Is Pokémon Go Exercise?

The cell phone app, “Pokémon Go” has become the newest craze, transforming the traditional card game into a virtual experience that people of all ages can play, but is Pokémon Go exercise?  If this app is getting people up and moving instead of sitting on the couch watching TV then of course it is.   The Pokémon Go app accesses the user’s location to determine which Pokémon they can catch.  So whether hunting that rogue Charmander or Bulbasaur, players become motivated by the notion that they “gotta catch ‘em all!”  Terri Schwartz, Entertainment Editor at IGN states, “Therein lies the brilliance of Pokémon Go: it gets you moving longer and farther than you would have planned otherwise, all without realizing you’re spending that extra time exercising”

So download the app and get walking, and get catching.  With caution and awareness for one’s surroundings, the physical demands of the game make Pokémon Go exercise, and playing it can help reverse the negative effects of the a sedentary lifestyle.

Please note, Physical Solutions advises against the following:

• Getting stuck in a tree
• Stepping off a cliff
• Pokémon hunting while driving to avoid crashing into a parked cop car or anything else on or off the road
• Getting robbed at gunpoint for the sake of catching another Pokémon

The goal is to be safe, smart, and healthy while having fun.  Pokémon Go can do just that!  Exercise never has to be a box to check off on your do-to list; it can be something to look forward to.  So whether you are a student in high school or a stockbroker on Wall Street, it just takes a small download to take that first step with exercise and capture your favorite Pokémon!