This article was co-authored by Laila Ajani. Laila Ajani is a Fitness Trainer and founder of Push Personal Fitness, a personal training organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 10 years as a trainer and exercise specialist, Laila has expertise in competitive athletics (gymnastics, powerlifting, and tennis), personal training, distance running, and Olympic lifting. Laila is certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), and she is a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).
There are 23 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 30 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 1,612,143 times.
Exercise is a key part of staying healthy, but figuring out how to get more active can be tough. If you’re not used to physical activity, start slow. Go for 10 to 15 minute walks, and work your way up to briskly walking or jogging for 30 minutes daily. Try adding strengthening exercises 2 or 3 days per week, and consider boosting your flexibility with yoga or Pilates classes. Whenever you work out, always listen to your body’s limits, and ask your doctor for advice if you have a history of any medical issues.
Laila Ajani
Fitness TrainerNot only does strength training build your body's muscles, it requires your brain to focus and work hard. What I find fascinating about strength training is that it combines mindfulness with physical activity. To improve your lifts and become better at strength training, you have to focus your attention during your workout.
Laila Ajani
Fitness TrainerAs a beginner, you want to improve your strength and endurance. Begin with exercises such as lunges, bench presses, and ab workouts like crunches or planks. Adjust your workout to your fitness level to avoid injury and achieve your fitness goals safely and effectively.
Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical PsychologistIf you're struggling to find time to work out, remember that exercise can be fun. Even a quick walk counts as exercise! We put tons of pressure on ourselves in this culture to work out hard, but what's most important is to just live an active lifestyle. For example, some people's barrier to exercise is that they don't want to get out of their pajamas. You can exercise in your pajamas if you want! You could dance, do a quick online workout video, or go for a stroll. Try to remove the barriers there are for you to exercise and find little ways to incorporate activity into your routine.
Related New