Bear in mind the days when exercising involved pesky issues like leaving the home or coming rather too close to other people's sweat in a gym? That's all so five minutes ago.

If you're down with the kids modern exercise is all about the TV and comes cleverly disguised as fun with gaming technology that will turn your living room into a dance floor, gym or even Olympic stadium.

Yes, you could wonder why it's more fun to pretend to kick an imaginary football rather than go outside and try the real factor, but we'll let the roar of our virtual stadium audience just drown them out for now shall we?

The latest incarnation of game-based, at-home fitness plans is the Xbox Kinect - a small-motion sensor box which sits on or under your TV. There's no want for game controllers as the sensor scans and tracks your movements as you play.

It also takes pictures as you flail around pretending to box and jump or dance, and distressingly, plays them back to you. It brings house just how significantly I don't float like a butterfly. The social networkers among us can also upload their images and video to the web to share. Pass.

Once the sensor has scanned my ever-increasing outer limits it's disconcerting but far less judgy, with fewer "oh dears" than personal trainers I've known, I'm excellent to go.

The basic format for most games is that you follow an instructor on screen and your moves are shadowed and tracked inside the background within the form of your motion-sensored self or an avatar.

There's a new flood of "games" in the marketplace to fit the new Kinect technology, some fitness-focused, others far more general. The key thing is no matter what you're playing you've to move. Kinect essentially doesn't work in the event you sit down, so if you're like me and take into consideration a large sneeze to be a day's workout, you are going to be moving more than usual which has to be a good factor. Even the starter game Kinect Adventures, which gets you utilized to how everything works, has you doing squats, jumps and runs before you realise it. Here's a take a look at some of the fitness-focused programmes:

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved

This is really a great to 1 have at the centre of any virtual workout programme.

It has a enormous range of workout possibilities from games that get you kicking, punching, jumping and hula-hooping, to fitness classes or a full personal training programme. Expect to spend a bit of time acquiring your self set up the very first time you use it, and answering questions about your goals and current fitness level. From there you'll be able to choose cardio, sculpting or toning workouts. You'll find workouts targeted to men or women, also as areas of the body. I can recommend finishing off with a calming "zen" class which is really a nice mix of tai chi and yoga.

In most instances you have to start at a beginner level, unlocking higher levels as you complete exercises correctly. It could get a bit frustrating for the super-fit freaks among you but on the other hand you'll work through them all fairly fast. For lardy arses like me, the reality that you can't move up a level until you have completed exercises correctly keeps you focused and motivated rather than sitting down when it gets a bit tough. It also has old-school house exercise DVDs beaten due to the fact you may change the way you workout each time you play.

Kinect Sports

I am, it turns out, a hurdling genius and something of a world-class, if vicious, boxer. Who knew?

Kinect Sports gives you the option of boxing, track and field, ten-pin bowling, football, table tennis and beach volleyball. The fundamental rule appears to be if you're very good at it in real life you'll do alright in the virtual arena. In case you suck at table tennis and beach volleyball in real life, as I do, you will likely suck at them in this too - even though practice helps.

Some games give you a greater workout than others. Ten-pin bowling not so a lot, but boxing, football (You play as the entire team which is exhausting. Nobody ever asked David Beckham to do that.) and particularly track and field have you racing and leaping all over the place. It's also a good 1 to play with other folks.

Dance Central

So you think it is possible to dance? Think again. Follow your instructor as he or she grooves to GaGa and Kylie or any number of pop and hip-hop songs.

Believe Singstar, only with your booty. Undoubtedly one to be played with your mates. It takes a bit to get the hang of it, even if you are rhythmically gifted. But once you do you're surely working, specifically as you begin to progress by means of the levels.

Zumba Fitness

It's apparently illegal now to put together any sort of fitness programme without a touch of Latin American jiggling, Zumba-style. But this is an additional good 1 to have on high-rotate inside your fitness programme as it truly gets you moving. There's a enormous range of routines in unique dance styles.

Tips AND TRICKS

All of the games tried involved mastering basic methods to unlock higher level content. It could be frustrating, but serves two purposes: you don't over-egg your effort and end up injuring yourself, and it keeps you motivated instead of just stopping when things get tiring or tricky.

To play - sorry, exercise - you should stand about 2m back from the screen, so the motion sensor can discover you, and you'll want about a 1.5sq m space in which to move - extra if playing with other people. Watch out for low ceilings or light fittings; there's jumping and arm-waving to be performed.

THE EXPERT WORD

Auckland personal trainer Anneka Broad says she is generally in favour of obtaining out of the home to exercise, but games can suit those pushed for time or funds. The trick is staying motivated; here are her suggestions:

Exercise within the morning, it's a amazing method to begin your day and you might be much more likely to make it habit. And if some thing pops up during the day you have already completed your workout.

Engage a friend or family member to work out with - you might be committing to somebody else, it's excellent motivation and also a chance to catch up.

Reward your self, whether it is a massage, manicure or even a healthy home-made smoothie.

Xbox Kinect and games supplied by The Warehouse, readily available now; Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle, $558 or sensor only, $214.

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