More often than not, we are inundated with incredibly lean, tall, thin bodies all over the Internet and magazine covers. Sure, we know that not all of these bodies are healthy or even realistic, but it can be tough to maintain a healthy body image when presented with such idealized images. And, while there’s nothing wrong with trying to improve your shape or accentuate the positive, it’s always important to remember that a variety of body shapes and sizes make up our world today (some short, some tall, some lanky, some stocky, sound round, some square) and all are beautiful and should be appreciated in their own right.

Whether you’re trying to get in shape, or improve the “shape you’re in,” it can be helpful to understand your body type so you can choose the best exercises for your fitness goals. The two body types generally discussed are android and gynoid. The suffix “oid,” which means “to resemble,” is used with the two prefixes “andro” and “gyno,” which mean male and female, respectively. A gynoid (or pear-shaped) body type is typically defined as a rounder, lower half of the body, with more fat deposited in the hips, buttocks and thighs. Conversely, those with an android body type may have greater girth around the chest and abdomen.

So, are there specific exercise programs that you should follow if you have a gynoid or android body type? While spot reduction remains a myth, there are specific workouts you can do that take your body type into account. Click the image below to learn which types of exercises are most appropriate for each.