Apple is celebrating International Day of Yoga on June 21 with a limited-edition award for Apple Watch users and a new yoga series on Apple Fitness+. The company continues to focus its wearable devices on health and mindfulness features.
Professional yoga instructor Samiksha Shetty discussed the importance of technology in yoga practice. She noted that yoga is about more than just physical postures. "Yoga is a lifestyle, and the physical postures are simply the starting point to prepare us for breathwork, mindfulness, and a deeper connection with ourselves," she said. "You don't need to overcomplicate it or be perfectly fit to begin. A simple 10-minute stretch at home is enough because yoga meets you exactly where you are."
Apple Watch users who log a yoga workout of 10 minutes or more on the day will qualify for the limited-edition award. This is part of Apple's ongoing series of activity-based incentives tied to fitness milestones and global observances.
Limited-edition award on Apple Watch
This announcement comes alongside Apple's current line of watches, which includes three models for different users. The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at ₹46,900 and offers up to 24 hours of battery life. It has fast charging that provides up to eight hours of use after just 15 minutes on the charger. The Apple Watch SE 3, starting at ₹25,900, is a more affordable option with essential health, fitness, safety and connectivity features. It features an Always-On display and offers 18-hour battery life. At the top, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts at ₹89,900, boasting the longest battery life and a customisable Action button.
Users can track their yoga sessions across all three models by selecting the activity in the Watch's Workout app. This app records metrics such as active calories burned and heart rate during the session. A summary is available afterwards in the Fitness app on iPhone. The Watch also supports automatic audio playback during workouts, either through Apple Music's workout selections or music chosen by the user. Additionally, the Activity app tracks daily movement, standing and exercise minutes.
On the mindfulness front, the Watch's Mindfulness app includes Reflect and Breathe sessions, along with logging for users to track their mental wellbeing over time. The Sleep app generates a nightly sleep score out of 100, based on estimated sleep duration, consistency and periods of wakefulness. The Vitals app offers more insights into overnight health. Other features include Emergency SOS and fall detection.
On the software side, Apple Fitness+ is available as a subscription for ₹149 a month or ₹999 a year. It is introducing a new series called Morning Yoga with Jessica, featuring 10-minute energetic flow workouts designed to be done first thing in the day. The service also includes a four-week programme aimed at building a regular yoga habit with two 10-minute flows each week, and a 12-part stretching programme focused on relaxation and stress relief, accompanied by calming music.
Morning Yoga with Jessica series on Apple Fitness+
Shetty emphasised that consistency, not intensity, is key to maintaining a yoga practice, and she finds the Watch's prompts helpful in that area. "What matters most is consistency, and that is what I appreciate about Apple Watch," she said. "Features like the Mindfulness app encourage you to pause and reconnect with your breath, while its insights into movement and sleep provide a holistic view of your wellbeing. It acts as a supportive companion on your journey by giving you gentle reminders throughout the day to move, breathe, and take care of yourself."
This initiative reflects a larger trend among tech companies linking product features to wellness observances, as wearable devices increasingly serve as tools for tracking physical activity, sleep and mental health.
Mathures Paul