Move
Are you smarter than your FitBit?
Wearable fitness technology is hot. Between FitBits, Apple Watches, Jawbone devices, and Mira smart bracelets, it seems like practically everyone these days is watching their health by way of their wrist. And now we have data to support the exploding popularity of these devices: Last year, more than 13 million fitness trackers were sold, according to The New York Times. Collectively, we spent $1.5 billion on the devices, which is more than double what we spent in 2014. It’s safe to say, wearable fitness trackers are trending!
And indeed, fitness trackers can be incredibly motivating. “My FitBit made me realize how little I moved all day working at a desk,” says barre3 Online subscriber Mary Jane Ruff, of San Diego. “It inspires me to get moving each day, even if it’s just taking a walk to the grocery store.”
There are gamification aspects of fitness trackers as well. You can share stats and compare with friends how many miles you’ve logged or calories you’ve burned. Some companies even incentivize their employees by offering rewards to people who reach certain goals on their fitness trackers.
There’s no question that wearable trackers have helped many people set and reach fitness goals, and form community around healthy living. However, these devices have some gaps.
You Know Your Body Best
No matter how sophisticated fitness technology becomes, you will always be your own best teacher. Even if you’re new to exercising, you know what feels right or wrong in your body. Over time, as we get more practiced at listening to our inner teacher, this kind of body wisdom can produce incredible results and help prevent injuries.
“When we trust our instincts and learn to listen to what we really need in every moment, our bodies transform in an empowering way,” says barre3 founder Sadie Lincoln.
We have a similar philosophy on counting calories—we don’t do it! Learning to recognize the signals that your body is full, opposed to monitoring everything you put in your mouth, is a much more nourishing way to enjoy food.
Barre3 sharpens your physical intuition and helps develop body wisdom. In class, we encourage you to honor your instincts by modifying whenever necessary and personalizing postures so that they feel good while still creating a satisfying muscle burn and endorphin high. You might hear your instructor ask questions such as How do you feel right now? How can you make this feel better? Are you challenging yourself? What do you need? These questions are cues to remind you to check in with what your body is telling you in that moment. Because no matter what your FitBit says, you always know best.
We’re not alone in thinking this. The New York Times article refers to research out of Australia showing that athletes are able to detect changes in their heart rates and hormone levels with “superior sensitivity and consistency” when compared with high-tech measures such as wearable devices. In other words, we know intuitively how our bodies are performing during exercise, with or without a device strapped to our wrist.
“Wearables can be part of the process of developing body wisdom, but it is important to remember that the numbers and statistics we gather can distract us from the bigger picture of what being healthy really means,” says Sadie. “Wearables don’t know how everything you do makes you feel—like how good it feels to wake up energized after a good night of sleep, or how satisfied you feel after reading a good book or eating a balanced meal with your family.”
If you’re a wearable fan, or if you’re considering trying one, we totally support you—and would love to hear about your experience in the comments below. Just remember to listen closely to what your body is telling you, and always trust your intuition.
Wearable fitness technology is hot. Between FitBits, Apple Watches, Jawbone devices, and Mira smart bracelets, it seems like practically everyone these days is watching their health by way of their wrist. And now we have data to support the exploding popularity of these devices: Last year, more than 13 million fitness trackers were sold, according to The New York Times. Collectively, we spent $1.5 billion on the devices, which is more than double what we spent in 2014. It’s safe to say, wearable fitness trackers are trending!
And indeed, fitness trackers can be incredibly motivating. “My FitBit made me realize how little I moved all day working at a desk,” says barre3 Online subscriber Mary Jane Ruff, of San Diego. “It inspires me to get moving each day, even if it’s just taking a walk to the grocery store.”
There are gamification aspects of fitness trackers as well. You can share stats and compare with friends how many miles you’ve logged or calories you’ve burned. Some companies even incentivize their employees by offering rewards to people who reach certain goals on their fitness trackers.
There’s no question that wearable trackers have helped many people set and reach fitness goals, and form community around healthy living. However, these devices have some gaps.
You Know Your Body Best
No matter how sophisticated fitness technology becomes, you will always be your own best teacher. Even if you’re new to exercising, you know what feels right or wrong in your body. Over time, as we get more practiced at listening to our inner teacher, this kind of body wisdom can produce incredible results and help prevent injuries.
“When we trust our instincts and learn to listen to what we really need in every moment, our bodies transform in an empowering way,” says barre3 founder Sadie Lincoln.
We have a similar philosophy on counting calories—we don’t do it! Learning to recognize the signals that your body is full, opposed to monitoring everything you put in your mouth, is a much more nourishing way to enjoy food.
Barre3 sharpens your physical intuition and helps develop body wisdom. In class, we encourage you to honor your instincts by modifying whenever necessary and personalizing postures so that they feel good while still creating a satisfying muscle burn and endorphin high. You might hear your instructor ask questions such as How do you feel right now? How can you make this feel better? Are you challenging yourself? What do you need? These questions are cues to remind you to check in with what your body is telling you in that moment. Because no matter what your FitBit says, you always know best.
We’re not alone in thinking this. The New York Times article refers to research out of Australia showing that athletes are able to detect changes in their heart rates and hormone levels with “superior sensitivity and consistency” when compared with high-tech measures such as wearable devices. In other words, we know intuitively how our bodies are performing during exercise, with or without a device strapped to our wrist.
“Wearables can be part of the process of developing body wisdom, but it is important to remember that the numbers and statistics we gather can distract us from the bigger picture of what being healthy really means,” says Sadie. “Wearables don’t know how everything you do makes you feel—like how good it feels to wake up energized after a good night of sleep, or how satisfied you feel after reading a good book or eating a balanced meal with your family.”
If you’re a wearable fan, or if you’re considering trying one, we totally support you—and would love to hear about your experience in the comments below. Just remember to listen closely to what your body is telling you, and always trust your intuition.
