A new research study has concluded that workouts on the virtual reality fitness platform Supernatural are equivalent to traditional cardio and fitness activities such as running, boxing, and swimming. This finding addresses previous skepticism regarding the effectiveness of VR fitness.
The study was led by Dr. Ryan Rhodes at the University of Victoria in Canada and co-authored by Tabitha Craig and Dr. Yoah Sui. The objective was to quantify the results of exercising in a VR headset compared to traditional forms of cardiovascular exercise.
According to the study, Supernatural qualifies as a vigorous activity, helping users meet their recommended physical activity guidelines more efficiently. Specifically, it suggests that users can achieve 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week with Supernatural, which is half the time required for 150 minutes of low to moderate physical activity.
Supernatural workouts like Supernatural Flow provide a full-body cardio experience comparable to running. Meanwhile, Supernatural Boxing offers an intensity similar to real-life boxing or aerobic dancing.
“There is a common misconception that workouts have to be a no-pain, no-gain situation,” says Leanne Pedante, Supernatural’s Head of Fitness. “This study proves that you can experience the joy and fun that many report feeling in their Supernatural fitness routine without compromising in terms of energy expended.”
Aaron Koblin, Co-Founder of Supernatural, adds: “We’ve always believed that the best workout is the one you actually do, and Supernatural was created to improve lives through making movement accessible, enjoyable and fun.”
