FitXR: The Ultimate in Exergaming?

The future of fitness. Plenty of workout apps can help you achieve your PD exercise goal, but the one that works best for me is FitXR, a series of “exergames” that are guaranteed to improve your mood and increase your vigor. Wired Magazine called it the “future of fitness,” and Forbes awarded it the “most intense workout” in its roundup of exercise apps. FitXR has a deep catalog of classes (supposedly over 1,000), easy-to-follow instructions, diverse teaching styles, and up-to-date technology. Note, there’s a subscription fee of $12.99 a month.

The FitXR studios. FitXR divides the various exercise disciplines into studios. My favorites are HIIT, Boxing, and Zumba, but I also enjoy the beginner and intermediate Dance classes (which, to my surprise, triggered the highest consistent heart rate). You can see examples in the video, above. Here’s a summary of the various studios.

Dance Studio. This studio combines choreographic moves with pop music. You score points based on how well you mimic the trainer’s moves. The Dance Studio increased my heart rate more consistently than any other FitXR studio. The PD benefits include agility, aerobics, and memory improvement.

The Zumba Studio. Even if you’re not a fan of Salsa, Merengue, or Reggaeton music, you can still enjoy the workout provided by Dahrio and his compadres in the invigorating Zumba Studio (watch out for the random explosions of confetti). Like the Dance Studio, you score points based on how well you mimic the trainer’s moves.

HIIT Studio. The High-Intensity Interval Training Studio is my go-to when seeking a ten-to-fifteen-minute dose of anaerobic exercise. (anaerobic refers to short, fast, high-intensity exercises). FitXR’s HIIT Studio has been called “whack-a-mole grounded in sports science.” It’s designed to improve reflexes, endurance, and agility. Your score is based on the number of targets that you smash.

SCULPT Studio. This studio is good for toning your body (or specific parts of your body) while getting an aerobic workout. Trainers combine isometrics, barre, pilates, pulsing movement, and repetition. Scoring is similar to the HIIT Studio (from which Sculpt is derived).

BOX Studio FitXR’s Box studio is a cardio workout utilizing shadow boxing techniques. You hit targets and avoid obstacles while ducking, bobbing, and squatting. Your score is based on your accuracy destroying the flying targets and the number of consecutive hits you achieve. The Box Studio provides aerobic benefits and improves response time, coordination, and upper body strength.

COMBAT Studio Think of this studio as boxing plus martial arts (for example, you may begin a session in a martial arts Horse stance and end it in a boxing stance. Like the Box Studio (from which Combat is derived), you score based on speed and accuracy, destroying the flying targets. Your score also improves if you achieve a long streak of successful punches.