The 41-year-old singer, who had a brain tumour removed for the second time in October, has begun working with a personal trainer at the Total Fitness Leisure Club in Wilmslow.
Known affectionately as The Voice, Salford-born Watson is hoping to complete two or three one-hour sessions every week with the aim of improving his overall strength and fitness in time for the arena tour, which begins in Glasgow on June 9.
The tour will visit 13 venues up and down the country, including what is sure to be an emotional homecoming at Manchester's M.E.N. Arena on July 19.
Watson underwent a three-hour emergency operation last year after an MRI scan revealed that a benign tumour removed in 2006 had re-grown and was bleeding.
It is barely six weeks since he completed an intensive course of radiotherapy at Manchester's Christie Hospital.
But Russell is determined as ever to be fighting fit as he prepares to entertain his thousands of fans up and down the country.
Before beginning his new fitness regime, Watson underwent a routine health assessment with Neil Fell, director for health and rehabilitation at the Total Fitness club.
Mr Fell said: "Russell was in high spirits and enthusiastic about starting his training.
"During the session he worked with light dumbbells, completed some laps on the track and did a bit of abdominal work.
"Our main concern for anyone who uses our facilities during a period of rehabilitation is to make sure they progress gradually and safely.
"Training has to be tailored to individual needs and everyone is different."
The tenor, who has two young daughters, is determined to get back to full health as quickly as possible following his health scares.
Prior to the discovery of his tumour, he had surgery to remove a lump from his vocal chord.
At the time, doctors feared that he would lose some of his upper register, and there were more concerns that his famous voice would be affected following his latest operation - but thankfully, these have proved to be unfounded.
The former factory worker got his big break at Old Trafford in 1999 when he sang Nessun Dorma before Manchester United's Premiership-winning match.
Since then he has gone on to sell more than four million albums worldwide
Source: Manchester Evening News
