Over the years, I was always on the lookout for a workout that best fits my needs and that can be done by all ages and has a universal appeal.

• It has to be low-impact and easy on the joints. • Simple enough for beginners and yet diverse enough to hold my interest for many years. • It has to do more good than harm. • Affordable with a minimum of extra gear and specialized equipment. • It has to be flexible enough to do while traveling or living in cramped quarters.

It sounds impossible but I've found four styles of exercise that fit the bill. And once you learn the basics, you don't necessarily have to be in a class all the time.

As with any fitness program check with your doctor before beginning. Classes are everywhere. Try your local recreation center, the private studio downtown, the senior center, community colleges and adult schools for classes. Also, look for magazines on each form, and flip to the back and read the ads. I recommend at least one real life class first in any of these forms. Two teachers would be better, because then you get an overview from a different perspective.

After you get the hang of it, there are many books, videos and DVD's out there, both new and used, to inspire you to greater success. And now some forward thinking insurance companies will even reimburse you for the cost of fitness classes.

1. Yoga

From the Indian culture, we have the gift of yoga. If you could only have one exercise regimen for the rest of your life, yoga would be an excellent choice. It can be done indoors or out. It can fit any schedule. If you drop it, it's easy to pick it up again.

Most classes require a yoga mat. I find them too narrow, so I use a beach towel. Or you can use those giant cushion squares that fit together like puzzle pieces to make your own workout area at home. It is better to do a little yoga every day than a lot of yoga a couple of times a week. If you've never exercised take it really slow until your body remembers what your muscles are supposed to do. It can also be done in a chair, for those of you that can't sit on the floor.

Benefits: Flexibility, balance, confidence, mental sharpness, relaxation, strength, elongated muscles and increased lung capacity..

2. Tai Chi Chuan (pronounced tī' chē'chwän')

Tai Chi is done in many countries by people of all ages. It looks like a dance, with a series of stretches joined together into a flowing routine. Once you learn a routine, you can take it everywhere you go. Many groups gather in parks in the early morning to do their tai chi together.

Tai Chi Chuan is a Chinese form of movement with its roots in Taoism, one of China's oldest belief systems. The practice is beneficial to health and it is also a subtle, sophisticated and scientific method of self-defense. Many people do the slow tai chi for fitness, though the more advanced form involves swords and other weaponry. It requires no special equipment unless you are going into the advanced forms.

Benefits: Deep breathing that creates an internal massage of organs, improved cardiovascular fitness, improved concentration, flexibility, cultural awareness and grace.

3. Pilates (pronounced pul-LAH-teez)

Back in the last 20's, German fitness guru Joseph H. Pilates created a body-conditioning regime known as Pilates. Emphasizing flexibility and overall strength over body bulk, Pilates quickly became popular with dance pioneers like Martha Graham (the grand dame of modern dance) and George Balanchine (famous in the world of ballet)..

If you've had modern dance or ballet in the U.S. in the last 30 years, the stretches you learned were probably Pilates. I prefer the simpler forms that can be done with no specialized equipment. It is best to take a class first so that you develop the correct form, but after that you can do it on your own. There are a plethora of videotapes and DVD's out on Pilates.

Benefits: Strength, flexibility, toned abs, improved posture, better concentration, balance.

4. Middle Eastern Dance (usually called belly dancing for lack of a better name).

My overall favorite exercise, because it is so much more than just an exercise. In fact, I use Pilates and Yoga to warm up for Middle Eastern Dance. It is an excellent form of self-expression. All shapes, ages, and sizes can do it. And yes, men do belly dance too. But the vast majority of belly dancers are women.

While you can belly dance on a budget with a minimum of purchases, it is a lot more fun if you invest in a veil, finger cymbals and a hip sash with fringe or tassels or beads. And at least one CD or tape of belly dance music. The nice part is you don't have to buy everything at once. You can add new pieces as your skill level improves. There is plenty to learn with just your body and no extra props.

Benefits: Self-expression, body awareness, flexibility, cultural awareness, strength, balance, improved confidence, internal organ massage, musical timing.

This article only skims the surface in the hopes that you will try something new, or take a closer look at a familiar friend. Each form alone takes a lifetime to master, but if you like variety like I do, try them all!

By Fayme Harper