From boosting energy levels, to toning the body and from weight loss to improving one’s mood to fighting diseases, the health benefits of exercise are hard to ignore. By now, most people (unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere), know that exercise is good for them and they should be following some kind of routine to stay fit.

Unfortunately when most people decide to get fit, they usually have no clue what form of exercise to take up. The key to sticking to an exercise routine is to pick something that you enjoy and to keep changing the form of exercise. This will guarantee that you’ll get many benefits and also keep you from getting bored.

Here is what teachers and avid devotees of different form of exercises had to say:

Jogging/walking: It’s fun and it’s free. Eleven years ago when Omar Hasan decided to start jogging he had tried a fair share of other forms of exercise routines such as yoga and sessions at the gym. On the rare occasion when he feels the need to take a break from jogging he still goes back to yoga, however jogging is his first love and one which he consistently comes back to.

Shake it: From Bollywood to zumba to salsa, dance has to be one of the most fun and virtually effortless (because you are having so much fun) ways of staying fit. No wonder it is the preferred mode of exercise for many. Faizan Masood who teaches creative movement and expression, believes that dance is an art form that is powerful enough to not only shape an individual’s fitness, but also to influence changes in his or her personality. Just half an hour of dance or movement activity in a day can take care of stress and help you stay active, healthy and happy.

The power of yoga: Many think that yoga is all about contorting and pushing your body into strange poses. Images in the popular media that show contortionist yogis (who can also levitate) have given this form of exercise an esoteric, otherworldly woo-woo quality in some people’s mind.

Certified yoga instructor, Aisha Chhapra believes that yoga is a unique style of exercise because it addresses not just the body, but also the mind and the soul through breathing, postures and deep relaxation in an environment that is loving and kind. “A yoga practice evolves continuously and is a tried and tested way of bringing health and wholeness into one’s life,” say Chhapra.

Cycling: Surely you never forgot how to cycle? Indeed what could be better than getting out in the open to get fit and lose weight? A member of Karachi’s fast-growing club of cyclists, Naeema Kapadia who is an interior design consultant and the owner of a socially conscious business says, “Cycling for me is liberating and exhilarating. It’s not just some sport for me, even though it is such a fantastic exercise it also has made me see and experience my beautiful city in a completely new way and helped me meet some really great and wonderful people.”

Swimming: Swimming ranks right up there on the list as a form of exercise that works all the major muscle groups, helps tone and slim you down, but unlike other forms of exercise is surprisingly stress-free and relaxing. Samira Awam loves her routine of 45-minute non-stop swimming, three times a week and has been doing so for the past few years. “I try not to miss my swim session as I get a great workout, as does my cardiovascular system. Apart from that, swimming is a form of exercise that I truly enjoy, even if I did not focus on the health benefits it offers.”

All the exercise buffs interviewed here may have started out with a particular routine in order to gain health benefits; however, it is clear that in order to stick to their chosen routine they also found some other aspect of it that they truly enjoyed. The importance of finding an enjoyable form of exercise and to keep changing your routine cannot be overstated.