Tone up, chill out

Want a fit, toned body without breaking a sweat? Try out this lot for a calmer approach to exercise.

Exercise without breaking a sweat

Yoga

Suppleness, strength, stamina and co-ordination. If all this sounds great, then yoga could be for you. Originating from India over 5,000 years ago, it comprises of a series of postures, poses and breathing methods aimed at uniting mind, body and spirit. There are many different types of yoga, so if you don't enjoy the first class you attend, try a different class. Find out more about each type by visiting Yogapoint's website and try to think about what you want to get out of it - some forms of yoga are more meditative while others are quite energetic.

Benefits: Increases flexibility, stamina and strength; promotes spiritual calm; reduces stress; gives the person more physical energy.
Drawbacks: A risk of injury, low weight loss potential, frustration at getting into the more difficult positions and learning all the words and phrases.
What do I need?
Comfy gym clothes that stay in place while you bend in all manner of strange positions. Yoga requires little actual equipment, although you could benefit from buying your own mat.

Pilates

A series of muscle-toning exercises, usually done as mat work, or with specially designed weight machines. There are several different teaching methods; some of them are billed as 'pilates based body conditioning'. It was invented by Josef Pilates, a German circus performer, who was imprisoned in the UK during World War 1. He designed a series of exercises that could be done in a confined space, and set about teaching his fellow inmates.

Benefits: Many people who do pilates say it helps them to tone up, and to relax. Exercises are done slowly with rests in between, so it's not the best way to improve your aerobic fitness. The emphasis is on building strong core muscles (back and stomach), balance, co-ordination, strength and flexibility.
Drawbacks: Some exercises are unsuitable for people with back problems, so it's important to have an experienced teacher who can suggest alternative exercises.
What do I need? Loose, comfortable clothing, and bare feet. You may want to buy your own mat. Many leisure centres and gyms now offer pilates matwork classes at a reasonable price. One-to-one training using the resistance machines can be costly.