just a pair, but you can adjust the weight from 2kg all the way up to 25kg with just a click of a button. They are definitely more expensive than traditional dumbbells but worth investing in for their sheer compactness and durability. Popular brands include PowerBlock and Bowflex, both of which offer a variety of dumbbells of all price ranges that you can choose from to best fit your needs. One of the most popular variations, the Bowflex SelectTech 560 Dumbbells (THB 18,030) can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and track your weightlifting progress!
Smart Clothing
With the integration of technology in the fashion industry, different types of smart clothing can help you track your performance and overall health. This ranges from sleepwear that can help enhance your sleep quality, to activewear that can monitor your biometrics! Programmed to track your physical attributes, heart rate, and range of emotion, smart clothing is ideal for athletes, people on diets, and patients with certain conditions who have specific fitness goals. One example is Wearable X, Nadi X Yoga Pants (THB 5,913), which contains inbuilt technology and create small vibrations on certain areas of the body to help you perfect yoga poses. It basically functions as a yoga instructor!
