The Wii Fit (there is a yoga section as part of that.. I believe this is what the OP is referring to) is what got me into yoga. I bought the Wii Fit after searching for days for any place on the East Coast that has a copy (it is in very short supply and almost impossible to get a copy). The yoga section has 15 or so poses, this includes downward facing dog, warrior 2, tree pose, and so on. You stand on the Wii board which knows a lot - it knows your weight, your BMI, where you are on the board, your center of gravity... you are rated up to 4 stars for each pose. You have to keep your center of gravity in a little box on the screen and be as steady as possible. A coach shows you the pose and gives you guidelines (He/she will say "You're a little shaky; try steadying your balance"). The steadier you are the closer to the center of the little box on the screen you keep your center of gravity, the higher your score.
I thought this was all kind of interesting and wondered about what a real yoga class would be like and a few days later I was sweating in a Vinyasa class. I do have to say I was really glad I had done that little bit on the Wii because I knew enough to follow that open level class. I would have been SO lost if I hadn't known that little bit of basic info.
Since I don't know that much about yoga since I only have a month of experience.. the only things *I* can say are lacking are that it does not at all instruct you or care about proper alignment. Until I went to a class with someone telling me very specifically about the correct alignments and correcting me, I was doing quite a bit wrong. And, there is no flowing.. it's just doing one pose and then staying in it for the few minutes while it keeps track of your steadiness and center of gravity.. not at all like class or one's practice when you connect and flow from assana to assana with specific breathing and movements. Quite a different experience. And, of course, the entire spiritual and mental element are totally lacking in the video game lol.
I did read one yoga teacher's review of the Wii Fit's yoga; she said that most of it was fairly technically correct but it didn't exactly garner high reviews from her either nor generate any kind of authentic yoga experience.
It was, however, enough though to get my interest in yoga piqued; and now I go to 8 to 10 classes a week!
And, at the very least, the Wii Fit is a lot of fun - aside from the yoga there are A LOT of different exercises and games.
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07-14-2008, 07:51 AM
. I love that it got you into yoga Scarlet/F let's hope more follow you and that it helps to get people active, that can only be a good thing.
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