What kind of exercises should you use to maintain your healthy lifestyle?

You could say that swimming is the best exercise. The buoyancy of the water supports the body and relieves tension in sore joints so you can move them more smoothly. Swimming is good for people with arthritis because they carry less weight, explains Dr. I-Min Lee, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Research has shown that swimming can also improve your mental state and put you in a better mood. These classes help you burn calories and tone up. This Chinese martial art that combines movement and relaxation is good for both the body and the mind. In fact, it has been called meditation in motion.

Tai chi consists of a series of elegant movements, one of which smoothly transitions to the next. Because classes are offered at several levels, Tai Chi is accessible and valuable to people of all ages and fitness levels. It's especially good for older people because balance is an important component of physical conditioning and balance is something we lose as we age. Take a class that will help you get started and learn the right way.

You can find Tai Chi programs at your local YMCA, gym, community center, or senior center. Once you've mastered regular squats, try one-legged squats. As you press your buttocks back, bend one leg and lift it up and down with the other. Do two or three sets of 12 repeated one-legged squats.

Moderate aerobic exercise includes activities such as brisk walking, biking, swimming, and mowing the lawn. Intense aerobic exercise includes activities such as running, doing heavy work in the garden, and dancing aerobically. Strength training can include the use of weight machines, your own body weight, heavy bags, resistance tubes or resistance paddles in the water, or activities such as rock climbing. Testing your balance is an essential part of a complete exercise routine.

Lunges do just that, as they promote functional movement and, at the same time, increase leg and butt strength. In a recent survey, nearly 9 out of 10 people who regularly go to the gym say that wearing clothes that are based on performance helps them work harder.