What Sort of Exercise is Right for You?

When it comes to exercise, there are so many options out there. You could run or swim, hit the weights or hit someone else after taking up a martial art. You could do spinning classes or step classes, pilates, yoga or a hundred other things. But how do you know which approach is right for you? And how do you get started?

What Are You Looking For?

It’s important, when deciding to take up some form of exercise, to ask yourself what sort of results you are after. If you are looking to build muscle or aerobic fitness, then tai-chi might not be for you, but it might be right if you are looking for greater calm, flexibility and stability.

If you want to burn fat, then ideally your routine needs to be an active one, incorporating some sort of aerobic element. Running, swimming and the various forms of aerobics classes are all good choices.

If you want to build muscle, then really your best option is to incorporate some form of weight training into your exercise regime. Free weights are particularly effective, because they use muscles in less isolated ways than weight machines, building more core stability as you work.

Options such as pilates and yoga are particularly useful if you want to build flexibility, maintain mobility, and stabilise your body with some effective work on your core muscles.

What Do You Enjoy?

Of course, it’s not just about the results you’re after. Your exercise routine should also reflect types of activity you enjoy if you’re going to stick with it for any length of time. Consider your personality. Solitary types might enjoy the loneliness that you get from running, but others might find they prefer the camaraderie of team sports. You might find that weights are a bit boring, but that the adrenaline rush of mountain climbing makes that the perfect way of building strength and endurance.

What Can You Do?

Finally, consider what you’re physically able to do. Some forms of exercise are much more difficult than others, and it might be that not all are appropriate if you have existing injuries, or are just starting out, or are starting exercise later in life, or simply if you are particularly unfit. Don’t try to do too much, too soon, and if you have any doubts about your health, consult your doctor before starting. That said, most activities will have versions of them appropriate to practitioners who are not elite athletes, so don’t be afraid to at least consider trying almost anything.

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