Types of Exercise
There are many types of exercise to choose from. That means you can find activities you like to do, no matter:
- Your age, fitness level or health issues
- What shape you are in now
- Whether you want to exercise alone, with a partner or a group
Exploring the choices to find what you like can be fun! However, before starting to exercise, be sure to ask your primary care provider (PCP):
- What kind of exercises would be best for you
- How often you should exercise
- How hard you should exercise
The three exercise groups
There are hundreds of ways to exercise. Yet they all fall into three groups: aerobic, strength and balance/flexibility. Each group has different health and fitness benefits. That makes it best to do exercises in each group. Many exercises fall into two or more groups. Here is a quick look at the groups, the benefits of each and some sample exercises.
Aerobic
Makes heart & lungs healthy
- Team sports
- Walking/hiking
- Jogging/running
- Biking
- Swimming
- Dancing
Strength
Builds muscles & bones
- Lifting weights
- Body-weight workouts (pushups, pullups, squats, etc.)
- Resistance band workouts
Balance & Flexibility
Helps prevent injuries
- Stretching
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
- Pilates
- Using a stability ball or foam roller