Irene Diamond, owner of San Francisco's Diamond Massage & Wellness Center, has plenty of energy and plenty of fun, easy tips to help you get and stay in shape! Here is just a small sample:

New Year's resolution? What New Year's Resolutions? Have you forgotten them already? Well, maybe not actually forgotten them, just sort of let them slip until ... you know... you have more time, or... well... next year? Guess what? It IS next year!

What do you think is the most common New Year's resolution? It's no surprise to most of us that it is "to get in shape!" How many people every year swear that this is the year that they will finally start an exercise program? It sounds easy, but it really isn't. Every day my clients say things like, "I just need to get through this week and then I will start exercising!" "As soon as I finish this project I'll have the time to get out and jog every day!" Or "The kids need me to take them to soccer practice, so I'll do it tomorrow." Sound familiar?

Intentions are good, but maybe you don't have all the information you need on just how to go about it. Or maybe you need a little motivation and a friendly nudge to really make it happen... this time.

There are three components of exercise: Cardiovascular (or Aerobic) exercise, Resistance (or strength) training, and flexibility (or stretching). To maximize your health benefits all three components are important to include, with the majority of health gains coming from the aerobic exercise. Depending on your goals, you can design an appropriate exercise program to suit your needs.

If you don't have an actual health benefit you are striving for, do you have a physical goal in mind? For example to complete four 10 kilometer fun-runs this year, or ride your bike to the lake at the end of the road. Both of these goals need cardiovascular condition as well as muscular strength. Once you know what you ultimately want to accomplish, you will know how to train for it.