Yoga (Wii) from Jowood is a new fitness title that aims to introduce you to the world of yoga.  The title is compatible with the Wii balance board but can also be played with just the Wii remote and offers guidance and instruction on thirty different poses and nine different routines.

There are three modes of play available.  The first, Story Mode, offers a more comprehensive introduction to both the theory and practice behind yoga.  A ‘tour’ of the Yoga Ashram will provide you with a wealth of information about yoga, including its history, yoga and diet, different forms, chakras and the various poses.  You will also have the opportunity to see how each of the poses used in the title are performed and practice them yourself.  For anyone interested in obtaining more detailed information about yoga, this is a very nice introduction, though you will need to set aside some time as the Story Mode is quite lengthy.  You can, however, break off at any time and return to it at a later stage.

The second mode, Training Mode, enables you to practice each of the poses without playing through the full story mode.  In both Story Mode and Training Mode you can ask to see the guru demonstrate a pose and then try it yourself.  If you have a Wii balance board you will be able to see feedback on both your balance and the pressure you are exerting.  As someone who has always struggled with balance, I found this extremely useful.  A common problem I have is assuming I am balanced when in fact I am leaning back: the board picked up on this and it showed on screen, allowing me to adjust my posture.  A breathing indicator also shows on screen; lungs which expand when you are to inhale and contract when you are to exhale.  Try as I might I kept getting this the wrong way round but I consoled myself that at least my breathing was steady, even if it was backwards!

If you don’t have a Wii balance board don’t despair.  The Wii remote can also determine how well you maintain your balance and will show a steady or unsteady hand onscreen depending on how well you are managing to keep your balance and remain still.

The final mode of play is Routine Mode, where you can choose from nine different routines.  The ‘at home’ routine is a general all-rounder that most people could undertake and there is also a routine for students.  Additionally, there are more specific routines on offer which focus on specific areas of the body or ailments including abdominal, cold, backache, headache, heart, arthritis and obesity.  During the routine you do not receive the feedback from the Wii balance board or Wii remote that you can receive in the Story and Training Modes so it is worthwhile spending some time practicing the poses to ensure you are comfortable with them before progressing on to a routine.

There are some slight flaws to Yoga (Wii).  In the routines there is limited verbal guidance to tell you when you should be changing position or coming out of a pose.  Unless you’re very familiar with the poses you are doing, this can mean contorting to try and catch a glimpse at the TV to see what you should be doing next.  I wouldn’t recommend this!  It’s probably worth committing more time to practicing so you know your timings without having to be told.  Additionally, when the gurus were demonstrating poses, I liked to try and follow at the same time as I found it helped it to sink in more easily.  However, when the poses are demonstrated you are required to keep pressing ‘A’ to acknowledge each stage of the pose.  Again, I found this required some contortion on my part so, again, not to be recommended unless you have someone with you who can do the ‘A’ pressing for you!

However, minor quibbles are very much balanced by the range of things on offer here.  It’s clear that Jowood have really focused on trying to produce a title that doesn’t just throw a range of poses at you but actually helps you have a fuller understanding of yoga as part of a way of life or state of mind.  The ‘About Yoga’ option on the title offers information on fourteen different aspects of yoga, including its origins, breathing techniques, yoga myths, yoga at the office and a yogic diet.  The poses are easy to follow and for each pose the guru explains the benefits to your general health or to specific parts of the body.  The music played throughout the title is soothing, rather than stimulating, helping you to develop and maintain a relaxed state of mind.  It seems they really have thought of everything.

This is a lovely title which focuses on the importance of both mental and physical health and wellbeing.  It was enjoyable to work through and I would certainly recommend using the Wii balance board to get the full experience if possible.  Whilst it might not be quite the 100% experience claimed on the box, it certainly is a 100% introductory experience and that’s definitely good enough for me.

**Review by Donna Haw**