At Black Box VR, we love sharing the real stories of our members. Today, we’re featuring Mark Barnard, whose journey with us shows how our immersive VR fitness experience can truly transform lives – not just physically, but mentally and socially too.
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Finding Hope Through Innovation
Before discovering Black Box VR, Mark faced significant health challenges. Following a serious surgery for a perforated colon, he found himself at a physical low point, weighing just 125 pounds and feeling depleted of both physical strength and mental energy.
“I was so physically low, I couldn’t even tell you how low I felt because they kind of go together,” Mark shares. “When I was so fatigued and so down from the exhaustion from the surgery, the mind doesn’t have a lot of energy to think about positive things.”
A New Approach to Recovery
Traditional physical therapy helped Mark initially, but as he puts it: “Physical therapy is just not adequate. I mean, it gets you out of the hole, but it doesn’t get you climbing.”
What drew Mark to Black Box VR was the gamification aspect. As someone who enjoyed video games years ago but hadn’t found time for them recently, the idea of combining gaming with fitness intrigued him. He had no intention of starting at a traditional gym, knowing he’d likely “get bored and quit.”
“I knew that if it was game-based and I was having a good time, I’d keep coming back,” Mark explains. “And I wouldn’t notice the effort that I’m putting into getting stronger… I just show up and have fun, and that I knew would work for me.”
Overcoming Gym Anxiety
Like many people, Mark had reservations about fitness environments. “Some people have an opinion about what a gym is for and who it’s for, and I didn’t feel like that was me,” he admits. “I’m not a muscle type of person, and I didn’t think that would do anything for me.”
He worried about potential injuries from improper form and felt anxious about not knowing the basics of weightlifting. These concerns disappeared once he started at Black Box VR.
“As soon as I started coming, I realized that it takes all the worry away from me,” Mark says. “The machine sets itself up based on my physique and what I’m going to be going for that day, not for someone else, and it changes throughout my session as I’m exercising.”
The Surprising Benefits
After 200 visits, Mark has seen remarkable improvements:
- Physical healing: “I had rotator cuff injuries that are no problem, no pain at all now. Used to be painful when I’d sleep on my side. Not anymore.”
- Energy boost: “I am able to go home after working out and I have more energy than before I came in.”
- Mental clarity: “In the game, you get so mentally immersed… it’s a battle in my own mind to manage both at the same time. So, actually, that’s gonna give me mental growth as well as physical growth.”
- Social connections: “One of the things that I didn’t expect to love about Black Box is the social aspect. I never considered the gym a social environment… yet the people here are so friendly.”
The Black Box VR Difference
What sets us apart from traditional gyms? Mark points to several key differences:
- Clean, quiet, private environment: “The booth where I work out is private, different than I ever expected, and it’s so simple.”
- Simplified equipment: “I have one set of handles. I don’t have a whole bunch of equipment wandering around trying to figure out which one to use and waiting my turn to jump onto it.”
- Guided instructions: “I don’t have to worry about learning it wrong or doing it wrong.”
- Comprehensive app: “The app is so sophisticated at making it simple for me that I can keep track of my goals. I can review my workout, including a video. I can share it with others.”
From Skeptic to Believer
Today, Mark is a passionate advocate for our VR fitness experience. When asked what he would say to someone who thinks VR fitness is just a gimmick, his response is simple: “I’d say, I’ve got the data to show you the difference. Let’s just go find out. You can come with me and we’ll have fun. If you don’t like it, don’t come back. I’m gonna keep coming for the results.”
His message to anyone on the fence about joining Black Box VR?
“There’s nothing here to hurt you. Nothing here that you can’t learn… And as far as not knowing if it’s for you or not, there’s no way to compare it with anything else because there is nothing else like it. So come on in. Grab a handle, shake a leg, and have some fun, and decide later on your own.”
Ready to dive in? Let’s make fitness your new favorite game. Welcome to the future – welcome to Black Box VR!
About Black Box VR
Black Box VR is the world’s first virtual reality esport that combines resistance training, HIIT cardio, and intense gaming to deliver a science-backed workout experience. In our luxurious gym locations, members are able to build muscle, lose fat, and get fit while playing an addictive game.
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