Fat 2 Fit: The 'Other' Forms of Exercise

What's so healthy 'bout yoga, Pilates, and tai chi? Plenty. Try them and find out.

By: Carole Carson | Source: AARP.org | 2008-11-03

If you're considering starting an exercise program but find the thought of a daily hour on a treadmill boring, you might want to expand your thinking.

Consider tai chi. This ancient exercise is a combination of meditation and self-defense performed with deliberate and gentle movements. Originating in China, this ritualized routine is currently practiced by millions worldwide. Benefits include increased strength, balance, and vitality, along with physical, mental, and spiritual well being.

Best of all, the exercise needs no special equipment or setting, and it is suitable for persons of all ages, abilities, and experience. Typically done in a group, the exercise emphasizes relaxation and well being. Its slow, fluid movements and gentle nature make injury less likely than with other forms of exercise.

You might also consider Pilates, which emphasizes core strength—the trunk of your body. Initially popularized in the United States by dancers, Pilates has moved mainstream.

Why exercise your core muscles? Athletes who build their core strength have quicker reaction times and are less prone to injury, and office workers may suffer less back pain. Also, the elderly are less susceptible to falls when their core muscles are strengthened.

For top athletic performance, some professional sports teams and athletes practice yoga. "If you're into sports or weight training, yoga is only going to enhance all the other things you’re doing," reported Baron Baptiste, a former peak-performance specialist for the Eagles and author of the yoga book "Journey Into Power." As with tai chi and Pilates, yoga is open to people of all ages and levels.

Many gyms and exercise studios offer classes in tai chi, Pilates, and yoga. Videotapes are also available.