Usually when I talk about tabletop gaming, I explore the intellectual and social elements of it. We level up our creativity, our rapport, collaboration, and teamwork. Not often do we get to talk about the physical side of things. "Physical side?" you say, a quizzical expression leeching onto your face. Why yes, young grasshopper! Our physical fitness is most important, and is often overlooked when one prepares for a gaming experience... But really, it shouldn't. A sound body augments the mind, which helps us play better, faster, kinder, and more creatively. So why don't we exercise more? Well, for many at least, the excuse is time management...and that's a can of worms we won't get into quite yet. Instead let me share with you something quite quick. You might even say it is hasted. HIIT workouts...did I just misspell something? HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. Short workouts, usually done in circuits of a few exercises for a number of rounds. 15-20 minutes of work, tops. Now most people know I'm a push-up fiend, but the rest of my body needs help too, so first thing in the morning on Saturdays I rock this workout. Takes me a little over 15 minutes and keeps me fired up all day. Anybody can make time for that, and it helps kick the brain into high gear while burning calories before breakfast. Workout A - 5 Exercises, 4 Rounds10 Squats 10 Staggered Pushups 10 Leg Lifts 10 Raised I Pushups 10 Close Ski Squats --15-30 second rest between rounds Okay, so what's what? Squats are squats. Ski Squats are squats with feet close together, like you're skiing and about to hit slaloms. Leg Lifts are on your back, lifting your straight legs up and engaging your lower abs. Staggered Pushups alternate between one hand high, the other low; next round you switch. My Raised levels correlate directly to a step; Raised I is literally me putting my feet on the first step of a staircase and putting my hands on the floor at the incline, then pushup from there. Hit (ha) this one for 4 rounds and you're good. If that was easy, then tack on Workout B below too. Workout B - 5 Exercises, 6 Rounds10 Raised II Pushups 15 Crunches 10 Diamond or Inward Pushups 20 Scissors or Spreads 10 Burpees w/Neutral Pullup --15 Second rest between rounds Raised II is the second step on a staircase. Crunches are...crunches. Diamond pushups make a Diamond with your hands and kill your triceps - if you can't touch them together yet, just as close as you can and turn your palms inward at an angle. Scissors are achieved by lying on your back with your legs straight and elevated some inches off the floor - then you "kick" them up and down. Spreads are this, except you spread your legs in and out, all while keeping them elevated. See? Who said gamers can't work out!?
Now get working so you can do at least A FEW of the things your character can do!
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Adam SummererProfessional Game Master musician, music teacher, game designer, amateur bartender, and aspiring fiction author. 1st Saturday: Etsy updates*
2nd Saturday: Monster 3rd Saturday: Worldbuilding 4th Saturday: REST DAY Archives
May 2023
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