As the new year encourages a fresh focus on health, a leading weight management platform is promoting an unexpectedly gentle form of exercise to help people achieve their fitness goals without exhaustion.
The Science Behind Slow Movement
The app, Simple, has introduced a guided 30-minute tai chi walking workout designed to merge mindful movement with light cardio. The company positions it as an accessible fitness solution for the colder months, avoiding the need for intense gym sessions.
Tai chi walking focuses on slow, controlled steps combined with deliberate breathing and postural awareness. While it may appear unconventional, proponents argue it builds strength, enhances balance, sharpens coordination, and can even support cognitive function.
According to Simple, effective fat loss is often achieved in 'Zone 1'. This state involves low-intensity activity that maintains the heart rate at 50% to 60% of its maximum. Alongside tai chi walking, activities like light jogging, swimming, Pilates, and yoga fall into this beneficial category.
Health Benefits and App Features
Scientific research supports the value of such mindful practices. One study in the American Journal of Medicine found that tai chi practitioners exhibited reduced levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone linked to blood pressure regulation. Elevated BNP is a significant indicator of heart strain and a powerful predictor of heart failure outcomes.
Furthermore, a pilot study noted participants were less stable during tai chi walking than normal walking. Researchers proposed this increased balance challenge could improve neuromuscular control over time, potentially reducing the risk of falls.
Simple complements its walking plan with a suite of tools for broader health management. These include a smart food scanner that analyses meals via a phone's camera and trackers for logging water intake, fasting schedules, workouts, and weight changes.
Subscribers also interact with Avo, an AI coach providing personalised recipe and exercise suggestions, and Blinky, a motivational digital companion. The app's blog describes Blinky as 'fluffy, intense, and adorably unhinged,' who thrives as users log their daily health data.
User Feedback and App Alternatives
Online reception for Simple has been largely favourable. The app holds a 4.3/5 rating from over 34,000 Trustpilot reviews and a 4.7/5 score on the App Store. Users frequently commend its flexible approach and motivational design.
One reviewer reported losing 25 pounds, stating it was the first sustainable weight management approach they'd found in adulthood. Another user praised the balance of simplicity and accountability, crediting the app for helping them lose 4kg in a month through intermittent fasting.
Some feedback was mixed, with a minor critique focusing on the inability to backlog meals, which could make daily logging appear inaccurate. However, other users highlighted the value of the AI coaching tools.
While Simple gains traction, other apps like MyFitnessPal for nutrition and Hevy for weight training remain popular choices for specific fitness goals.
Currently, Simple subscriptions are available with a 60% discount using the code 'REACH60', and a free starter plan is also offered. For those seeking a low-pressure fitness entry point, tai chi walking presents a compelling case that steady, mindful steps can lead to solid health gains.
