Ranger Mc D,
First and foremost this old lady has learned the hard way that I need to stretch and drink plenty of "good" water, I'm starting up exercising regularly once again myself and body is protesting it's new found work.
If you do not have an exercise ball, may I suggest you try one out at the gym, have a trainer show you that the increased range of motion on the ball, it's resistance, the need to stabilize your weight helps build your core muscles (stomach/ back); also they can show you ways to do squats, lunges using the ball that keeps the strain off the hips, knees and other joints.
In my opinion, it works I use to squat my weight plus some when I was youger but those days are over with the cartilage damage in my knees I've done playing sports..... thankfully I find I can get as good if not better results with the exercise ball and that dang half exercise ball "thingy mi giggy" that lays on the floor that I really hate, the trainer is not my friend when has me do push ups, sit ups on that thingy mi giggy but he is right I'll be happier once I master it and get my body strong again
:D
Good luck. Jenny