With so many exciting classes about these days, such as capoeira, body balance and aerobike, those comparatively boring sessions of step and aerobics appear to have lost favour.

But we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss these tried and tested methods of exercise.

The initial "Jane Fonda" phase of aerobics may have meant high-kicking like a showgirl and throwing yourself into the splits but in the Nineties, structured teacher-training developed from the likes of the YMCA and aerobics got a safety seal of approval from the fitness industry.

Several years ago, I took a teacher-training course in aerobics which covered anatomy, physiology and first aid alongside the core module of building up a well-structured class.

By well-structured, I mean drawing together a variety of steps and movements which would, in sequence, warm-up, stretch, mobilise, accelerate heart rate and work the cardiovascular system, cool down, strengthen, stretch again and, finally, relax the body. And all in an hour.

When I went along to Helen Vickery's class at the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove, I was pleased to see this structure still applied.

Originally a teacher of GSCE dance in Bristol, Helen clearly knows how to teach a safe, well-managed class.

She began with a nice warm up consisting of simple marching, walks, leg curls and arm movements and finishing with a stretch of those large leg muscles.

Over the next 25 minutes, she got us moving with side steps, box steps and grape-vines before really getting our hearts going with high-impact jumping jacks, walk the dog and disco dancing.

Yes I know they're silly names for steps but when you have two seconds to shout out the next movement before the beat comes around, it needs to be identified quickly and easily.

After cooling down a little, we moved on to mats for floor work, strengthening legs and arms and those all-important abs, while Helen walked around checking our form.

After stretching out our, by now, tired and quivering muscles, she ended the class with a few minutes relaxation to some lovely, calm Eastern music.

Aerobics may not be new and flashy but, as Helen proved, if you want a good, effective, all-round workout, it more than does the job.

Helen teaches aerobics at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, Kingsway, Hove, on Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm.

She also teaches aerotone and Pilates.

For more details, call the centre on 01273 290290.