Wii Fit Beginning Yoga Poses
In her review of Wii Fit for Suite 101, Susan Kristoff provides a high-level overview of all of the sections of the Wii Fit program: Yoga, Strength, Aerobics, and Balance.
For the purpose of this review, the focus will be on the yoga portion alone, in particular the first four poses available when you start up the game. There has been a great deal of skepticism regarding the concept of a yoga video game: whether it is effective, whether it takes the "soul" out of yoga. This review does not attempt to delve into opinion. For a critical review of Wii Fit, please see "A Yogi Speaks About Wii Fit Yoga."
The primary goal for this review is to clear up some important safety notes and modifications that would be mentioned by a yoga instructor, were you to try these poses in a studio.
The First Four Poses
The Wii "unlocks" poses (or asanas) as you practice more and earn more "fit credits" on the game. It starts off with four poses in the yoga section that are automatically available. Nintendo has named the yoga poses a bit freely, so the sanskrit and more common translations of these poses are also included.
Deep Breathing
It wouldn't be yoga at all without some attention to the breath.
This segment introduces the expanding and contracting blue circles that are repeated during the poses to remind players to breathe.
Try to remember to inhale when you are expanding or lengthening your torso, and exhale when you are contracting or folding your chest and belly.
Half Moon Pose
Nintendo's "Half Moon" is a basic standing side stretch variation on Tadasana or Mountain pose.
Protect your back, and don't overdo this stretch - think about stretching your spine upwards, rather than bending it over to the side.
The Sanskrit words for "Half Moon Pose" Ardha Chandra Asana can be used to describe side bends, deep standing back bends, or an intermediate - advanced balancing pose.
Warrior Pose
The pose depicted on the Wii Fit is in fact "Warrior Two" or Virabhadrasana 2 in Sanskrit.
This is one of the poses that is demonstrated incorrectly, and needs special attention to protect the knees:
- The heel of the front foot should be planted securely on the balance board.
- The knee on that front leg should not extend out beyond the front ankle. You should strive to keep the knee in direct alignment above the ankle at a ninety-degree angle.
- You should strive to push the front knee outward in such a way that you can look down and see your big toe.
Change it up: This Wii Routine can also be used successfully to practice the following additional Yoga Poses:
- Warrior One, or Virabhadrasana 1 is especially stable
- Crescent Pose or Ashta Chandrasana incorporates a nice backbend
- Trikonasana or Triangle Pose (as opposed to the Reversed Triangle Demonstrated on the Wii) is a great inner hip and psoas stretch
- Viparita Virabhadrasana or Reverse Warrior (also called Peaceful Warrior) is a nice counterpose to Warrior 2.
Tree Pose
Tree Pose, or Vrksasana is well represented in its final form on the Wii Fit.
However, many first-time yogis will not be able to reach their inner thighs with the bottoms of their feet! The acceptable modification would be to place the foot on the inside of the calf.Be sure not to place the foot on the knee, because this will strain the standing leg!
Increase your score by finding a still point or Dristi off of the the television screen. This gazing point will help you balance and improve your stability.
Additional Wii Fit Yoga Poses
To discover safety notes and modifications for the remaining fifteen yoga poses on the Wii Fit game, see Seven Additional Poses on the Wii Balance Board.
