Open your eyes to a VIRTUAL WORKOUT
Tai Chi on the beach, a vigorous tennis match and even a heart-stopping climb — all from the comfort of your living room...
Thanks to the pandemic, we’ve all had to rethink our lives — how we meet up with friends, go to the shops, work and keep fit.
Who’d have thought so many of us would end up doing daily workouts with mop-haired social media star Joe Wicks?
home exercise has become an inevitable fixture for many, but it turns out online fitness may already be passé. The buzz now is all about Virtual Reality (VR) exercising.
Don what looks like a diving mask with a screen in it and enter a mindblowing alternative world. I borrowed my friend’s set and asked her 16-year-old son to set me up.
I hadn’t tried VR before and was sceptical, so I borrowed my friend’s son Luke’s set. I was amazed by the quality of the graphics. You really are transported to another world, whether it’s doing gentle Tai Chi or conquering a snowy peak.
But does VR fitness feel rewarding? and can it really keep you fit? I asked trainer Jodie Brinson her thoughts on whether VR could deliver a worthwhile workout.
she said: ‘a trainer or instructor will be able to motivate you in a way a computer never can. But when you can’t get to a class, I can definitely see the benefit.’
after trying a range of games I can confirm VR fitness isn’t quite a real class, but I was wrong to be dismissive of it. Like online fitness, it has its place.
so I will be putting a headset in my shopping basket (the market leader is the Oculus Quest 64GB VR headset, £399, argos.co.uk). There are cheaper options. The Bnext VR headset is a bestseller on amazon for £44.99 and compatible with smartphones. Download it from the app store.
ACHIEVE INNER ZEN
WHAT IS IT? Guided Tai Chi. HOW MUCH AND WHERE FROM? £8, oculus.com/experiences/quest.
FUN FACTOR? Less about fun, more about relaxation. The soft voice of the instructor, the tweeting birds, the slow steady movement and stunning scenery invokes calm.
FITNESS FACTOR? If you want to feel the burn, this is not for you. But if you want to increase mobility, balance and posture — yes.
RISK FACTOR? The chance of injury is pretty much non-existent.
VERDICT: Computer fitness games are often the antithesis of relaxation. This Tai Chi experience turns that on its head. It combines deep breathing and relaxation with flowing movements.
Originating as a martial art in 13th-century China, Tai Chi is practised by millions as a stressrelieving, posture-improving, balance and mobility-increasing activity. Brilliant for all ages.
The graphics are stunning and you can transport yourself to more than 20 locations. I found myself on a sun-drenched beach. In front was a Tai Chi master leading the moves and two orbs showing me which way to move my hands. It was easy to follow and I liked the fact you could do a short session. This was calming and feel-good. and although I’d still rather be doing it with others in a cherry blossom-filled park, this came a pretty good second.
RATING: 4/5
IF RAIN STOPS PLAY
WHAT IS IT? Racket nX. HOW MUCH AND WHERE FROM? £14.99, oculus.com/experiences/ quest.
FUN FACTOR? Exhilarating, but intense. Like being inside a pinball machine.
FITNESS FACTOR? My heart rate increased substantially and I worked up a sweat. Do it for 30 minutes and you’ll get a good workout for your shoulders and arms as well as lower legs.
RISK FACTOR? Be warned: you move around a lot. Check your space is clear. You also wave your arms around, so be wary of walls and handsets — the two things can get damaged if they meet — not to mention ornaments.
VERDICT: ah, tennis! White outfits, green grass, muscular, tanned opponents and glorious weather. If that’s your dream, then the VR version will disappoint. It’s ‘arcade’ rather than Wimbledon — more squash than tennis. You are in a giant glass dome, the walls of which light up with targets you must destroy with the ball.
The controller becomes the racket and the ball gets fired at you, bouncing from the walls.
You do get the satisfaction of forehands and backhands and you have to concentrate so hard that you forget daily worries.
I’d just love it to be prettier.
RATING: 3/5
FOR A JOYOUS MOOD
WHAT IS IT? Beat saber. HOW MUCH AND WHERE FROM? £22.99, oculus.com/experiences. FUN FACTOR? highest of them all. Easy to master and very satisfying. The endorphins fly. FITNESS FACTOR? Pretty good workout which feels incidental. RISK FACTOR? Play it for 30 minutes and you’ll have sore shoulders and arms.
VERDICT: admittedly, Beat saber is not technically a dance game, but it relies on music to dial up the enjoyment.
You enter an arcade-style world and blocks fly at you, forcing you to use your controllers to slice through them and win points.
Moving to the rhythm feels good. It doesn’t seem like exercise, just life-enhancing fun.
almost without knowing it you move side to side, your arms stretching, reaching and slicing, your legs lunging and squatting so you get a full body workout. It doesn’t feel as physical as the boxing (see below), but users report a calorie burn of seven per minute. and the kids will love it.
RATING? 3.5/5
TO RELEASE ANGER
WHAT IS IT? BOXVR is a boxercise VR game where you jab, weave and uppercut your way to fitness.
HOW MUCH AND WHERE FROM? £22.99, culus.com/experiences/ quest.
FUN FACTOR? Great fun. The combination of the pulsing music and the satisfying slicing movements keeps you engaged and time flies.
FITNESS FACTOR? I definitely worked up a sweat and I felt the endorphin rush. My shoulders and legs ached afterwards. Your heart rate gets satisfyingly high.
RISK FACTOR? You need to make sure you clear a decent space around you (recommended 6.5ft by 6.5ft) and remove any pets from the vicinity as you move a lot. I found this out the hard way when I stood on my poor puppy.
VERDICT: I love a boxing class. The joy of landing the punch, the interaction with the person holding the pads, the feeling of strength, the release of frustration.
I was sceptical that a VR game could deliver the same benefits, but this turned out to be my favourite. You don’t fight an actual person, but are transported to what feels like a conference centre with a big screen.
Balls come firing at you that you can punch, jab, uppercut and slam. Each hit you successfully land rewards you with an explosion and some points. and even for a 46-year-old this is joyous.
It gave me a full body workout and really made me sweat.
RATING: 4/5.