The kids got Wii for Christmas and we got the Wii Fit Plus and I have tried the yoga portion several times. The yoga practice is more a fitness workout than a true yoga practice. For example, there are very few references to breathing, compared to the typical yoga class or DVD.
For most asanas, you need to use the Wii Fit balance board. Instructions are given to perform the poses on the balance board and as you are in the pose, you can check your progress on the screen. This has its good points and bad points.
A good thing about this method is you can check your alignment and balance in the pose. If you are not distributing your weight evenly, the game will tell you and you can shift your balance.
One problem with this method is the poses are a bit different when using the balance board. In some asanas, this feels awkward, such as downward facing dog and a few of the other standing poses. The balance board felt in the way most of the time.
The number of poses included in Wii Fit is limited. There are only a small fraction of the poses you may experience in an hour long yoga class. You can create your own practice, but you are stuck with the ones included on the menu.
It is also a bit difficult to get into a flowing series. You get to choose your poses and build your own practice. However, the Wii graphic trainer is programmed to perform one asana and return to start position. You’ll have to use your imagination and ignore some of the prompts to create a flowing series on this game.
The Wii Fit uses a graphic on the screen and you must make sure your dot is centered on the balance board to be balanced in the pose. I had a few problems with this idea. One is the complete distraction of trying to stay in balance. It’s easy to spend more time looking at the screen than relaxing and breathing in the pose.
Including yoga on the Wii Fit Plus is good, even if the practice isn’t the best. I’m sure some people have tried yoga for the first time and may seek other instruction at a yoga studio in the future. While this is a good introduction, for most people who practice regularly, it won’t add much to your practice.