DENVER -- If you thought gymnastics was something you had to start practicing as a kid, think again.

Today, more and more adults are taking a stab at learning the sport. According to the Columbia News Service, recreational gyms in about 32 states now offer adult gymnastics classes to newcomers.

Gymnastics instructor Colin Ligammari, from Chelle Stack's Gymnastics in Winter Park, Fla., says you can learn gymnastics at almost any age.

"There's no limit to what you can do," Ligammari said. "I haven't run into needing an age limit."

She believes every class can be tailored to different skill levels.

While most competitive gymnasts are still quite young, several U.S. and international athletes are also extending their careers beyond their teens. Chellsie Memmel, who will be 20 years old when the Beijing Olympics begins, and veteran gymnast Nastia Liukin, who will be close to 19, are both expected to contend for medals this year.

Gymnastics is a good workout for both the young and the old.

"It's a whole body workout," Ligammari said. "It's top to bottom, every muscle group in your body."

Most gymnastics moves require all the muscles in the body to work in unison.

Some common exercises a beginner gymnast may perform include:

Forward/backward rolls

Handstands

Round-offs

Back handsprings

Dive forward rolls

Trampoline tricks

Strength skills

Stretch moves

More than 600,000 children in the United States take part in school-sponsored and club-level gymnastics competitions every year. A new study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics examined data on children between six and 17 years of age who were treated in hospital emergency departments for gymnastics-related injuries. On average, 26,600 injuries were reported annually.

The majority of these injuries occurred at school or at a place of recreation or sports. There are currently no statistics on adult gymnastics injuries, but many experts say adults could be even more prone to injuries.

Ligammari says it's important to never perform any move that feels uncomfortable. Adults should also stretch before and after a gymnastics workout; however, being in shape may be the best injury prevention of all.

Ligammari always ends her classes with a conditioning session, so participants can work on improving their overall strength and endurance.