Reformer Pilates

If you’ve seen photographs of reformer Pilates equipment and thought it looked suspiciously like a medieval instrument of torture, you’re probably not alone.

The reformer itself is a sliding platform with springs, straps and various attachments that provide resistance and support as you move through different exercises. It may look complicated, but a good beginner class will introduce everything gradually.

One of the attractions of reformer Pilates is that the movements tend to be controlled rather than frantic. You work on strength, balance, flexibility and stability without necessarily feeling as though you are doing a conventional workout.

You might enjoy it if: you prefer slower, more precise movement and like the idea of building strength without jumping around.

Good to know: Look specifically for a beginner or introductory class for your first session. Everyone else may appear to know exactly what to do with all those straps and springs. They learned once too.

Aqua Fitness

There is something wonderfully forgiving about exercising in water.

Aqua classes can range from gentle movement sessions to surprisingly energetic workouts, but the water supports your body and reduces the impact on your joints. You can march, jog, kick and wave your arms around with considerably more dignity than you might manage doing exactly the same thing on dry land.

The other advantage is that nobody can really see what your feet are doing underwater, which immediately removes at least half the pressure of keeping up.

You might enjoy it if: you like being in the water, want something sociable or prefer lower-impact exercise.

Good to know: Don't assume aqua fitness will necessarily be easy. Water creates resistance in every direction, and muscles you had temporarily forgotten about may introduce themselves the following morning.

Barre

Despite the name, you do not need to have spent your childhood dreaming of becoming a ballerina.

Barre classes take inspiration from ballet but usually combine it with elements of Pilates, stretching and strength work. You use a ballet-style barre for support while doing small, controlled movements designed to work particular muscle groups.

There is generally no dancing across the room and very little chance of being asked to perform Swan Lake.

Those tiny movements can, however, be surprisingly challenging.

You might enjoy it if: you like music, controlled movement and exercises that focus on posture, balance and strength.

Good to know: You don't need to be flexible to start. Flexibility is something you can develop — not an entrance requirement.

Dance Classes

Exercise is considerably easier to enjoy when you temporarily forget that you're exercising.

That is one reason dance-based classes can be so much fun. Depending on what is available near you, you might find anything from line dancing and ballroom to Latin dance, jazz, tap or classes specifically designed for beginners.

The trick is finding the right level and the right atmosphere. A welcoming beginner class should be about learning, laughing and gradually becoming more confident — not performing perfectly.

And if you go wrong? Keep moving and look as though you meant to do it.

You might enjoy it if: music immediately makes you want to move and you'd prefer your exercise with a generous helping of fun.

Good to know: Everyone gets the steps wrong sometimes. The people who look completely confident have probably just become better at carrying on regardless.

Strength Classes for Beginners

Strength training has had something of an image makeover.

It isn't just about enormous weights, intimidating gyms and people admiring their own biceps in mirrors. More classes are now designed specifically for beginners, with an emphasis on learning how to move safely and use weights correctly.

A good beginner strength class might use hand weights, resistance bands or your own body weight, with exercises adapted to different abilities.

It can also be surprisingly satisfying. There is something rather lovely about discovering that the thing which felt difficult a few weeks ago suddenly doesn't.

You might enjoy it if: you prefer straightforward exercises and like being able to notice your progress.

Good to know: Starting with lighter weights is perfectly sensible. Nobody awards prizes for choosing the heaviest dumbbells on your first day.

The Best Exercise Class? The One You Actually Want to Go Back To

It is very easy to get caught up in what we think we should be doing.

We should walk more. We should lift weights. We should stretch. We should apparently be doing something called "functional movement", although some days getting out of a particularly low armchair feels functional enough.

But perhaps the best kind of exercise is simply the kind you enjoy enough to keep doing.

That might be Pilates twice a week. It might be dancing badly but enthusiastically. It might be aqua fitness followed by a coffee that lasts considerably longer than the class itself.

You don't have to become an exercise person. You don't need the matching outfit, the expensive water bottle or an alarming amount of enthusiasm before 8am.

You might simply find one way of moving that makes you feel good.

And that seems like a pretty good reason to give something new a try.