Be Fit With Biray

I had the opportunity to lunch with Ernie Medina (“Exergaming Evangelist”) this weekend while I was visiting southern California. I met him on Sunday afternoon outside of his exergaming facility XRTainment Zone. I had first heard of Ernie while exploring the exergaming community amidst working on my master’s thesis. In 2006, I also met him briefly at the Games For Health conference in Baltimore, MD.

Little did I know, we would both create Google Alerts for ‘exergames’ (or some derivative of the word) and follow similar links and blogs on the topic over the next two years. Everytime I’d come across an exergaming post, Ernie would have already been there, usually having posted the first comment. And if someone wrote about exergaming unfavorably, he was quick to counter the post with reasons in support of exergaming – justifying with hyperlinks, health statistics, and gaming research to back up his comments. In addition, he would email the exergaming listserv and suggest they do the same!

When I arrived to the Zone, Ernie enthusiastically showed me the facility (btw, the pictures on their website hardly do it justice – it’s so much better live). The ‘Zone’ really sets the bar when it comes to creating an optimum exergaming facility. Its comfortable layout and design (use of space), exercise programming (full with testing and assessments), and community outreach efforts are far better than most traditional fitness facilities. They even have a kitchen area devoted to full cooking classes and a room for Yoga. Plus, they have free wireless (what a bonus!)

You can’t help but appreciate (and support) the lengths Ernie is going to in the name of exergaming! Spending a few hours with him last Sunday made it evident why he truly is the “Exergaming Evangelist”!

Thank you, Ernie, for your time and hospitality!
See you all at the Games For Health Conference this May!