"Supernatural" on the Oculus Quest 2 (see videos below)

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The Now sacrificing mantra of "No pain, no gain" propped up by The Old Ethics of Sacrifice is dying. But it keeps sticking its ugly head up even in the most enlightened of places. I am even reluctant to mention it in the same breath that I use to talk about Supernatural, an amazing out-of-this-world exercise app that runs on the Oculus Quest 2.

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So I'll let that go for now and come back to it later. Let me tell you what's so breathtaking about Supernatural. 

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Now dominates Next and is "winning" in the area of exercise

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There are a few of us who easily associate intense exercise with a lot of pleasure. Most of us, however, including me, are not included in that coterie. The CDC says only 23% of Americans meet the minimum requirements for exercise and a lot of those are using "willpower" and other forceful means to try to ensure they get the minimum.

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For myself, I've been able to keep myself in pretty good shape by taking advantage of exercise methods that my Now is agreeable to, like using a rebounder, a whole-body vibration machine, and high-intensity exercise only requiring 20 seconds at one time. See Fit in five minutes a week.

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Enter a whole new world of Now-Next Integrity in the domain of keeping fit

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The creators of Supernatural have done an exquisite job of maximizing the benefits for Now (loving the process) and Next (creating great fitness for the future) that move together hand-in-hand and second-by-second in the more than 500 workouts (and counting) available inside the app.

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Each workout combines

 

• scenic exercise venues from around the world with...

• foot-stomping music with...

• as-you-play coaching tips with...

• interactive video action that makes you want to move and groove with playful power.

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In the snippet I recorded below, with me behind the two virtual white and black bats, I'm striking it rich at Ursa Beach in Portugal in rhythm with "Where Did Our Love Go" by Soft Cell and then onto The Lut Desert in Iran with "The Promise" by When in Rome.  

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In the first minute, I recorded my steps in selecting and moving into the video. Then I give you about thirty seconds with the coach doing some warmups and starting the workout (I removed part of the warmup). Then at 1:35 into the video, I start batting those targets, trying to hit the white targets with the white bat and the black targets with the black bat. You'll see two and half minutes of video before I stopped it.

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Can't know it 'til you do it

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I did my best to describe the experience of Supernatural to Heidi. After she finally donned the headset and hand controllers, she experienced it for herself. I've worked with Heidi for twelve years now (as of 2022). While watching her jumping around hitting those targets inside of Supernatural, I saw a part of Heidi that I had never seen fully before. She told me afterward that my description gave her less than 5% of what it's actually like.
 

I HAD TO carve out some time

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I had to use some creativity to carve out an additional hour a day in my cornicopious life. But with both Now and Next chomping at the bit, I found a way. I do at least thirty minutes each morning of Supernatural usually starting around 2:30 AM since I get up by 2:00 AM each day.

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I tune out some things the coaches say

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Now for the caveat. The coaches for these workouts, to some extent, are still living inside of the old no-pain-no-gain, instead of the new more-pleasures-more-treasures paradigm, as well as the idea that we need to be pushed by others. I get some value from some of their coaching, but I just tune out, and I suggest others do the same when they say things like, 

 

• “Let’s make everything we do here matter. Let’s leave a little stronger today. Stronger than last time. Better than last time." or 

• “Right when it gets tough, right when all the voices in your head are telling you to take it back, rest or quit, that’s when we should push the hardest. It’s the choices in those moments that build character, resiliency and the capacity to take on the larger challenges ahead.” or

• “What is the perfect vision of the body YOU want? That’s what you’re working for! Fight for that!” or

• "I've got your back, just push yourself a little harder."

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These attitudes, these remnants of the attempt to create and maintain Next's domination over Now, are the only blemishes that remain on the amazing job that Supernatural does to create a great life in the domain of keeping fit.

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Two types of aerobic exercise

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Supernatural provides both batting and boxing aerobics workouts. The boxing challenges you with additional arm flexibilities: punches, side cuts, and uppercuts.

 

PS. I just found out that the batting, to do it "right" gives you the opportunity to play with those same flexibilities.

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I will continue with my fit-in-five-minutes-a-week routines

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These routines stimulate a type of fitness that Supernatural doesn't naturally do.

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Here are the specs

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My Oculus Quest 2 system (with larger memory) cost $400. A minimal system goes for $300. It requires wifi and a Facebook account. Many apps are free on Oculus. Most apps require a one-time fee of $10 to $30 or more. Supernatural is a subscription service. It comes with a 14-day free trial. After that, it's $19 a month or $179 for a year. They are continually adding new workouts and new coaches.

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Here are two additional videos to give you more feel for the Supernatural world

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I'm behind the wheel (the bats). I didn't turn on my microphone, but you'll hear the coach and the music.

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