APP REVIEW: Tabata Pro - Tabata Timer

For those of you who are not familiar with Tabata, you may be wondering what the heck this App is for, and why would anyone want it...

Tabata is a principle of training that revolves around the theory of a work/rest ratio of 2:1 - usually 20 seconds of work with 10 seconds of rest for 8 sets.

Learn more about the Tabata protocol HERE and HERE

Although this principle can be applied to almost every form of training, I have started to use it as a part of my cycling classes, to coach sprinting intervals. (Which you may have noticed in my class plans)

I was recommended this app through a fellow instructor who uses it to keep track of the tabata sets in a class. At one of the gyms that I teach at, currently the mic is out being repaired, which makes it very hard to teach a spin class, especially at a high intensity when you want loud music and have to yell over it. I used this app for the first time in my class yesterday. Even though I had my ipod plugged in with my music, the sounds from the app still worked to let the class know when to work/rest. I also turned the ipod around so that the participants could see the green/red screens flashing to also queue when to work and rest. Overall, I think it worked great, it was something new and let me save my breath and participate in the tabata set as well. Check out a screen shot of the app below.

Dear Santa....I think I need this for Christmas...

This has got to be one of the coolest new products on the market. The UP by Jawbone. It's basically a bracelet that you wear all the time and it tracks your sleep cycle through movements, your step counts and activity as well as tracks your meals through a photo journal type log. It apparently is going to be released on Sunday Nov 6th in Canada and be sold at the Apple Store. I think I am going to go take a look at it and perhaps wait until there are more reviews after the release date, but I am sure this is going to be a hot item for christmas this year. I think it would be the perfect gift for my mom, but only if it is compatible with her current Ipod Touch 3g. Hopefully it is, we will wait and see.

The UP app from Itunes - HERE
Jawbone UP Website - HERE
Review Article on Engadget - HERE

APP REVIEW: Tempo Magic Pro

For all of you runners or fitness instructors out there…you will love this! 


I found this App for the iphone/ipod touch and have been loving using it. It is designed to change the tempo of the music on your ipod. As any fitness instructor or avid runner knows, the tempo of music is so key to keeping pace. I have been using this to set a constant BPM while running so that I don’t find myself slowing down for certain songs. I love how it doesn’t distort the song just speeds it up. Such a great app. Check out a Youtube demo HERE


You can buy the app HERE (Best $5 I have ever spent)