David Wallack Comments on Facebook's 'Yoga Retreat'

NEW YORK, NY, August 10, 2012

Facebook has released a new interactive computer game, called 'Yoga Retreat.' The game gives users coins for each exercise they teach their students. Coins are used to renovate their remote beachside yoga resort, purchase new mats or add on additional amenities, such as a steam room, gazebo or juice bar. The Huffington Post has released an article that discusses the new game. Yoga teacher David Wallack comments on the games premise and how it could affect the yoga community.

The game places users in the shoes of a young, business-minded character. After deciding she has too much stress, she travels to the beach to open her own yoga studio. "What's interesting about these interactive games is that the characters are enjoying the outdoors while you're left sitting in front of your computer immobile," David Wallack comments. "Just like Farmville players could go outside to plant actual seeds, and Guitar Hero experts could have spent the time learning how to play an actual guitar, Yoga Retreat could mean users watching fake characters practice yoga instead of getting on the mat themselves."

The makers of Yoga Retreat attempted to resolve that problem by creating a character called Yoga Cat. Yoga Cat offers video instruction on yoga poses within the game so players can follow along at home. "The problem is that it's hard to get much out of a yoga practice when it involves clicking on avatars on your computer screen," comments Wallack. "I doubt many people will get much out of the video instruction or follow along with their own practice."

David Wallack suggests that players of the new game use it as inspiration to move their own bodies rather than just watching. "It could be tempting to just watch the avatars do the moves and forget that you yourself could be getting up and doing them too," reminds Wallack. He hopes the new game builds people's interest in yoga and that they use that interest to than build a yoga practice outside of the game.

ABOUT:

David Wallack is a 200 RYT yoga teacher and owner of Charlotte-based studio, Harmony Bliss Yoga. Wallack offers yoga and meditation private and group sessions. He has been practicing yoga for 15 years and is a Reiki Master and certified in aromatherapy.

Website: http://davidwallack.com