Pioneered by Nintendo, Wii Fit is an accessory to the Nintendo Wii, a video gaming system that uses your own motion to simulate action on screen. Wii Fit features specialized software and a Wii board that doubles as a training mat and scale to track your progress. The Wii Fit offers exercises you can follow along with in four categories: yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. Through regular use, you can experience fitness benefits.
Increased Flexibility
Wii Fit promotes flexibility through yoga exercises and warm-up and cool-down stretching exercises before engaging in other exercise programs. The yoga activity on Wii Fit works like a game, helping you earn more points for when you are appropriately centered over the board. Repeated yoga practice on Wii Fit, can help increase your leg and arm flexibility through poses like the downward dog. The added flexibility can improve your range of motion and keep your muscles supple and better equipped to handle physical stress.
Better Balance
The balance games on Wii Fit can strengthen your core muscles. Balancing on one foot or on raised toes can help increase your abilities. Enhanced balance can help you prevent falls and improve athletic performance.
Improved Heart Rate
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, in cooperation with the American Council on Exercise, tested the effectiveness of Wii Fit exercises in boosting exercisers' heart rates. Researchers tested the six most aerobically challenging activities, including the free run, free step and super hula hoop, according to the American Council on Exercise. Subjects performed each exercise for six minutes in no particular order. The subjects' breathing and heart rates were measured. Exercises like the free run were found to help the heart rate reach 60 percent of the exercisers' maximum heart rates. Frequently challenging the heart muscle helps you to strengthen it. A stronger heart can lower your blood pressure and improve your aerobic capacity.
Calories Burned
When you begin your Wii Fit workout, the sensors on the platform take your weight. You can enter other details, such as your age and gender. Wii Fit takes these into account and computes a calories-burned report at the end of your workout. You can set a goal for the workout and the Wii Fit will tell you if you were able to meet the goal and the equivalency of the calories you burned to another food. If you burn enough calories in a given time period, this can equal weight loss or weight maintenance for you. Wii Fit exercises like free step are estimated to burn 3.3 kcal per minute, and rhythm boxing burned 3.8 kcal per minute, according to the American Council on Exercise.
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