Prep for GTA 6 with these exercises
The countdown is officially on for Grand Theft Auto VI, and while many are preparing to dive headfirst into the sprawling open world, a lesser-known physical preparation is proving just as crucial. Before you launch into hours of digital mayhem, some experts suggest you should prepare your hands and thumbs—the primary instruments of your gaming experience—with a little warm-up.
Fitness company PureGym has offered a unique set of thumb workouts, courtesy of personal trainer David Hope, designed to prime the hands before you pick up the controller. Hope’s routine treats the hands as the heavy lifters, emphasizing that your thumbs and fingers are doing the heavy lifting during an immersive gaming session.
The drills are simple, yet surprisingly effective. First, there is the mindful start: simply tapping your thumb with each finger on the same hand, a technique that offers a nice moment of mindfulness before the chaos begins.
Next up is a hand shape exercise. You spread your hand wide and make a five, then transform that into a fist with your thumb on the outside. For added flair, Hope suggests incorporating “spirit fingers” between your fists to achieve a look that is delightfully ridiculous.
Finally, there are the finger pushups. These involve pressing the fingertips of both hands onto the floor and pushing the pressure into your fingers, engaging the muscles in a targeted, functional way.
PureGym advises performing these exercises ten times each, both before and after a long gaming session. The philosophy behind the routine is clear: if you warm up before a run or a gym session, why not warm up your hands before a marathon gaming experience?
While your hands are getting their physical tune-up, the hype surrounding the game itself continues to build. With GTA VI set to release on November 19th, speculation is already reaching economic territory. An economics professor has projected that the release could lead to a significant dip in productivity, with estimates suggesting 1.5 million people might call in sick to work.
Amidst the anticipation, the real-world side of the game is also popping up. Before the launch, fans can already indulge in game-themed treats, with food like burgers and fried chicken available at venues like Miami’s Kaseya Center, which is hosting NBA games and featuring themed food options.
For those looking for a more playful alternative to the thumb drills, there is the option to engage with a minifinger skateboard, bringing back a nostalgic connection to gaming history from the days of the Game Boy Color.
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