The problem with fitness routines is just that And I get bored and tired of it quickly I enjoy new challenges and innovations when it comes to working out, and now that it's getting colder and I'm staying home more often, I'm looking for a change To that end, I've been eagerly trying out Supernatural, a virtual reality (VR) fitness app for the Oculus Quest

On October 26, Supernatural released its newest modality, Boxing, joining its library of full-body cardio exercises Download the app to your Oculus, and within minutes you can be punching away in the safety of your home gym (or living room in my case, living in a small apartment)

I was a little skeptical at first that I could actually work up a sweat using VR, but I did: the breathtaking setting, eclectic soundtrack, energetic and encouraging trainers, and unique 360-degree virtual reality qualities combined together made me love it More than that, the fun factor completely saved my workout routine from getting stuck in a rut

Supernatural is an app for Oculus Quest, $1899/month, $17999/year, somewhat similar to Beat Saber if you've ever tried it,

and it's a great way to get in shape and get in shape

Their motto is "Train Near, Go Far" That's because all of their programs take place in high-definition, 360-degree locations, from Chichen Itza to Death Valley to the moon (literally, made from NASA panoramas and footage of the 1969 moon landing) Sessions are led by coaches with their own specialties and styles

Like other connected fitness apps, Supernatural comes with a companion mobile app that allows users to add friends, keep score, and share workout photos and videos It is also compatible with the Apple Watch and most major fitness trackers

The first modality, Supernatural Flow, involves swinging toward a flying orb with a lightsaber-like bat As you first begin, an instructor will guide you through crouching, turning, and smashing the orb with different hands in the area you have designated as the Oculus play area

Supernatural Boxing is similar, but instead of swinging a bat, you punch with your hands Jabs, crosses, and hooks are thrown at the orbs while ducking and weaving under flying bars

Both train to more than 1,000 hit songs from all genres, including pop, rap, rock, country, and even classical and jazz The apps also offer meditation and recovery sessions

So far, Flow has 400-500 workouts, with new ones being released daily Boxing will start with eight workouts, with new options being added each week (Learn more at GetSupernaturalcom)

After downloading Supernatural to my Oculus Quest headset, I took a short quiz about my fitness level and preferences They then began the "Getting Started" program, led by Supernatural's fitness director and Muay Thai athlete, Rian Pedante After a brief warm-up and instruction, I found myself on the Yuanyang Terraces in China with two bats (a white bat in my right hand and a black bat in my left) To the lively beats of "Walking on Sunshine" and "Take on Me," I swung the bats at the flying orbs, matching the colors of the bats and orbs

In my ear, Leanne gave me helpful tips and tricks, such as swinging all the way to the end and swiveling to the portal that would release the new orb

After getting comfortable with the moves, I tried one of the new boxing programs It was a low-intensity workout called "Boxing Basics," led by Mark Harari and set in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra, Ad Dair The soundtrack included Kanye West's "All of the Light's" and Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar"

Even at low intensity, my heart rate began to rise as I jabbed into the orbs and began weaving under and beside the incoming bar; by the end of the 20-minute session (which included a warm-up and cool-down) I was a little breathless and sweaty Other high-intensity sessions left me breathing hard and sweating profusely I was tired, but had the exhilaration a good workout should feel

The VR element is what separates Supernatural from following an instructor on a YouTube video In the latter, you have no idea if you are doing something right or if your form is correct I just imitate their movements as best I can With Supernatural, I felt like I had a better stance simply because I had to time my punches and swings to smash the orb, pivot to reach the other players, and duck a certain amount and in a certain direction to avoid the bar

Supernatural sets itself apart from other VR fitness apps with its stunning visuals Every time I did a new workout, I waited with anticipation to see where the workout would take place I love that most of the workouts encourage you to pivot and rotate so that you can see the entire 360 degree view I felt like I was traveling around the world for the workouts

Aside from the satisfaction of a proper workout, I had a lot of fun The sessions felt like a game, like playing Fruit Ninja in 3D I didn't compete with my friends for scores or leaderboard positions, but I celebrated every time I reached 100% accuracy in my strikes

As winter approached, I would lose the desire to get outside and exercise (I even gave up my gym membership altogether) I had resigned myself to the same old routine of jogging on a treadmill, but now I can work up a sweat on a glacier in Tibet Technology is wonderful