That's Fit

I don' t know much about Nintendo Wii, but I hear it's quite fun -- and pretty addicting too, which might not be a bad thing for kids and adults who need a little physical activity in their lives.

Wii, Nintendo's fifth home video game consule made popular by its wireless controller is all about gaming -- Super Mario Galaxy, Jenga, and The Golden Compass are three available games. It's also all about exercising, so much so that some health clubs are offering a new form of workout for those tired of traditional fitness activities. Wii workout stations allow clients to circuit train by punching, running, and jumping, thanks to the ease of the system's movement-sensitive controller.

Watching kids sweat in their living rooms while working the Wii is what prompted one health club owner to bring video games into the fitness environment.

"We're always trying to break down paradigms and keep things fresh," says Nathan Mellalieu, owner of Canada's Studeo 55. "It's used here to break up the monotony of traditional workouts."

Mellalieu estimates one session of Wii boxing, tennis, or bowling equals a brisk walk and can burn between 75 and 125 calories.

Wii professionals may not have been planning for an appearance on the fitness scene but now that they've arrived, they plan to stick around. They are currently developing Wii Fit, a 2008 video game with an array of activities, from yoga to aerobics.

Stay tuned for more Wii wonders.