In a 400 square-foot room with an enormous projection screen, a Canadian health club uses Nintendo Wii to help their customers have fun and exercise. Studio 55’s owner, Nathan Mellalieu, says that “It’s used here to break up the monotony of traditional workouts.” Mellalieu explained that he determined to use the Wii as part of their program after observing children using the program and sweating. Plus, they were having fun, which Mellalieu believes is more important.

People at the health club are urged to use the Wii as a warm-up or cool-down. Mellalieu believes that one of either (Wii) boxing, tennis, or bowling will burn the user up to 125 calories. This is about equal to an energetic walk. Even though the success with the new program is great, but what is more is that clients enjoy it. “People have to understand that fun is important,” says Mellalieu. Studies have shown that the Wii can get armchair athletes exercising which results in weight loss and also promote fitness.

I think that this approach to fitness is helpful to modern society, because seriously, what would you rather do? Lift weights or play Nintendo Wii for your workout? If people who don’t like things such as sports or regular exercise, this is an unorthodox yet effective way to burn calories.