Great tips LBTC - thanks for posting. I notice you mentioned yoga in there. Yoga seems to get mentioned all over the place as being generally good for you but as yet I have yet to discover it's secrets.

I went to a yoga class about 5 years ago and I'm sure the leaders as qualified etc, but some of the moves we did - I seriously wondered how they could possibly be good for you. I managed to do most of them but with extreme caution, especially if they involved a lot of pressure on the lower back ( my weak area) After about 4 classes I quit.

About 12 months ago I found another group and thought I'd give it another try, after hearing so many people rave about yoga and this time, although I felt some of the positions were still a bit dubious, it was the breathing that really freaked me out. Everyone in the class seemed to do the whole lesson with their eyes shut and there was some seriously deep breathing going on . In fact all the puffing and exhaling really put me off. It was all just too hippy and weirdie for me.

Is it just a matter of trying loads of classes till you find one that suits you or am I just missing the yoga gene.