First Wii fitness classes

By Robert Purchese Published 11 April, 2007

Glaswegian leads pack.

Scottish exercise master Zander Urquhart has become the first coach to offer Wii fitness classes.

The 32 year-old, who runs WestCoast Fitness, reckons it's the perfect way to reach out to people that don't normally associate themselves with traditional exercise, and decided to give it a go after he saw a porky youngster work up a sweat using the console.

"At first I took it along to private clients who had children that didn't take part in exercise - and they loved it," Urquhart beamed. "While the adults were doing a hard work out, the kids were getting involved too. After that I started getting requests from adults and I started looking into it a bit more. It turns out that it can benefit everyone."

"Like all good exercise, you get out of it what you put in, so anyone can get a strenuous workout from it."

Nintendo's console sold more than 3.19 million units worldwide by the end of last year alone, and famously shifted more than 105,000 units in its first week on sale in the UK, giving Urquhart a solid base to work from.

And If you've ever had a go at wagging the motion-sensing controller about, trying eagerly to punch your friend's lights out, then you'll know what a sweaty business it can be.

In fact, it's lead to experts in British and American universities conducting studies that have revealed you can burn around 125 calories in 15 minutes using the machine, proving itself to be a valuable way of getting people off their rumps and onto their pins.

Just 12.2 hours a week of active gaming on the Wii can lead to a potential 1,830 calories burned.

"Children are flocking to it as well. Some people will carp and say it would be better if the kids were playing outside, but I say that some exercise is better than none and if this gets them into exercise then it's a winner," Urquhart continued.

"But also, for adults coming back from injury and OAPs it's giving them a chance to exercise and keep joints supple without putting themselves at risk."

Demand has been such that there's now a four week waiting list for the class, prompting praise from Nintendo and researchers, as well as testimonials from current participants.

The Mii avatars are also proving to be a popular tool, as honest exercisers gradually trim their digital likeness's waistline to reflect their own.

Pop over to our screenshot gallery to see Zander taking some eager beavers through their paces.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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