The 30-minute daily workout has the potential to improve strength, posture, balance and brain functionEleanor Fleming Senior Reporter and Laura Mckenna Audience Writer
04:33, 05 Dec 2025
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Taking on a 30 minute tai-chi routine could be beneficial for both physical and mental health (Image: Getty Images)
As the New Year approaches, many will be considering ways to improve their health habits. To help with this, Simple – a smartphone app designed to help users achieve their weight loss goals – has introduced a 30-minute tai chi walking workout, which could be an ideal way to enhance fitness this winter.
Tai chi walking, an ancient practice involving slow and deliberate steps, has recently gained popularity online. Despite its unusual appearance to those unfamiliar with it, it can potentially enhance strength, posture, balance and even cognitive function.
By taking a quick quiz about their current health status and future objectives, users can receive a personalised tai chi walking plan. The app is also currently offering a 60% discount when users subscribe using the code ‘REACH60’.
But how does tai chi walking actually aid in health improvement? According to Simple, the most straightforward method of fat loss is through ‘Zone 1’ activity. This involves light, low-intensity exercise that maintains a person’s heart rate at 50% to 60% of their maximum, reports the Mirror.
Alongside tai chi, other Zone 1 activities include gentle jogging or swimming, pilates, and yoga. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine has revealed that individuals who practised tai chi exhibited lower levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone produced by the heart to regulate blood pressure. Elevated BNP levels often suggest cardiac stress and are considered a ‘powerful predictor’ of heart failure prognosis.
The programmes are available on the Simple app
60% off with code ‘REACH60’
Simple
Simple — a smartphone app that can help users achieve their weight loss goals — has launched a 30-minute tai chi walking workout, which could be the perfect way to get in better shape this winter.
In another pilot study, it was found that participants were less stable during tai chi walking compared to regular walking. This instability, however, could potentially benefit the body by challenging balance and thereby enhancing neuromuscular control to minimise the risk of falls.
The tai chi walking plan is just one of many features offered by Simple, an app designed to aid weight loss and promote health. The app includes an intelligent food scanner that uses your phone’s camera to analyse meals and provide smart nutrition scores.
The subscription also includes access to a personal AI-driven coach named Avo.(Image: Simple)
It also features habit trackers for easy logging of water intake, physical activity, fasting periods, and weight changes. Subscribers to Simple also gain access to Avo, a personal AI-driven coach within the app that offers guidance and suggestions such as healthy recipes and workout plans.
Joining Avo is Blinky, a charming fluffy companion designed to motivate users on their weight loss journey with daily encouragement and support.
According to the Simple blog, Blinky is described as “fluffy, intense, and adorably unhinged in the most entertaining way”. The platform explains that as users record everything from meals to workouts or weigh-ins, they are simultaneously ‘feeding’ Blinky.
Speaking in his own voice, Blinky declares: “Every log keeps me alive, thriving, and (yes) even clingier. Skip too long, and I spiral. Dramatic sighs. Sad eyes. Fluff deflation. I will miss you loudly.”
There are numerous alternative smartphone applications users might explore for health and fitness monitoring. MyFitnessPal remains a favoured option for comprehensive nutrition tracking, and it can also record exercise to provide a complete overview of calories consumed and burned.
For fitness enthusiasts, Hevy offers a straightforward method to record workouts and routines through its user-friendly application. It’s available as a free download, though a premium version exists for more sophisticated features.
A user before and after using the Simple app.(Image: Simple)
Returning to Simple, numerous users have posted favourable reviews on Trustpilot, where the application holds a 4.3/5 rating from more than 34,000 reviews. It has also achieved a 4.7/5 score on the App Store.
One user shared their experience: “I have tried lots of apps for getting in shape and losing weight. Simple has gotten me the best results.
“What I like about Simple is that it doesn’t require detailed tracking in order to be useful. I can keep my input general and use the fasting timer. I can enter as much or little detail as I want. In my case, I’m focused on the big picture of my fast and not the minutia of each thing I eat. I am down 25lb from the beginning of this year, and it’s the first time in my 30s and 40s that I’ve actually had a sustainable approach to managing my weight.”
Another user shared their experience: “I love the balance of simplicity, accountability, and the transparency of the use of AI coaches. It’s the first time I’ve successfully tried intermittent fasting and my body is loving it. I’ve lost 4kg in a month and I feel confident I can stick with this long term.”
However, not all feedback was entirely positive, with one reviewer noting: “I like the reminders, the exercises, the recipe suggestions, and I’m in my own home not having to go anywhere to do this. I wish that I could back log meals.”
They continued: “Unless I’m using the program incorrectly, there are numerous times I can’t log a meal until later in the day, and it looks like the time indicates the breakfast and lunch and dinner all are consumed at the same time.”
Meanwhile, another user highlighted the app’s digital features, commenting: “Blinky is cute and helpful, and the AI coach Avo has great advice and insight.”
Simple weight loss plans are currently 60% off using code ‘REACH60’, and there’s a free plan available too.