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March 2023

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This weekend, don’t miss out on the ultimate celebration of women’s health and wellbeing at the inaugural Women’s Wellness Festival hosted by The Wellness Insider Asia in Singapore. Taking place from March 3-5 around the vibrant AIBI Maxwell, this event is the perfect way to kick off International Women’s Day (March 8) with a bang! Immerse yourself in a dynamic and empowering atmosphere that champions women of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles.

Here are 5 things that are not to be missed:

1. Check out the Wellness bazaar

The festival village features female-focused vendors, from clothing brands to beauty products, from food & beverage to professional services.
Our favourite is, without a doubt, the CoolHaus stall, where you can try their delicious animal-free dairy ice cream. Both their classic Chocolate & their new flavour, Oolong tea, are available, and it would be a shame to miss out.

Coolhaus animal free icecream

2. Learn and enjoy specially curated wellness activities & workshops

Delve into over 16 exciting activities that will leave you feeling inspired and enlightened. On Saturday and Sunday, indulge in a wide array of sessions led by esteemed Singapore-based experts, including yoga, breathing classes, self-defence, nutrition, and more!
Note: Access to the Wellness Bazaar and informative talks are absolutely free, but some workshops & activities require tickets – More information here. 

3. Attend women’s empowerment talks

As it is shaped to be a celebration of womanhood, several talks around women’s well being personal growth will be taking place – and most of them are free to attend.

Our top picks are:

  • “Overcoming stress & burnout” (Saturday)
  • “Connecting Fertility & female sexual wellness” (Sunday)
  • “Building female confidence in the corporate world” (Sunday)

women wellness festival wellness insider stage

4. Catch the fashion show

Celebrating every body shape, The Fashion and Beyond (FAB) fashion show will be without a doubt one of the highlights of the festival.  The student stylists from Raffles Design Institute will showcase the latest trends and guide you on how to dress for your body type. From hourglass to apple, pear and beyond, this empowering show will give all women inspiration to feel confident and beautiful.

5.  Register for the Femmes First event by Ridenjoy

One of the sponsors’ of this year event is Ridenjoy, the digital mobility platform that aims to turn cycling into a game. They are organising on May 20th the first female-focused cycling event in Singapore: FEMMES First – with 3 routes to choose from, the event catters to all fitness levels, and promises a fun day out with friends.  Find out more at the festival or register online. 

 

Fore more information about the Women’s Wellness Festival, check out their website.

In recent years, and especially since the pandemic, the surge in the popularity of digital fitness apps and wearable fitness trackers has been hard to ignore. With features like workout tracking, goal setting, and gamification, these tools have made it easier than ever for people to monitor and improve their physical activity levels.
But with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know whether these apps are actually effective in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Let’s find out what are the benefits and risks of these apps, and if they do contribute to getting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. 

 

What are digital fitness apps and digital fitness challenges? 

Digital fitness apps are applications usually designed for mobile that offer various tools and resources to help individuals track, monitor, and improve their physical health and fitness.
These apps may include features such as step trackers, calorie counters, workout routines, nutrition guides, and gamification elements to make physical activity accessible, engaging and entertaining.
Most allow users to set fitness goals, monitor their progress and connect with friends or a community for social support and accountability. 

Some famous examples of consumer-oriented digital fitness apps include Strava or Pacer, but also more game-oriented apps, like Pokemon Go. 

For companies looking at developing their own fitness trackers, some specialised app development agencies, like SG-based District Technologies, focus on creating branded fitness challenge apps for brand activation, employee engagement or charities. 

It is also important to note that the segment is also looking at covering more than fitness, as the demand from consumers is shifting toward a more holistic vision of wellness & well-being.pokemon sleep fitness trackerMeditation apps have also increasingly gained popularity, with audio tracks and daily reminders.
Even more surprising, the new Pokemon Sleep app, where the user gets rewarded if they sleep and rest well every night, is a fascinating example of healthy behaviour gamification. 

 

What are the benefits of Digital Fitness apps? 

Promoting physical activity as part of a daily routine

Digital fitness apps can encourage individuals to become or stay physically active by setting goals, taking part in challenges, tracking progress, and promoting consistency with notifications and reminders.
Most of these apps include step trackers or GPS-based features for users to monitor their daily activity levels and encourage them to meet their targets. They can also b  linked to wearables (connected watches) for more accurate tracking. 

Making fitness more accessible and convenient

Digital fitness apps are widely accessible and can be downloaded easily on mobile phones, making them convenient for users to access anywhere and anytime.
These apps can be used as a complement to a fitness routine, or as a standalone – replacing an expensive gym membership or home equipment for some users.

Easy-to-read data to optimize progress tracking

These apps can help users track their progress and monitor their health and fitness goals. While some fitness trackers allow users to record and analyse their physical activity, some also offer to keep an eye on food intake, stress and sleep patterns, which provide valuable insights into users’ overall health and fitness.

Gamification to increase motivation

Many digital fitness apps use gamification elements, such as rewards and challenges, to motivate and engage users. These features create a sense of competition and achievement, which helps individuals stay committed to their fitness goals and maintain their physical activity levels over time.

 

Are digital fitness apps and challenges effective and transforming their users’ lifestyles? 

Yes, there is evidence suggesting that using fitness trackers and fitness apps can help people be healthier. Many studies have shown that these tools can effectively promote physical activity and healthy behaviours. For example, a review of 28 studies published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that using fitness trackers was associated with increased physical activity and improved health outcomes, including weight loss and cardiovascular health.
Another study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that people who used a digital fitness app were more likely to engage in physical activity and had more significant improvements in their fitness levels compared to those who did not use the app. Additionally, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who used a smartphone app to track their physical activity and diet had better weight loss outcomes than those who did not.

That said, there are also some limitations and risks associated with digital fitness apps.
The absence of fitness and health professionals involved fails to ensure that the participant is physically able to take part in virtual challenges, and some apps may not suit individuals with certain medical conditions or physical limitations.
Additionally, some programs may not provide reliable information and advice, leading to incorrect training (and therefore less or no result) or injury.
Keep in mind that everyone can develop a fitness app; no credential is required.
We would therefore highly recommend doing some research and selecting a reputable digital fitness app before use, especially if you fall under a population with specific health concerns.

Finally, a fitness challenge app should be an addition, but not a substitute for an overall healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, daily movement (8000 to 10000 steps a day) and regular physical activity. 

Despite these limitations, we can’t deny the effectiveness of digital fitness apps in promoting healthy lifestyle habits. As technology advances, these fitness apps and digital challenges will likely become even more personalised, effective, and accessible, making them an even more valuable tool for promoting physical activity and healthy living.