Apps & Videos
What follows is a list of apps and videos that NHS Grampian staff have used to keep active.
Note that some of these recommendations have a fee attached to them, or may even be a subscription service.
NHS Grampian cannot officially recommend any of the commercial apps listed here as we have not researched them, however there are a huge variety and hopefully you will find something useful as the list covers all abilities. Youtube and other video sharing platforms are a great free resource and you might find something there that is perfect to get you motivated.
Aberdeen Sports Village Workout Videos
Aberdeen Sports Village have produced over 80 workout videos for all levels of fitness including family fun fitness sessions, stretch and tone, fitness yoga:
https://www.youtube.com/user/AbdnSportsVillage
British Heart Foundation- 10-minute workout
BHF Physical Activity Specialist Lisa Young offers tips on how you can be active every day, and demonstrates a 10-minute workout you can do in your living room.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/activity/10-minute-workout
Couch to 5k
A free NHS England programme to get a complete beginner running a 5k distance over a period of 9 weeks. It is available as an app and a series of podcasts.
Couch to 5K: week by week - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
The Conqueror Virtual Fitness Challenge app
This gives you virtual challenges to improve your motivation, from walking the distance of the English Channel (21 miles) to routes in excess of thousands of miles. Unlike World Walking this is not free, it costs £25 to enter the English Channel competition for example (the longer routes look better value for money!). You do receive a physical medal on completion of each challenge.
https://www.theconqueror.events/get-the-app/
Discover Deeside
Discover the real Macbeth with a new app for Lumphanan. Go on an interactive historical journey around Lumphanan with Macbeth, King of Scotland, as your tour guide using the Discover Deeside app. Search for ‘Discover Deeside’ on the iTunes App store, Android or Google play and download. Then head to some of the village’s key sites, such as the Peel Ring and Macbeth Stone, to find out more through an augmented reality!
Discover Deeside (lumphanan.com)
End to End Run
Virtual challenges for corporate companies, general public, schools and race organisers.
FIIT APP
A subscription service which does have a 2 week free trial option. Offers over 600 online classes and more than 20 training plans
Fitness Studio exercise videos
Free NHS recommended workouts, and a great companion to Couch to 5k
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/?tabname=aerobic-exercise
General Iyengar Yoga class
Jane Walker, an NHS consultant and Iyengar yoga teacher, takes you through a general Iyengar yoga class suitable for those with and without previous yoga experience.
https://wellbeinghub.scot/resource/a-general-iyengar-yoga-class/
GoABZ app
This free app, available from Apple’s App Store & Google Play, is a smart travel planner. Additionally you can access all of Aberdeen City Council’s leisure trails, previously only available as leaflets. You can explore Aberdeen’s highlights with more than 700 points of interest.
More information on the Aberdeen Leisure Trails is available here.
Health at Hand with Scottish Ballet
Movement and Breath sessions for NHS & Social Care Staff. Each 10-minute movement and breath session is designed to address physical and mental health and is accompanied by specially created music.
https://www.scottishballet.co.uk/health-at-hand
Jillian Michaels
A paid for fitness app with a 7 day free trial. However there are plenty of free exercises on Youtube such as this one: https://youtu.be/yGEmTYxHmA0
Joe Wicks
You were expecting Joe to appear on this list weren’t you? Joe’s PE videos are aimed at children but are perfect for adults too. For example:
Love to Ride
Make your community better for biking and you could win prizes!
New feature for 2024: Rate the street that you ride, see this video (scroll down for the Aberdeen video):
Initial Biking Data Maps - 4 UK Areas (lovetoride.net)
Lucy Wyndham-Read
A variety of free and paid for activities including this Youtube 7 minute workout: https://youtu.be/yL_dE81O_mw
NHS Pilates for Beginners
A series of Pilate videos for beginners
NHS Sitting Exercises
A series of sitting exercise videos
Sitting exercises - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Own Your Goals Davina
Headed up by the well-known TV personality this programme has a huge range of 10 – 20 minutes workouts to undertake. It is a subscription service but NHS staff can get access free for 30 days.
Pacer App
Free but with in-app purchases. Sells itself as a fun community where you can take part in varied challenges.
Pacer:Pedometer & Fitness App - Simple Fitness and Weight Loss (mypacer.com)
Parkrun
Parkruns are free, weekly, community events that are an inclusive experience where there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog or run.
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/events/events/#geo=7.21/57.282/-2.579
Paths for All 1 minute mover videos
Need a break from the computer? Some of the other recommendations on this list a bit too advanced? Try these free simple exercises.
Ditch the desk: one minute mover videos - Paths for All | Paths for All
You could also try Paths for All’s mindfulness walking podcast:
Walk with our mindfulness podcast narrated by Edith Bowman - Paths for All | Paths for All
Pokémon Go
This free game (with in-app purchases) is available from Apple’s App Store & Google Play. Collect Pokémon while walking around! Breed them and send them out to fight! Not for you? There are other games which you can play on your smartphone which encourage physical activity. For example:
· Ingress
· Run Zombies Run
ShireQuest
World Walking
If you prefer you to walk, how about this free website and app? Supported by Scotland’s National walking charity, Paths for All, this enables you to join numerous virtual walks around the world powered by Google Maps. You can join a walk either as an individual or a group. Note the apps have limited functionality and you need to set up an account via the website. https://worldwalking.org/
Yoga with Adriene
A variety of free and paid-for activities
Youtube with Rick Bhullar
Numerous free Youtube workouts including this one on walking 10,000 steps at home: https://youtu.be/chpMIH1BGI8
Published: 25/03/2025 15:19