The lazy person’s workout: Put your gym on your screen
Flee zombies, fight a buddy remotely, pedal past dinos or hear about how pros train, while you work up a sweat. Here are some tech hacks for the exercise averse
Doggedly lazy folks have probably figured out that the thing they’ll lose with a gym subscription is not kilos, it’s money. Doggedly lazy folks tend to be glued to their screens. But doggedly lazy folks also know that they need to get fit. Might there be a collab somewhere? Tech seems to think so.
Arun Prabhudesai, 45, is a Pune-based YouTuber whose channel Trakin Tech has 14 million subscribers. He swears by virtual reality headsets, and has been using the Apple Vision Pro for the past week. He’s used Meta Quest too. Their fitness programs and games are cheaper than hiring a personal trainer, he’s found. “With AI and VR, the experience is so immersive, it’s almost as if someone is standing there and training you.” Here’s what else can get you off the couch, but not too far from it.
Zombies, Run! The user is Player 5, a character in the fictitious Abel Township, who must outrun armies of zombies as the device’s GPS or accelerometer tracks the player’s movements. Need short bursts of high-intensity training? There are special chases that require Player 5 to run 10% faster. Missions oscillate between the player’s own music, and short radio broadcasts from Abel Township. Sci-fi authors such as Margaret Atwood and Andrea Phillips have been guest writers for the storyline, making it extra apocalypsey. Available on iOS and Android platforms.
Zwift. Get on your exercise bike. Load the programme on the TV screen. Pedal away. Users can choose a leisurely solo ride though 12 worlds (including one inhabited by dinosaurs). But most people prefer the virtual competition. It comes with a track, competitors (other IRL users who’ve logged in), resistance levels and, for ultimate Zwifties, a pro league and a virtual triathlon. Available on iOS, MAC, PC, and Android Devices.
The Dumbbells podcast. Switch up the workout playlist from songs to a podcast that’s funny but high on motivation. Comedians Eric McGown and Ryan Stranger speak to guests about their fitness journeys, pitfalls and triumphs. Everyone fails. Everyone’s lazy. Everyone’s made the same excuses. Everyone stinks when they sweat. Many have pushed through, taken a break, but stayed on the path. Some have even turned lasagna into a healthy snack. It’s inspiration of the nicest kind. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise. Like a Jane Fonda fitness tape for the 21st century, with boxing thrown in. Users hold the Joy Con controller and move to the beat, executing jabs, punches, uppercuts and straights. Expect to generously swing back and forth on your feet, giving core muscles, biceps and hips a work out. No gloves needed. Opponents optional (The game has a 2-player setting). Available on Nintendo Switch.
Beat Saber. The VR game turns sword-fighting and listening to music into a workout routine. Swing your virtual sabre to hit those virtual blocks, the game is big on arm movements. There’s also the FeetSaber modification for those who skip leg day and want to give their calves some tough love. Available on Oculus Quest 2, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR and Meta Quest.
FitXR. An immersive VR app that merges video gaming and exercise, FitXR offers hundreds of professionally choreographed workouts hosted by trainers. They’re calibrated for remote training, depending on the user’s choice of intensity, soundtrack and duration. First-timers love Sculpt, a low-impact workout inspired by Pilates and barre. Boxing, dance, and HIIT movements can be performed individually, or within an online community. Or just try to beat your personal best. Available on Meta Quest.
Supernatural. The tech-bro fav promises a new workout with a virtual trainer every day. Challenges include trying to swat flying objects, squat, punch and kick while moving to music from the app’s comprehensive library.
