You've heard through the years about the role of exercise as an important component to living a healthy lifestyle. Choosing a healthful diet, coupled with getting the right amount of exercise, can help you live a longer, healthier life.

But often when we think about exercise we think about cardiovascular training such as running, biking or brisk walking. Only recently have we begun to embrace the importance of strength training as a valuable piece of the fitness puzzle. Strength training helps build muscle mass, which in turn helps your body burn fat quicker than aerobic exercise alone.

Sounds good, right? Eat right, exercise, lift weights. But aren't we still forgetting something?

The answer is yes.

To achieve the best overall results for your body, don't forget to add a stretching program to your fitness regimen.

"We want our members to have the opportunity to experience all aspects of fitness," says INTEGRIS PACER exercise physiologist Cathy Patterson. "It's important to diversify when it comes to building the healthiest body possible."

Research shows that stretching is beneficial. Without the flexibility that stretching provides, we would have a difficult time just performing daily lifestyle tasks, such as looking over our shoulder to change lanes.

"Stretching and flexibility go hand-inhand," notes Patterson. The best time to stretch is following your cardio workout when the muscles are warm.

"Think of a muscle as a rubber band. When you stretch a cold rubber band, it tends to snap. But a warm rubber band stretches much further. The stretching of the rubber band can be compared to the effect stretching has on our range of motion," says Patterson.

INTEGRIS PACER Fitness Center offers yoga, Pilates and Better Backs classes to help round out your exercise routine. Each incorporates stretching as a vital element of the class.

Yoga
In yoga, your mind and body connect through a series of basic positions and breathing techniques. Focus is placed on strength, balance, concentration, flexibility and relaxation techniques.

There is a choice of yoga classes, based on different levels of experience. From beginner classes to advanced classes, PACER will have a yoga class that is just right for you.

Pilates
Based on the work of Joseph Pilate, PACER's Pilates classes embody a form of movement that will strengthen and stretch core muscles to improve posture.

Better Backs
Correct posture, body alignment, breathing, abdominal strengthening and stretching are an important part of building a healthier body. You'll learn all of these techniques with the PACER Better Backs class (exercise balls and straps may be used).

For More Information
If you would like more information about INTEGRIS PACER Fitness Center's services, classes, and programs, please call (405) 949-3891. You can also check PACER out on the Web at www.INTEGRIS-health.com.

INTEGRIS Health 3300 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 949-3011 | HealthLine: (888) 951-2277