Lots of people prefer to exercise at home. It’s private and there’s no need to get a babysitter or travel anywhere. You might get more out of it if you go to a class first and learn how to do the exercises properly.

Here are six simple stretching exercises. Do them at least three times a week and you will begin to feel your body becoming more supple and relaxed. You should also do them to warm up before starting or, anything more vigorous.
Do all stretching exercises slowly and smoothly repeat each one 8 to 12 time, Doing them more times or more quickly won’t have any extra benefit. You don’t need to do 12 on the first day. Just do as many as you are comfortable doing and gradually build up.
If you have trouble with back pain it might be advisable to see your doctor first, in any case do these exercises very gently. 

Stand tall and relaxed with your arms at your sides. Slowly circle your right shoulder backwards. Repeat with your left shoulder and continue on an alternate sides
Place your right hand on your right shoulder. Move your elbow forwards, up and back in a circle. Repeat with your left elbow, and continue on alternate side.
Start with your arms straight at your sides. Keep your hips facing forwards and move your right arm forward up and back to form a large circle. Repeat on the left and continue on alternate sides. Any of these arm circles can be done with both arms together. 

Stand tall and relaxed stretching through your whole body, reach up towards the ceiling with your fingertips. Then letting your self-bend at the hips and the knees, slowly bring your hand down towards the floor, as far as is comfortable. Straighten up and repeat. 

SIDE BENDING This is to stretch the muscles in your sides and help keep your spine flexible.

Stand tall and relaxed with your feet apart and hands at your sides. Slowly bend to the left and right alternately allowing your hands to slide down the sides of your legs. Stand tall in between bends. Keep your legs straight. Make sure your are bending to the side and not letting your shoulders drop forwards. Move only as for as you can comfortably and return to the upright position. Don’t bounce into the movement.

LEG SWINGING This is to keep your hips mobile and to stretch the thigh muscles.

Stand tall and relaxed with your weight on your left leg rest your left hand on the back of a chair for support if necessary. Now swing your right leg forwards and backwards in a relaxed, pendulum action. Gradually take your leg as high as you comfortably can, keeping your body fairly upright and letting your right knee bend. Repeat with your left leg. 

CALF STRETCHING This is to stretch your calves and keep your ankles mobile.

Stand facing wall at arm length from it. Place your hands on the wall for support and stretch your right leg out straight behind you with the ball of your foot on the floor, and your toes pointing towards the wall. Gently push your right heel towards the floor, allowing your left leg to bend as necessary.

ANKLE REACHING This is to stretch your lower back and the backs of your thighs.

Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you and your knees as near to the floor as is comfortable. Place your hands on top of your thighs. Slowly and smoothly slide your hand down your legs as far as you can comfortably reach. Return to the upright position and repeat. Do not bounce into the movement. 

Not necessarily for bulging biceps but to keep your muscles toned up enough to meet the more strenuous demands of daily life. You need strong arms for pushing. Pulling and lifting. Strong stomach muscles are important for good posture and avoiding back pain. And you need strong legs for many things including getting out of armchairs and baths, climbing stairs and running. It’s especially important for older people to maintain their strength in order to keep active and independent. Try to do these strength exercises every day or at least twice a week. Don’t push yourself too hard to start with. Build up gently and gradually to about 20 repeats.

ARMS

These exercises strengthen mostly upper arms, shoulders and chest. Stands at arm’s length from a wall. Place your hands shoulder width apart on the wall. Now bend your arms until your forehead touches the wall. Then push yourself away again until your arms are straight.

Kneel on all fours. Move your hand forward slightly and take most of your weight onto them. Bend your arms and lower the top half of your body towards the floor. Only go as far as is comfortable, and be careful not to sag in the middle. Straighten your arms again and return to the starting position.
If you can do the kneeling press-ups easily you may be ready to attempt a full press up. Follow the instructions above but alter the starting position by lifting your knees off the floor. So that your weight is supported on your hands and toes and your body is in a straight line.

STOMACH, BACK AND HIPS

Weak muscles in the stomach and back put extra strain on your spine. These exercises will help to strengthen your stomach muscles, flatten any bulges and improve your posture.

CURL UPS

These strengthen your tummy muscles. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Put your hands on the top of your thighs. Lifting just your head and shoulders off the floor, slide your fingers along your thighs as far as is comfortable. Then uncurl slowly back to the lying position.

As an alternative you can do this exercise lying on your back with your feet and lower legs on the seat of a chair.

These strengthen the muscles in your back, Lie on your stomach on the floor, with your arms at your sides, your shoulders relaxed. And your head on one side. Slowly lift your head, neck and shoulders away from the floor turning your head so you are looking at the floor with your chin tucked. Only go as for as is comfortable. Slowly relax down turning your head to the other side and repeat.

These strengthen your hips and back, lie on your stomach on the floor. Slowly lift your right leg away from the floor, as far as it comfortable does. Slowly relax down and repeat with the other leg. As an alternative, start on all fours and slowly stretch one leg. Back. Repeat with the other leg.

LEGS

These leg exercises will help you tone up and strengthen your thighs, calves and bottom. They are particularly important for older people.

Sit on a firm kitchen chair, stand up without using your hands and without leaning forward too much, if you can. Make sure your legs straighten completely. Sit down again and repeat. Gradually progress to just touching the chair instead of sitting down each time.

Stand at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Step up onto the first step making sure you straighten both legs. Step down again. Do this with alternate legs.
Stand with your feet together and your knees slightly bent spring up, landing with your feet comfortably apart and your knees bent. Now spring up again, landing with your feet together. Repeat, as a continuo movement apart together, apart together once you can do about 20 repeats this exercise will also help to build up your stamina.

Some people find these useful for building up strength and stamina but they can be very expensive and are not really necessary. Try one out at a sports center and ask for advice before buying.

STATIONARY BIKES are especially good if you are overweight, because they take your weight. The exercise value is the same as cycling. Look for a bike with an adjustable saddle and handlebars, and adjustable resistance on the pedals so that you can choose how hard to push. Some cheaper model won’t have these features. So be careful in your choice.

ROWING MACHINES are good for stamina, and leg back and shoulder strength. They are not good if you have a bad back. Like stationary bikes, good ones may be very expensive.

Chest expanders and other gadgets can increase your strength, if you use them regularly. But straining too much could raise your blood pressure.