Imagine kneeling on the ground doing dumbbell rows, facing a trainer who lives on a server. He is encouraging and always explains techniques in a way that doesn’t feel condescending. Welcome to the world of Apple Fitness+, an ad-free, video-on-demand guided workout streaming service that is now launching in India on December 15.

There is something for everyone, from strength training to meditation. The service works with an Apple Watch and an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. Originally announced in September 2020 and launched three months later, Fitness+ was first made available in six countries before expanding to 15 more. Expansion is a complicated process because all content is curated to music, which involves licensing. What better way to celebrate the five-year anniversary of Fitness+ than by entering new markets: 28 additional countries, bringing its total reach to 49. The service arrives in India just as Apple marks the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch.

The service will be available in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Vietnam, and 17 other countries and regions beginning December 15. Three months of Apple Fitness+ are included for customers who purchase any new Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV capable of running the latest operating system software, AirPods Pro 3, or Powerbeats Pro 2 purchased from Apple or an Apple Authorised Reseller.

Easy entry point

You can sync your Apple Watch and scroll through carousels of workouts, including HIIT, yoga, dance, strength, treadmill, cycling and rowing. Some workouts can be done simply with a yoga mat; others — such as rowing or running — require machines. You can filter sessions by trainer, workout length (from five to 45 minutes, plus shorter cool-downs), and music type.

Fitness+ offers the world’s largest library of 4K Ultra HD fitness and wellness content, welcoming everyone to the fitness party: From beginners to pros. The trainers, representing a range of age groups, even use sign language in their workouts and meditations to ensure inclusivity. They come from all walks of life: Some have spent their entire careers in fitness, while others have undergone their own remarkable fitness journeys. Whether it’s a complex pilates routine or a quiet moment of meditation, the platform makes exercising fun. You could be at a park with a yoga mat, exploring meditation videos on your iPhone, or doing the same at home on a rainy day.

With Apple Watch, you can keep an eye on your metrics (such as heart rate and Activity Rings) in real time. You’ll also get post-workout insights to help you track your progress. There is the option to connect AirPods Pro 3, Powerbeats Pro 2, or any Bluetooth heart rate monitor to view personal stats like calories burned. Heart-rate tracking enables the Burn Bar, which compares your effort with others who have completed the same workout.

Is Apple Watch a must?

It’s not essential. All you need is an iPhone to use Fitness+. When paired with an Apple Watch, however, you’ll see real-time personal metrics on screen — heart rate, calories burned and the progress of your Activity rings — during every workout.

India is a thriving market

It makes sense for Fitness+ to arrive in India. This is, after all, a country where, according to a recent paper in The Lancet Global Health, one in five people aged 45 and above had diabetes in 2019. More strikingly, two in five people living with diabetes were unaware of their condition.

If anything, Apple should be paying more attention to countries like India, where urban populations are taking health more seriously than ever. Even in space-starved cities, developers are carving out communal amenities — gyms, pools and jogging tracks.

Despite global chatter around tariffs, India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies. It is also a country with deep enthusiasm for marathons, from Mumbai to Calcutta. Runners may have to dodge traffic, endure monsoon rains from July to October and contend with high pollution levels, but none of this dampens the appetite for long-distance races. The boom has fuelled a rising obsession with better trainers and smart trackers. More people are training, even casually, for organised runs.

An interest in new Apple offerings

In India, a sizeable number of people don’t exercise regularly, and many have never ventured into a gym. For them, Fitness+ could be transformational. Apple users tend to be curious about the company’s new services, and the integration with Apple Music feels familiar. For those already in the ecosystem, Fitness+ might provide the nudge needed to build a consistent workout routine. It also has the potential to strengthen long-term engagement with the Apple Watch, perhaps even prompting more frequent upgrades.

Getting used to routines

Fitness thrives on routine, and Fitness+ helps demystify that process. The service offers varied options for every fitness level and discipline. Seeing a trainer on screen can make a steady routine — and a disciplined approach to movement — feel more achievable. It also simplifies planning and variety, two challenges that often derail beginners.

You don’t have to feel embarrassed

Dance is one of the most effective ways to build cardiovascular strength and general fitness, yet many feel self-conscious joining a class. Fitness+ removes that barrier. Your living room becomes your studio; embarrassment quietly dissolves. Users can explore dance workouts at their own pace and integrate them smoothly into a broader fitness routine without judgment.

Something for everybody

Users can search by ability level. Apple Fitness+ has a large catalogue of beginner workouts, in which trainers offer more modifications and guidance. In a core workout, for instance, you’ll learn exactly how to plank, with suggestions for variations: both knees and elbows on the mat, knees down in a modified version, or a standard plank. You can then progress to more advanced sessions, such as HIIT.

After a handful of workouts, the platform learns your preferences and recommends sessions based on your habits. For example, if you regularly choose treadmill workouts, the app might suggest yoga to help you stretch and recover.

Tackles the problem of at-home workouts

When exercising at home, it’s easy to slide into watching a film instead. Fitness+ combats this with motivation and structure. Features like the Burn Bar show how hard you’re pushing compared with others, based on Apple Watch metrics.

Trainers are energetic and inspiring. Workouts are presented in a way that feels achievable, and trainers don’t push you so hard that you feel faint.

There is also Time to Walk, an inspiring audio walking experience. Each original episode invites users to join influential and interesting people as they share thoughtful stories, photos and music. Time to Walk can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, with Apple Watch and AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones.

You may wonder...

Can you use Fitness+ on TV?

Yes, you can use Fitness+ on Apple TV. Just connect your iPhone or Apple Watch to your Apple TV in the Fitness app. You can also stream Fitness+ workouts and meditations to AirPlay‑enabled TVs and devices.

What about personalised experience?

When you first subscribe to Fitness+, simply tap the activities you like to do. For You shows recommendations based on your selections. As you use Fitness+, For You updates based on your activities, and it even reflects your favourite trainers, durations, music, and equipment preferences.