As the name suggests, “exergaming” is blend of two activities—video games and exercise. At first glance this may seem to be a contradiction. Video games are fun and relaxing while exercise has to be tough and done in a gym, right? Not necessarily! Video gaming does not have to be a sedentary pastime; it can aid in our pursuit of an active lifestyle.

With technology that can actually track body movements and reactions, we no longer have to control characters with a joystick. Instead, we actually become the characters by controlling their body movements on the screen through our body movements in real time! Exergamers can get involved in a dazzling array of activities—dance, aerobics, kickboxing, sports moves, martial arts, etc.—that they otherwise may never try. Remember that even if you are totally averse to structured exercise, this does not mean that you cannot have fun being active! Exergaming is great entertainment and offers an opportunity for social interaction. You can even engage your competitive spirit by monitoring your daily progress and challenging family members. Watch out! This form of exercise may just become addictive.