I am not the sporty sort. The one sport I ever excelled in was center college cross nation as a result of I discovered that when you ran quicker than everybody else, you bought to be alone on the path. However with current spinal surgical procedure and 40-something-year-old bones, I have never been a path runner for years. I am additionally a busy work-from-home mother, so although I partake within the occasional group health class, my default is the solo at-home exercise — however I get bored shortly. All of that is my lengthy, excuse-ridden method of claiming that I actually wanted to strive one thing new that will be thrilling, efficient, and available every time I used to be. Magic tablet, anybody?
After I heard about Supernatural, a digital actuality health app you employ with the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3, I made a decision to strive it. In spite of everything, an estimated 1 to 2 million individuals work out in digital actuality each month; who am I to argue?
How Supernatural Works
Supernatural is an immersive digital actuality exercise you subscribe to for the Meta Quest 2, 3, or Professional. You select from an enormous assortment of exercises labeled as circulation, field, or stretch. Moreover, you’ll be able to select guided meditations to assist middle and calm. Every health routine is rated as L for low depth, M for medium, or H for top, and “actual” digital health coaches lead the exercises.
Within the boxing workouts, you employ the controllers to smash targets. The targets come at you at totally different angles, prompting you to do traditional boxing strikes just like the uppercut. There are additionally triangle shapes that you’re meant to remain in, which lead to you squatting, ducking, and weaving.
The circulation lessons are comparable, however as an alternative of punching, you maintain digital batons and use these to strike down, up, or sideways at targets whereas squatting, stepping aspect to aspect, and shifting.
The Execs
The VR ingredient permits you to disconnect from actuality and keep targeted on the targets in entrance of you. The outcome? Your coronary heart will get pumping, and sweat begins flowing. You possibly can even sync the Supernatural app with a heart-rate monitoring machine, like a smartwatch.
The target-smashing permits for private suggestions since your accuracy will increase the quicker you progress and the extra you hit. This brings a component lacking from different digital exercises: You possibly can monitor your progress past “accomplished.”
Arguably, the actual show-stopper with Supernatural is the graphics. They’re beautiful. Every exercise section is ready in a phenomenal, iconic place someplace on the planet. (Assume the Temple of Hathor in Egypt or Machu Picchu.)
Then there’s the truth that Supernatural spared no expense in terms of music.
Every exercise is ready to tracks by the unique artists, not simply shoddy covers, they usually run the gamut from punk rock to classical. You will discover songs from Billie Elish, Metallica, The Pixies, (the artist previously often known as) The Weeknd, and so many extra. I did an ’80s roller-skating-themed exercise that had me calling, “Gloria!” My son did a high-intensity exercise set to the symphonic classical piece Kan-Kan.
I additionally like that Supernatural allows you to set health parameters with a calibration characteristic. This helps the robots within the machine scan you for peak in addition to your squat and lunge stances (you’ll be able to choose out if you cannot squat or lunge safely).
I did not strive it myself, however I think about that one may even do them seated, making them extra accessible to all ranges of potential and health.
The Cons
The problems I had with utilizing Supernatural had much less to do with this system and extra to do with sporting the Meta Quest 2 headset. There was undoubtedly a studying curve for me getting used to the machine and controllers.
Making an attempt to do a guided meditation with a tool strapped to my head was simply uncomfortable. Ditto with the stretching: The heavier headpiece simply felt cumbersome. Plus, I discovered sporting it for greater than half-hour at a time uncomfortable. [Note: This might be improved with the Meta Quest 3, as it’s supposed to be lighter, but I haven’t tried that system yet.] Luckily, you’ll be able to pause exercises to take a break from the headset.
As a remaining piece of recommendation, I extremely suggest going via the Supernatural tutorials earlier than figuring out. I did one fast tutorial and dove proper right into a exercise — then wound up a bit misplaced. So, I ended up going again and doing the tutorials. They’re nonetheless exercises, simply with extra explanations, they usually’re only some minutes lengthy.
The Verdict
The million-dollar query: Is it price it? In case you (or a child in your family) have already got a Meta Quest 2, Supernatural itself is 100% price it. There is a free trial, after which it prices $9.99/month or $99.99 for a complete yr, which is lower than plenty of month-to-month digital subscriptions.
In case you do not have already got a Meta Quest, it is a hefty extra funding. The current value drop brings the Meta Quest 2 all the way down to $299.98, however the Meta Quest 3 nonetheless rings in at a hefty $550+.
After all, the Meta affords many different apps and options, so it is all about how a lot you suppose you may use it.
In case you do determine to buy Supernatural, spring for a three-pack of silicone covers that go across the Meta Quest’s foam insert. These covers, solely $29 for a three-pack, are designed to maintain the froth from getting soaked with sweat.
In the end, in order for you one thing distinctive, simple to entry, and enjoyable so as to add to your regime, I really feel like Supernatural is a worthwhile funding. I may see myself doing it a number of occasions every week when I’ve 15 or 20 minutes throughout the day and never becoming bored.
The system ought to work nicely for anybody who’s extra homebound, whether or not as a result of parts, circumstance (e.g., a bunch of children at house with you), or accessibility. Even these with increased health ranges will discover intense, difficult exercises.
Whereas it is by no means going to switch the good outside or one-on-one private trainers, it is undoubtedly a strong step in any health journey.