iPump Yoga

Another consummate second generation application for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, Yoga is one of a large range of exercise aids from iPump, each of which carries a similar exercise pose-based interface, with high quality photos and videos to illustrate what you need to do. Like the other exercise apps, you’ve got to be serious to get the most out of Yoga. And being a lithe 20 year old female sure wouldn’t do any harm, too….

At the heart of iPump Yoga are three ‘flows’ (sets) of exercise poses, each described and illustrated beautifully. You swipe your finger across the screen to progress, which seems easy enough. Tapping on a particular exercise brings up any aids you might need, including a short video showing exactly how to get from one pose to another smoothly and (presumably) serenely. Never mind tapping on the navigation bar or videos, just the swiping alone is enough to interrupt the smoothness of your exercise, although you’ll quickly learn the ‘flow’ and won’t need to consult iPump Yoga after the first few times through.

Which is not to say that the application is redundant once you’ve learnt the routines, since there’s also a facility to record the number of repetitions of each flow and your weight that day. Data entered here wasn’t always retained here though, a black mark against the application. On the plus side, there’s also a ‘Log’ where you can enter your thoughts and feelings after each session. And iPump Yoga (thankfully) remembers exactly where you got to, should you get interrupted by something tiresome like a phone call or an urge to check your email.

If your budget won’t stretch to membership of your local Yoga club or gym then this is an excellent way to learn some useful routines and to feel like you’re ‘doing it right’. Just don’t expect to match the poses shown in the photos if, like me, you’re mid-forties, male and a few kilos over your ideal weight!