StretchLab

One of the activities I always wanted to explore was StretchLab on Tilghman Street in Allentown. I had heard about it through someone at work and thought it was a yoga studio but it's actually it's a program that was developed about 10 years in Santa Monica, California that provides one-on-one assisted stretching services that aim to improve flexibility, mobility and overall wellness.

StretchLab is a franchise model business with over 500 locations nationwide that helps its clients with either a 25- or 50-minute program that combines the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) approach with dynamic and static stretching to help to increase an individual's range of motion.

Since each person's body and needs are a little bit different, the initial visit starts with a computer-generated assessment of your range of motion and flexibility and then a certified Flexologist will design a program to improve your overall range of motion and flexibility. Each Flexologist receives over 60 hours of intensive training where they learn theory and gain hands-on experience before they can work with members. The general assessment and your history of past injuries or athleticism is taken into consideration when they work up a program for you.

According to the Forbes article I read, the difference between the 25- and 50-minute programs is that the 25 minutes is a great option for those seeking to improve range of motion and freedom of movement and concentrates on major muscle groups of the core, back, shoulder and hips while the 50-minute session is a head-to-toe stretch that's a bit deeper and more extensive while focusing on the same muscle groups but adds extremities like your neck, which seems to be a problem area for office workers.

When I first inquired about StretchLab, I spoke to Sophia on the phone who explained the program to me in great detail and set up an initial assessment with Isaac. Isaac is AMAZING. His chill demeanor and gentle method of working with clients put me at ease from the very first time we met. I am probably one of the least flexible people you'll ever meet and Isaac took the time to listen to my injury history (rotator cuff tear from boxing, sore lower back, calf tightness, etc.) had me do a few squats to assess my balance and initial flexibility while recording the results on an iPad program and then worked up a suggested program for me.

I started going once a week for a 50-minute session and a reassessment was done after a few months and I showed a fairly substantial improvement in my range of motion and a decrease in pain. The program is low impact but has impressive results.

Uploaded from Forbes article: We Tried StretchLab's Assisted Stretching -- Here's What Happened.

When you enter the Allentown center, you'll see two rows of elevated mats like in the picture above, but the appointments are set up in such a staggered way so that you've got a level of privacy so that you won't have someone right next to you and can talk openly to your Flexologist.

The session goes quickly - 50 minutes is over before you know it and I thoroughly enjoy both the stretch and the conversations with Issac. A friend of mine also signed up the same time I did and also works with Isaac and says the same thing - easy going, relaxed atmosphere and a pleasure to work with. As a matter of fact, the entire staff seems friendly and looks out for your well-being. I normally come out of a session feeling so much better than when I went in.

If you go to the main StretchLab website, (https://www.stretchlab.com), you can find out more information about the program as well as find a location close to you. The website for the Tilghman Street site is: StretchLab Tilghman Square | Stretch Studios.

StretchLab

A new location is opening in Easton PA in the near future.

Give Tom and the team at StretchLab a call - They're at 4610 Broadway Rd, Suite G08 Allentown, PA 18104 and the telephone number is 484-339-3539.

For those of you who think this may have read like a paid endorsement, it's not. If you think you're too out of shape, too old, too inflexible or too worried it's an exercise program, none of that is true. I've seen people come in that are in all shapes and sizes, all degrees of fitness and come out feeling great. Check it out - it's worthwhile! :)