Learn all about Yoga and practice the stances and poses with Yoga for Nintendo Wii. Top model Anja Rubik and other in-game instructors will guide you through your training. Yoga for Wii is compatible with the Wii Balance Board, but you can also just use the Wii remote or nothing at all.

There are three modes in Yoga for Wii. There is a Story Mode, but you’re not trying to rescue the Yoga Princess from the Fast Food Empire or anything. Instead, you walk around an Indian Yoga temple, and there are rooms where you can learn the different Yoga poses, as well as read up on Yoga history and proper nutrition. Only problem with Story Mode is that at first, a guide walks you through the entire temple, and that takes FOREVER!

Luckily, in Training Mode you can do the poses separately without having to deal with anything else. And in Routine Mode, work on Yoga exercises that help benefit certain body parts. There are in-game people who will show and tell you how to do the poses.

Graphics are a little grainy but they do the jub. Voices are a bit fuzzy and muffled, like the instructors are talking with their mouth too close to the microphone. There are also picture cues that let you know how much pressure you’re putting on the Balance Board, how steady you’re holding the Wii remote, and when to inhale and exhale.

While there are other Wii fitness games that are better than this one, I know a lot of people who bought the Wii simply for the Balance Board exercise games. In fact, one of my relatives uses Wii Balance Board fitness games to teach P.E. to special needs children. Yoga for Wii could be a nice addition to an already existing Wii fitness game lineup. And unlike a lot of other games, you don’t HAVE to use the Balance Board to play this one.

Kid Factor:

Young kids can have fun doing the simple poses with ease, but they might get bored at the non-game feel of this title. Reading skill isn’t necessary as nearly everything has voice to go along with the text. Some families with strict religious beliefs may not agree with some of the topics presented in the game. Yoga for Wii is rated E for Everyone.

Tags: Game Reviews