Canadian gym incorporates Nintendo gaming system into
circuit training
TORONTO - A Canadian health club is offering a new form of exercise
for people bored with the treadmill or cycling classes the Wii
Workout Station.
Studeo 55 in Vancouver, British Columbia, has incorporated a
Nintendo Wii workout station into circuit training where users can
punch, run and jump with the systems movement-sensitive
controller.
While some other gyms have combined stationary bikes with
PlayStations and Xboxes in a bid to win younger clients, a
spokesman for Nintendo Canada said this is the first they have
heard of a gym using the Wii in its schedule
Nathan Mellalieu, the owner of Studeo 55, said he decided to bring
video games into a fitness environment after watching how much fun
some children were having and, more importantly, seeing them
sweating.
Were always trying to break down paradigms and keep things fresh.
Its used here to break up the monotony of traditional workouts,
he told Reuters.
He estimates that one session of Wii boxing, tennis or bowling
equates to going for a brisk walk and can burn between 75 to 125
calories.
All of our clients get great results, but the biggest result we
see is the smile on their faces. People have to understand that fun
is important, said Mellalieu.
Improving fitness
Clients at the health club are encouraged to use the Wii as part of
circuit training, warm-up or cool-down, with the system set up in a
400 square-foot theater room with a large projection screen.
Its pleasing to see people play video games who would have never
played video games before, Farjad Iravani, marketing manager for
Nintendo Canada, told Reuters.
Since the Wii was released late last year, various studies have
highlighted its ability to improve fitness and even lead to weight
loss by getting armchair athletes moving.
A study conducted by researchers at the Liverpool John Moores
University in England found that regular use of the console could
burn up to 1,830 calories a per week the equivalent of almost
four Big Macs.
Nintendo is also currently developing Wii Fit, a 2008 video game
with an array of activities, from yoga to aerobics.
Kim Bey, a former Olympic swimmer, was among the first to take a
shot at the virtual workout at Studeo 55 when it was first
introduced two weeks ago, adding it was an easy learn.
You get what you put into it and you can make it a pretty
difficult workout for yourself. I broke a sweat in the boxing for
sure and as far as incorporating it into your workout, its like
taking a slight break and yet still working out, Bey said in a
telephone interview.
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