I was puffy, bloated, gaining weight by the week, and I was busting my ass working out a minimum of 1 1/2 hours a day 4 to 5 days a week.

It was awful and confusing, and I couldn’t help but blame myself. What was wrong with my body!? Why wasn’t more, harder, higher impact exercises moving the needle on my waistline, muscle tone or overall health?

Turns out, when it came to moving my body, I needed to do LESS. Not more. And, to help me make the change, I incorporated workout apps.

But when it comes to workout apps, where do you start when every week it feels like a hot new brand or instructor hits the market guaranteeing sexy abs and a thigh gap?

Girl, I got you. Today’s blog is a quickie where I break down my Top Three Workout Apps for Holistic Health.

Table of Contents

So if you want to try out workout apps but have no idea where to start, read on!

Why I Made the Switch

Turns out, all that exercise was contributing to throwing my hormones completely out of wack! Over-exercising was contributing to my estrogen dominance. And estrogen dominance was causing weight gain, horrible periods, night sweats, low-energy, and painful ovulation that would land me in the hospital.

As my estrogen dominance and its side effects grew worse, I turned to functional nutritionist Unique Hammond for help. Among other things, she immediately took me off high-impact exercise. No more hard cardio for me while I recovered.

I switched to walking and incorporated pilates, barre, and old school Jane Fonda type movement––sometimes for as little as 10 minutes.

Boy, did it make a difference!

Not only did my body change, I felt more centered and less manic about getting movement in.

But I was able to easy-button this transition.

How?

Over the years I have amassed a wealth of knowledge around home workouts and workout apps.

So I was able to quickly turn to my 'tried and trues' top workout apps for easy low-impact exercise that incorporates pilates, barre, dance, and that Jane Fonda fabulous I have come to love.

All of these apps take a holistic approach to health. They are definitely here to get you gorgeous, mind, body and soul.

What is a Holistic Health Workout App?

A Holistic Health Workout app is an app that incorporates mindfulness and lifestyle modalities into it’s platform.

This may include breathwork, soundbaths, and meditation video, chats about how the creator deals with (or is dealing with) frustrations and stress, self-care videos around lymphatic drainage and massage, healthy recipes, and more.

I look at them like one-stop wellness shops where you can find instruction on caring for yourself holistically––that’s mind, body, and soul.

My Top 3 Holistic Health Workout Apps

The Sculpt Society

Professional NBA Dancer turned Fitness CEO Megan Roup created The Sculpt Society from the ground up based on a desire for connection and joyful movement. Her workouts are fun, engaging, and accessible to everyone. She has beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, with cycle synching, pregnancy, and postnatal programs, including a series solely focused on diastasis recti––how to prevent it and to recover. And, Megan has a special certification for diastasis recti recovery, so she knows her stuff.

My Favorite Thing About the App:

I LOVE Megan’s 30 Min Dance Cardio videos. She starts off teaching a very short routine (some easier than others:), and then moves into body sculpting exercises, and ends on performing the dance over and over and over. You can make it as high-impact or low impact as you need to (just jump less and step more), and Unique did allow me to incorporate these videos into my routine as I was recovering.

Equipment:

There are plenty of videos where you don’t need any equipment, but if you were to buy something, I would say choose 3 lb hand weights, as most of the full body videos incorporate these. But, if you don’t have any, Meghan suggests using water bottles.

She also has videos that use ankle weights (but, they are pretty hard without them, so, not necessary, especially when starting out). Sliders (you can use hand towels or paper plates), and a few with resistance bands. You can do the movements without a band, but it really is the band that adds the good spice.

But, seriously, there are plenty of videos where you don’t need any equipment.

Difficulty Levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced

Learn about Meghan in her own words here.

Melissa Wood Health

Melissa Wood Performing a Workout with a MWH Resistance Band

The "less is more" O.G. workout queen.

Melissa Wood entered health training through nutrition after disordered eating and other addictions led her to look for the best way to nurture her body, mind and soul. Though her approach is pilates and yoga based, she has a plethora of creators and programs on her app including cardio, strength, meditation, bridal, pre-and-postnatal and more.

My Favorite Thing About the App:

For the videos that Melissa teaches, she doesn’t use any music. It’s just her, leading you through the routine. I would have thought that this wouldn’t be motivating enough for me (read: boring), but, turns out, I LOVE IT! You’re really able to concentrate on what you’re doing and make it a mind body experience. Also, her Power Series is EVERYTHING! You want to talk about a workout…do her power pilates videos. The shorter, the spicier!

Equipment:

There are plenty of videos where you don’t need any equipment, but if you were to buy something, I would say, maybe, choose 2-3 lb ankle weights. She does have videos that incorporate other equipment, but I rarely used equipment when on her platform. To start out, expecially if you’re doing her trial, don’t worry about it.

Difficulty Levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced

Here, Melissa talks about her journey.

Pilates By Bryony

I stumbled upon Bryony after YouTube suggested a video about her as a business owner. I was so impressed with her story that I decided to try her app, and I'm glad I did!

Bryony came to Pilates after a serious car accident. Pilates was a part of her physical therapy. Though she has her own self care journey that is worth a listen, she kept coming back to pilates, started teaching, and eventually, launched her app.

Now, if you REALLY want to feel the slow burn, Bryony is for you. And her trial period is the longest, so you can REALLY poke around the app before you commit.

My Favorite Thing About the App:

Bryony has a different method of teaching on the app that resonated with me--though she has vids where she is performing the workout, she has others where she's teaching a single student while talking to the camera taking us all through the routine. I quite liked those! It feels great to watch a “regular” student do the exercise and to see Bryony correct form in real-time (ish). Plus, there is a really great breathwork section.

Equipment:

I did not use any equipment while on Bryony’s app.

Difficulty Levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced

Special Note: Bryony’s trial period (as of the writing of this blog) is a full month, and though I did enjoy her app, I did not continue on, as I was (and am) doing a studio barre class IRL. But I still think she has a unique take that’s worth checking out.

Here's that interview I enjoyed.

My Choice for My Fave

I really enjoy all of these ladies, and, with Melissa and Megan, I have often found myself bouncing between the two.

These days, with my primary workout being Pure Barre, I find myself leaning more into Megan Roup and the Sculpt Society as my fave.

I love Megan’s dance routines, and her method of sculpting. And I love her presence and message in interviews.

But working out regularly with any of these women would be a win for your health.

TL;DR

When it comes to seeing changes in your health and figure, less may be more. I learned that by dialing back the high-impact cardio, and focusing on more pilates and barre based low impact routines, I was able to manage my weight, tone up, and develop a healthier mindset around working out. Accompanying me on this journey––Fitness Apps.

If you’re looking to pull back, while continuing to get meaningful movement into your week, The Sculpt Society, Melissa Wood Health, and Pilates By Bryony may be for you. They’re holistic approaches to health means a one-stop wellness shop to getting gorgeous, mind, body, and soul.

And if you want to learn more about incorporating a healthy skincare practice into your wellness routine, checkout Dew You: Design Your Ultimate Clean Beauty Skincare Routine.