Wii Fit Your Way to Healthier Tripping

by Krystle Cole - March 17, 2009

 

This is the beginning of an article series that will discuss novel ways to improve your overall health and well-being. I know most of the people that comprise NeuroSoup's audience are interested in psychedelic drugs, entheogens, shamanic substances, and their effects on the body and mind. At first glance, this article series may seem like a departure from that theme, however, it is actually intertwined with it.

It is crucial to be in good health when you depart on a entheogenic journey. Entheogens and other drugs can be particularly hard on the human body. They can have negative side effects and can deplete your energy resources drastically during the experience. They can also bring to the surface ailments, injuries, and weaknesses that you might not have even realized were there before. This is why, in preparation for trip, it is a very good idea to try to make your body as strong and healthy as possible. There are many aspects to what makes a person healthy; in this article series, I will try to touch on the main concepts.

Getting regular aerobic exercise is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy body and strong cardiovascular system. Because of this, I have tried to come up with interesting ways to get aerobic exercise. I like taking walks, but it is not always possible to walk outside because of the weather. I also am not the type of person that likes to go work out at gyms. Therefore, I needed to find something that I could do at home. I decided to try Nintendo's Wii Fit.

I found that the Wii Fit is a very fun way to get my heart rate up while playing games that keep me interested in working out. It offers fitness training of four types: aerobics, strength training, yoga, and balance games. All of the exercises increase your heart rate and/or muscle tone while developing core muscle groups that help with balance and posture.

I really enjoy the boxing and free step games within the aerobics section. These two exercises can easily keep my heart rate between 135 beats per minute and 155 beats per minute for the duration of my work out; this is a pretty decent target zone for aerobic exercise. I usually do the Wii Fit for at least a half hour four times a week. I have been using it for more than a month now and I can feel my legs getting stronger and my posture getting better. It has been a fun addition to my daily routine.

Irregardless whether you decide to get aerobic exercise by using Nintendo's Wii Fit or doing some other aerobic activity, it is important to maintain and strengthen your cardiovascular system to be in optimal health before embarking on an entheogenic journey. Many entheogens increase your heart rate and are vasoconstrictive, which can cause an increase in blood pressure. Having a strong cardiovascular system will help you adjust to this common (and most often harmless) side effect more easily and have better overall health in general.