Flexibility is within reach

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At age 56, Dianna Cuatto can do splits like high school cheerleaders. She gives the credit to the fact that she has been dancing since 1953. She is artistic director of the Ballet Theatre of Maryland in Annapolis, where she teaches other people about the importance of flexibility.

"I feel so much better after I stretch," Ms. Cuatto says. "If I stretch, everything starts to release; it feels like everything is flowing better inside of me."

Flexibility is important for a person's overall health, medical professionals say. It enables people to exercise, which is critical to health and well-being. No matter how stiff a person is, it's never too late to stretch and strengthen muscles.

The idea of getting the blood circulating before stretching is new in exercise science, says Judith Lynne Hanna, senior research scholar at the University of Maryland in College Park. She is author of "Dancing for Health: Conquering and Preventing Stress." She holds a doctorate in anthropology.

In the past, many therapists and trainers recommended stretching before exercise. Newer research suggests exercising a bit before stretching.

"You have to warm up so you don't pull something," Ms. Hanna says. "I try to move all parts of my body."

While learning to become more flexible, it's best to have instruction from a teacher, Ms.Cuatto says.

For instance, a person never should bounce harshly while stretching. While trying to touch the toes, a person should bend at the waist and hang instead of bouncing to reach them. Exhaling on the hardest part of the stretch rather than holding the breath also is important.

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland offers Anatomical Restructuring Stretch and Strengthener Class on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It costs $260 per semester or $25 per class.

"If you stretch one muscle, you have to stretch the opposing muscle," Ms. Cuatto says. "You also have to strengthen either the same muscle or something different, so you don't create imbalance."