Health made easy – six awesome exercise ideas for your new year’s resolution.

Living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult – and it certainly doesn’t have to be boring.

Eat a varied, balanced diet including plenty of wonderful fresh fruit, drink lots of water and find a physical activity that you enjoy to participate in on a regular basis.

In just a few short weeks you will start to feel fitter and healthier and you will hopefully have learned some new skills on the way. Here are a few suggestions on ways to get active.

Join a sports team. Whatever your chosen sport, joining a team makes fitness a more social activity. It also allows you to play at a competitive level, making it more exciting and giving you goals to aim for.

Take up running. If you prefer a more solitary activity try heading out for a jog three times a week. It’s a great way to explore the local area as well as to keep fit. Try to vary your routes and take in the scenery as you go.

Start a fitness class. An aerobics, Pilates or yoga class will teach you how to exercise safely and within a social environment. You can supplement your class by working out to a DVD at home a couple of times a week as well.

Go horse riding. It gives you an excuse to buy flattering riding clothes from equestrian clearance, teaches you new skills and gets you out into the open air. It’s great for strengthening leg muscles, improving balance and co-ordination andis incredibly rewarding.

Learn a martial art. Not only is this brilliant for overall fitness but learning self-defence skills could one day save your life.

Join a dance class. Whether you choose salsa, ballet, zumba, tap or any one of the hundreds of different dance classes around, the thing they all have in common is that they are great fun and fantastic exercise.

It doesn’t matter what form of exercise you choose so long as you enjoy it. As little as 20 minutes exercise three times a week combined with a balanced diet is enough to keep you fit and healthy.