Gamification is the Key to Fitness Motivation in 2013

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 18, 2012) -

Editors Note: There are two photos associated with this Press Release.

YYoga has officially taken fitness to a whole new level with the unveiling of its YYoga app, which uses gamification and social sharing like never before to inspire people to achieve their fitness goals.

Founding Partner of YYoga, Terry McBride, is known for having successfully, and unconventionally used social technology to build his music empire at Nettwerk Music Group. With the YYoga app, he's bringing a similarly unconventional approach to the world of yoga, using technology to strengthen social connections among yoga practitioners.

Explains McBride: "We all know that motivation is the thing that holds most of us back when it comes to fitness. This app is designed to give users a social tool to build their own supportive and flexible communities. It works like other social platforms, allowing people to create a profile and connect with friends so they can see who's doing what. The idea? If you see that your friends are going to a class tonight, you'll be more likely to go."

Other benefits this app offers include:

• Easy booking: The YYoga app lets people reserve a spot in class with one touch of the screen unlike any other yoga studio.

• Gamification for motivation: The YYoga app offers a variety of yoga and fitness challenges, designed to inspire people to achieve new goals. The gamification challenges reflect the four main reasons people say they do yoga: to minimize stress; try a new style of yoga; to push themselves to practice more; and to develop more energy. Throughout the challenges, users receive beads towards a full Mala necklace, which is awarded and shared on social media upon completion. The mala necklace has yogic significance to users.

• Educational support: The YYoga app offers a dictionary of poses with instructions so that people have this information at their fingertips when they practice at home or wish to review after class.

• Social support: The YYoga app allows users to create unique profiles, invite friends to join them, and share their progress and class history with their community.

"This app is filling a big gap in the market, creating what is essentially a totally new type of user-centered social fitness support." Explains Digital Strategist Sandy Fleischer of Pound & Grain, the creators of the YYoga app and YYoga's agency of record.

"The use of gamification in the yoga world is uncharted territory. Already, users are signing up for challenges and tracking their own progress, which shows that making a game of our goals- especially in the context of fitness- is a fantastic way to achieve results."

Try the App!

To learn more about the YYoga app visit: http://www.yyoga.ca/app

To download the app and peruse screen shots, visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yyoga/id563965468?ls=1&mt=8

*Contact Monica Krake for a trial password.

About YYoga

YYoga is a Vancouver-based leading Canadian yoga and wellness company, committed to providing an environment centered on wellness and quality. Currently offering over 700 classes per week across British Columbia, the company is now expanding into the Toronto market and continues to add BC-based centres. YYoga is committed to supporting healthy lifestyles and communities across the nation. www.yyoga.ca @yyoga

To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

http://www.marketwire.com/library/20121217-YYoga_Founder.jpg

http://www.marketwire.com/library/20121217-YYoga_App.jpg