I may be a bit behind the times when it comes to enjoying the fun and benefits of all the new interactive video game products on the market – like the Nintendo Wii Fit…  but recently my techno-geek boyfriend purchased a Wii Fit for home.  (He’s had one at work since they first hit the market.)  Being a bit shy about actually getting a computer to do what I want, for me is intimidating, never mind the hand-eye coordination it takes to “win” a computer game…..I was never any good at these games as a kid.

I have to admit my extreme skepticism about the benefits of staring at a TV screen and using a computer game for fitness.  But am always excited to hear about new ways to inspire and encourage people to increase their exercise and activity level, and ANYTHING that people enjoy doing that involves movement can be a great way to improve health and fitness.

After playing with the Wii Fit only a couple of times, I am a happy to report that I am a fan of the fun, interaction, and health benefits that this gadget can provide!  Last night my family spent 6 hours playing Wii Fit games together!!!  Tennis, Baseball, Boxing, Bowling, Golf, balance games, yoga.  I think we explored the gamut of options!  I can honestly say that I can feel my abs this morning – so core muscle strengthening was definitely happening, and I wasn’t one of the folks that spent tons of time playing! So can only imagine how sore a few other people might be today!  We had more fun, spent more time laughing, talking, and encouraging each other in competition that the evening flew by and nobody wanted to stop playing.

While I wouldn’t want to spend all my workout time on the Wii…I think it’s a great option for friendly competition, a way to check-in on your health status with weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), goal setting, and some basic fitness testing for strength, balance, and control.  This gizmo provides instant feedback to see where you’re at, games and skill challenges to improve your health, and a way to do something besides just be a couch potato in front of the TV.  I also think that the balance awareness and assessment tools are excellent.  More about that in an upcoming blog post!

Do you Wii???  If you’re doing or teaching Pilates and haven’t tried this yet…find a friend who’s got one – create your Mii (your own personal cartoon version of you!) and go play!  I’d love to hear what you think about using Wii Fit as a tool to help your clients track improvements with their health and check-in with Posture and being “on center” for balance and body control that is such a key aspect of Pilates training.

Share your Wii Fit experience!

Improved posture means reduced stress – physical, emotional, and mental! If the body is in balance, the brain doesn’t have to work (or overwork) to keep over tense muscles on tension. Balance should be easy and effortless. A body off-balance will require some initial effort to strengthen the muscles that have been on holiday. Over time, as these weaker muscles become stronger - the long term goal is efficient, effortless ease of movement – Good balance & Great Posture.

How long has your body been off-center? Have noticed your posture gradually shifting? With age are you getting shorter, developing body posture tending to kyphosis/lordosis, or a functional scoliosis? Do you have neck pain, shoulder pain, back, hip, or knee pain?  Current posture habits might be a contributing factor. There are so many things you can do to help make improvements. If you’re alive and alert – there’s lots you can do to stand & sit taller!

Practicing good posture reinforces the principles of better body alignment learned through the Pilates Method.  Also, practicing pilates will strengthen and reinforce your good posture habits. But it doesn’t just have to be Pilates to help improve posture – Yoga, and all other fitness activities give you a chance to stretch and strengthen the body to help correct posture issues.

Here are a few helpful hints for Posture Improvement:

• If you stand with locked knees (you might experience knee pain) - keep the knees slightly soft when standing. The hamstring muscles will work harder to help support the knee joint.
• If you sit with crossed legs – chances are it’s usually the same leg. Sit with both feet flat on the floor, or if you have to cross, cross at the ankles.
• Learn to breath by expanding the ribcage and feeling your spine lengthen. Inhaling should make you taller! When you exhale – strive to stay tall. You’ll notice your muscles working to support your improved posture. 
• Strengthen your Pelvic Floor & Core Muscles (this will help relax the shoulders and provide you with better back and neck support.)
• Invision lifting the body tall like you’re suspended by a string.
• Add exercises to your workout program to stretch your chest & shoulders & strengthen your upper & lower back.

Click here to get a great posture improvement resource!

It doesn’t take alot to make positive changes for body Posture improvement - You can do it, stay conscious, assess current posture habits and correct bad posture to enjoy better health.