My first disclosure is that I am not a gamer. I haven’t played a video game since Sim City back in 1990! I didn’t even play on-line solitaire when I was working for the federal government at a desk job like so many of my friends. It’s not due to any liberal socio-political philosophy like “kill your TV” (I’m a huge American Idol fan) or “question authority” (although I often do). I’ve just never made the time to cultivate an appreciation for video games. I am an incredibly outgoing social being. I also have a problem sitting still for more than 10 minutes. Good qualities to have being a yoga teacher. Bad qualities to have for pushing paper across a desk at work or for mastering video games.

Enter the Wii. My niece and her boyfriend purchased one last Christmas. They went into great detail explaining to me what made this particular system so amazing with unbridled enthusiasm I’d rarely seen expressed in any other area of their lives. And it really did sound, well, neat. However, I was unable to join their glee in anticipation of hooking it up that evening. I felt like an old fart. Maybe it was a generational thing? Soon I could see their shadows against the window of their apartment. They seemed rather spastic and repetitious, like the figures at a rave or a trance dance. I reflected at the time that it was an interesting intersection. A video game that had the power to get gamers off the couch and moving as well as giving fidgety people like myself a way to enjoy games by giving our bodies something to do while our minds focused on the strategies. That is pretty much where I left it and went right back to my busy life as a mom, wife and business owner. That is, until Wii Fit was released this week.

My second disclosure is that I rolled my eyes as far back in my head as I could when I heard the rumors through the blogvine. Wii Yoga. You’ve got to be kidding, right? But right there I stopped., recognizing this resistance. Well, why not a yoga video game? Then I began to see its limitations in balance with its advantages. I won’t restate the details of the game or the system. For those, please read this story on CNN.com.

First, it is beneficial to go to a class where a teacher can assist you with proper alignment in poses. However many people do yoga at home with DVDs, TV programs, audio CDs and books. I met a woman a few years ago who lived in northern New Hampshire her entire life and had never been to a yoga class until that day even though she’s been practicing yoga for over 20 years. Her yoga practice was beautiful and her alignment excellent. With a slim, muscular build and a calm presence, clearly she enjoyed the many benefits of yoga while building her practice from a book she’d purchased at a used book store in the late 70’s. For people who can’t get to a class due to schedules, economics or location, the Wii Fit may provide a convenient way to get introduced to yoga.

Second, it is important to build a complete practice; one that includes a sequence of postures and breathwork that leaves the student feeling balanced and relaxed regardless of the physical intensity of the practice. According to published reports, this is a shortcoming of the Wii Fit. The game builds upon a series of 15 basic poses. You earn points to access additional poses to diversify the session. However, several reviewers have commented that this does not provide the player with an opportunity to learn how to sequence a practice or leave one feeling like a complete session was undertaken. I think this is where the difference between a yoga student and a yoga “player” is made distinct. A student learns about not only the physical poses but how to sequence and advance a continuing practice complete with breathwork and self study. A yoga player enjoys creating forms with the body to maximize points in order to move to the next level and eventually win the game. Certainly this can be fun, invigorating and help to develop strength and balance. It is not a replacement, however, for an ongoing system of study and practice which a student undertakes.

This brings me to my third observation. Wii Fit doesn’t offer the sense of community that you experience at a yoga class. We are social creatures. Now, more than ever, I believe we are seeking ways to be in community with one another because our lives are becoming increasingly isolated by the technologies that we depend on for our society to function. At work we IM our coworkers rather than walking 10 feet to pop into their cubicle. We text message rather than call and hear a voice. We shuffle our kids around from one activity to another while they watch DVDs on the back of our headrest and we’re talking on our mobile phone. Due to our 24/7 society, 30 to 40 percent of families don’t eat dinner together 5 to 7 nights a week[1]. Of those that do eat together, almost one third eat in front of the television[2]. Hence, the rise in popularity of all-group exercise fitness facilities. These are gyms that don’t have cardio equipment and only classes! Yoga, as a group exercise class, is being offered at more and more gyms, some creating additional space dedicated to mind-body classes like yoga, pilates, tai chi and martial arts. People get the power of yoga to reconnect them to themselves and to their lives. The value in the Wii Fit may be in getting yoga out into the market place and into the living rooms of people who may never have otherwise given it a try. Some may simply enjoy being yoga players and set out to conquer the game. Some may look at the opportunity as a way to get in a little bit yoga in an otherwise chaotic and challenging life. Other may get hooked and look around for a class to join. Then their journey will transform from yoga player to student.

What do you think? Will Wii Fit transform fitness for millions of Americans or be a fun fad like Tae Bo® and Jazzercise®?