Are video games a kind of exercise? Yes! According to experts, virtual reality (VR) technology is introducing a completely new form of exercise. According to Aaron Stanton, founder, and director of the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise, an independent research organization established in 2017 to investigate the effects of virtual and augmented reality technology on fitness, you can put on a VR headset, load up the right game, and suddenly you’re boxing in a ring or skiing in the Swiss Alps.

VR Fitness?

Virtual reality is a computer-simulated environment that can be navigated and interacted with using special hardware (a VR headset). Virtual reality (VR) has a wide range of applications, including training, research, entertainment, and yes, even fitness. According to Mathias Sorensen, a personal trainer who is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and the curriculum manager at the American Fitness and Nutrition Academy, VR fitness is a way to immerse yourself in virtual environments using hardware (the VR headset) and software (many games). Gaming enthusiast Sorensen claims to have started utilizing VR fitness games in 2015.

According to Jeff Morin, CEO, and co-founder of Liteboxer VR, a “fitness-first” boxing game, some VR games are created solely for entertainment (although you may burn some calories or work up a sweat while playing them because you are moving). For instance, the collection of workouts in Liteboxer VR was created by personal trainers, and new exercises are added every day, according to Morin. Machine Gun Kelly and Lady Gaga are among the musicians used during the workouts, while a coach gives tips on perfect form.

What to Look for When Buying VR Equipment

Think about the other things you want to do with your VR headset because you can use it for more than simply physical activity. Your decision may be influenced by the resolution, pixels, field of vision, and price. Spend more money on a model with a high resolution if you intend to use your VR headset to view popular movies and National Geographic documentaries, for example.

bjdvsgvjb5whjt3atovss02xly5s0vv1 While meditating cannot eliminate life’s uncertainty, it can alter how you react to it. According to a study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, meditating may have a long-lasting effect on the amygdala, the portion of the brain responsible for emotion processing. When respondents were shown visuals designed to elicit a variety of responses, MRI scans revealed that those who had been practicing mindful attention meditating, which involves focusing on one’s breath, were better able to control their emotions — even when they were not in a meditative state.

Meditation Has Many Advantages

During times of stress, such as these, coping mechanisms can be especially beneficial. “The need for an internal compass to navigate our quickly changing world has never been higher,” says Kelly Morris, a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based meditation teacher and founder of The Infinity Call, a subscription service that uploads a new guided meditation daily. “Meditation can provide this compass.”

However, you do not have to take a two-year vow of silence to gain the advantages of meditation. The study’s subjects had never meditated before and were examined after only two months of daily sessions. There is no one-size-fits-all method of meditation, but the following suggestions can assist you in getting started.

The Most Hassle-Free Way to Start Meditating

There is a saying circulating on the Internet, some claim it is an old Zen adage: “You should meditate for 20 minutes each day unless you are extremely busy. Then, sit for one hour.” That would be lovely, wouldn’t it? However, even if your Google calendar resembles a Tetris game, there is still a way to practice.

Alli Simon, a Los Angeles-based meditation and certified yoga teacher, explains that meditating may be as simple as concentrating on one breath at a time. Stop. Sensitize yourself to the dirt beneath your feet. Bring one hand to the stomach and inhale deeply. This seemingly innocuous technique can help you maintain your composure throughout the day, even if your WiFi goes down in the middle of a Zoom. To remind yourself to take that one breath, associate it with a regular ritual — such as waiting for your morning coffee to brew — or set a phone alarm. After you’ve gotten used to scheduling a single moment each day, Simon suggests “expanding the session by a few minutes.”