Are these 3 trendy exercises right for you?

Once the realm of hard-core devotees, yoga and Pilates have been become staples at most gyms. Are they for you? Should you try tai chi? Here is some information to help you decide.

Yoga is an ancient practice that involves moving through various postures in conjunction with breathing. Yoga builds strength and flexibility and lowers stress. The postures are done standing, sitting, and lying down. There are many different types of yoga to choose from, some gentler than others:

• Hatha yoga, one of the most popular forms, involves a gentle, slow flow of poses.
• Iyengar yoga involves longer-held poses and uses equipment that allows people with problems such as back pain to modify the poses.

Ask the instructor what kind of yoga she teaches and whether it's suitable for your particular health problem. Tell her exactly what ails you, so she can show you how to modify certain postures if necessary.

This system of exercises revolves around strengthening and stretching the muscles in your stomach and back that support the spine, called core muscles. The exercises are particularly good at relieving pain in the neck, back, and joints. They also help you to be more aware of your body and how you hold it. Some exercises are done on Pilates equipment, others on a mat.

• If you're a beginner, be sure to take an entry-level class.
• Find out what credentials the instructor has; Pilates is all about proper form, and using bad form can detract from the benefits and may even cause injury.
• Comprehensive certifications can take a year or more of study and require many hours spent in the studio as an apprentice teacher. Not all instructors teaching Pilates in gyms are sufficiently trained. To be sure you're getting an expert, go to a studio devoted to Pilates, if possible.

Tai chi, sometimes described as "meditation in motion," is a Chinese form of standing exercise that involves slow, relaxing movements that improve posture, body alignment, and balance. As with yoga, practitioners learn to align their breathing with the movements. It's a particularly good choice for back and joint pain.

• Most tai chi classes are gentle enough to be appropriate for just about anyone.

With so many popular exercises available, choosing one that will fit your lifestyle can be difficult. Make it easier with this brief guide, and find an exercise that works.