If fitness is at the top of your to do list, get started with the information in the article below to make sure you get the most from whatever you decide to do. Not all fitness advice is right for everyone, but you can find some great ideas from these practical tips to get started today.

If you want to get in shape using yoga, do your yoga stretches and poses on a hard surface. Practicing on a soft floor can lead to joint injuries and can throw off your balance, which will reduce the effectiveness of your yoga routine. In a reverse of the common practice, you can place a hard, smooth material onto a soft carpet to create the ideal yoga surface.

If you want to get exercise to lose weight, but are lacking a workout friend, get a dog that loves to walk. Dogs are usually raring to go for a walk and don’t complain when they are tired (though they might slow down or lay down to give you a hint). So buy or borrow a dog – now you have a built in work-out buddy!

Decrease your time in the gym by not taking as long to rest between sets of weightlifting. When you first begin lifting weights your muscles are still strong enough to go right through. Think intuitively and take breaks when you need them, but you can cut down a good 10-20% off your gym time by cutting down on those early breaks, which would allow you to move on to something else that much quicker.

Getting started on your way to true personal fitness begins with these effective and practical tips. Put these tips to use to feel better and look great. It will give you a great deal of satisfaction to know you are doing something to get in the best shape you can.