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“Being physically fit is “another way to have an edge. If you’re eating well, you’re going to have more mental clarity,” says Tim Spencer, a longtime gamer and personal trainer.
With his wife Nicole Du Cane, Spencer launched Heroes of Fitness, a Twitch livestream that combines gaming and workouts and encourages gamers to adopt a more healthy and active lifestyle.
In the esports world, “longevity is a big issue, so even when a player gets to their mid-20s, they’re already getting towards the end of their career,” Cane explained to MensHealth.com. “So they’re looking at ways to prolong their career to stay mentally sharp, but also with their reflexes.”
Every stream, the duo goes through a routine of hip flexor stretches to combat the constant sitting, hand wrist stretches to combat wrist pronation while playing with a mouse and keyboard, and shoulder, neck, and hamstring stretches. Cane and Spencer are also certified kettlebell instructors, so often they incorporate kettlebell routines along with bodyweight exercises. In the five-minute exercise break between 30-minute playing sessions, they do push-ups, squats, kettlebell swings, deadlifts, and ab workouts. Saturdays are reserved for yoga.”
Kettlebell Krusher’s Take:
The common stereotype among video game enthusiasts is that they are lazy and/or out of shape. Sure, they may have great reflexes that propel them to the top of their game, but how could they possibly stay fit while remaining idle? It’s really no different from someone who has a sedentary job. I’ve worked plenty of desk jobs where 95% of my time was spent sitting in a chair. The only way to stay in shape for me was to be diligent in exercising.
It seems like that same mentality is starting to take place in the world of esports. It’s no secret that exercising is not just good for the body but for the mind as well. For professional gamers, that split-second of clarity can mean the difference between virtual life and death. Of course, it would be easy to dismiss professional gamers to those who don’t keep up-to-date with the industry. The fact remains, the world of esports has exploded into a $1.5 billion industry.
The idea of incorporating kettlebell exercises in between matches is a fascinating one. Using kettlebells is one of the quickest ways to burn calories and strengthen muscles. Having such a short break period makes it crucial that you get the most out of your body before the next match. It’s something I would have never thought of in the world of gaming. I have to admire these cyber athletes’ determination for winning!
