If you decide to join a gym, make sure whoever assists you knows about your condition and the importance of light weights and gradual increases. As you increase, give your body a day or two of rest in between. As I discovered the effect of each machine on my various muscle groups, I increased accordingly. I now do several repetitions on ten machines, lifting as much as forty pounds on some. With others I have kept the lowest setting and increased the number of repetitions.
Exercise causes muscles to contract.
Through stretching, you want your muscles to achieve a nice, elongated state. To get the most out of a stretch, you must relax. Breathe slowly and deeply through your diaphragm. As you stretch a muscle area, breathe slowly and relax. Hold the muscle in place as long as it is comfortable, up to a minute.