Apple Watch Introducing New Tai Chi and Pilates Workout Types in watchOS 8 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Watch Introducing New Tai Chi and Pilates Workout Types in watchOS 8

Apple today announced a few workout-related features coming to watchOS 8 and Apple Fitness+.

watchos 8 fitness
Starting with watchOS 8, users will be able to track Tai Chi and Pilates workout styles on their Apple Watch. Apple said that the new workouts are supported by powerful custom-built heart rate and motion algorithms to provide users with accurate metrics.

Apple Fitness+ is also gaining a few features in watchOS 8, including Picture in Picture support and new filtering options, as well as the ability to stop and resume an in-progress workout on any device.

Coming to Apple Fitness+ later this month, Apple also revealed that there will be a new workout series with trainer Jeanette Jenkins. Additionally, there's also an "artist spotlight" series of workouts that highlight songs from specific artists, like Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, and Keith Urban.

Popular Stories

TMRS 196 Siris Make or Break Moment Thumb 2

The MacRumors Show: What to Expect at WWDC 2026

Friday June 5, 2026 9:58 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the major rumors surrounding Apple's announcements at WWDC 2026. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The event's tagline, "All Systems Glow," is widely seen as a hint at Siri's new design. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is rebuilding Siri as a full chatbot to compete with...
WWDC26 Mock Feature 2

Will Apple Launch New Hardware at WWDC Next Week?

Friday June 5, 2026 7:56 am PDT by
Apple has several hardware releases in the pipeline, but will we see any of them unveiled at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference? WWDC is primarily a software event where new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS take center stage, but it's not unusual for Apple to introduce new hardware during the developer conference. Take WWDC 2017, for example, where Apple...
macOS 27 Wishlist What Do You Want From Apple at WWDC 2026 Feature

macOS 27 Wishlist: What Do You Want From Apple at WWDC 2026?

Thursday June 4, 2026 2:54 pm PDT by
We have four days to go until Apple's WWDC keynote event begins on Monday, June 8. iOS 27 has been the focus of most of the rumors, but we're also going to get a new version of macOS, macOS 27. Some of the same features that are coming in iOS 27 will come to macOS 27, like the new version of Siri and the dedicated Siri app, but we want to hear from MacRumors readers. What are you hoping to...

Top Rated Comments

cecil444 Avatar
66 months ago
I'm confused what this means exactly; Pilates and Tai Chi were already available as workouts in watchOS. Though to be honest I've tried these (and several other types) before and they are not at all accurate in their measurements...for example, a Tai Chi workout records burning many more calories than it should for a practice that mainly involves standing in place, breathing normally, and making slow movements. So does this announcement just mean they are going to finally make these workouts measure more accurately? Or are they going to be brought to Fitness+?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago
Still no sex workout
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ErikGrim Avatar
66 months ago
Pilates has been on the Watch since forever. I am looking at it right now...?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Franklin Klein Avatar
66 months ago
I got excited for a second...thought Pilates was coming to fitness+ ☹️
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago

I'm confused what this means exactly; Pilates and Tai Chi were already available as workouts in watchOS. Though to be honest I've tried these (and several other types) before and they are not at all accurate in their measurements...for example, a Tai Chi workout records burning many more calories than it should for a practice that mainly involves standing in place, breathing normally, and making slow movements. So does this announcement just mean they are going to finally make these workouts measure more accurately? Or are they going to be brought to Fitness+?
They did the same with Dance, Traditional Strength, Core, and Cooldown workouts last year. Undoubtedly they will add these workouts to Fitness+ in the Fall - otherwise, what would the point be? But yes, seems like for now these workouts will now measure more accurately
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago
Wish they would add an outdoor paddling workout so I can track my kayaking
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)