Getting fit with flexibility

I believe that it is time for me to add to my level of physical fitness. I can increase my flexibility to become more physically fit. I do not have undergo gymnastics  training to learn how to be more flexible. All that I need to do is learn the right stretching exercises and practice. I am mainly concerned with the lack of flexibility of my legs. I have gotten to be such a stiff person and find it hard to sit in the butterfly stretch position. Also, I have trouble sitting cross-legged.  I need to be able to do leg splits. Because my leg muscles ands and joints are so tight, I am going to need to do a lot of stretching exercises to  loosen them and gain flexibility. I would be happy to accomplish the side splits. From the side splits, I could move on to learn some other leg splits. The front leg splits or straddle splits are what I would practice after I have mastered the side splits. I believe learning how to do the splits is going to be a lot of fun.