My experience with StretchLab

Recently I won a drawing at my gym (Orangetheory Fitness) for a 25-minute introductory session at StretchLab. I’d seen StretchLab advertised around town and driven past the studio a couple of times and was already curious about them, so I was particularly excited about this opportunity to give StretchLab a try for free.

The studio

The first thing I noticed when walking in the St. George, Utah studio was how bright and clean it was. Spaced around the room were a number of benches similar to what you have probably used if you have ever had physical therapy, except that these benches had little cubbies (shelves) at the foot of the bench to hold your belongings. At the far end of the room was a drinking fountain, restrooms, and a MAPS machine (more about that later).

At the front of the studio was a reception area, where I was greeted by a friendly receptionist. She quickly checked me in and sold me a pair of grip socks (for safety and hygiene). You can bring your own, but I hadn’t, so I bought theirs for $16.74 U.S. A bit pricey for a pair of socks, but I imagine they will last me for years. On a side note, it is suggested you wear clothes you feel comfortable moving in, such as activewear. I came straight from the gym and was wearing my favorite CVG leggings, so that was perfect.

As I waited for my turn (briefly…they were prompt), I observed other patrons being stretched while they chatted with their stretch practitioners. I also noticed that the benches were wiped down thoroughly after each session.

My 25-minute introductory StretchLab session

My stretch practitioner, Liv, came over and introduced herself. She led me to my bench and invited me to store my purse and shoes in the cubby. She asked me several questions about my health history, level of physical activity, any areas of soreness or tightness, and what my goals were for stretching. I explained my Frozen Shoulder history, as well as my tendency for tightness in the neck and upper back. As for my stretch goals, I explained that I had been doing more strength training lately and wanted to maintain or improve my flexibility and range of motion. She recorded all of this information on her computer.

From there, Liv had me lie face up on the bench and began a series of assisted stretches. She instructed me that she wasn’t going to try to stretch me to my maximum and there shouldn’t be any pain. She asked that I tell her when I was at what I estimated to be 50 percent. That was a little hard to judge, so I would just stop her when she was shortly past the point that I could definitely feel the stretch. At that point she would pause, have me resist lightly then relax, and she would stretch a little further. She did several different stretches with my arms, legs, and neck, making notes throughout regarding my mobility and any imbalances between sides. It actually felt fantastic.

Liv explained that during a 50-minute session, she would normally start with a massage gun to loosen up the muscles, do additional stretching, and periodically conduct a scan with the MAPS machine. She suggested that if I had enjoyed the 25-minute session, I should try 50 minutes. I felt absolutely no pressure from her to rebook or purchase anything additional. However, I felt so good and I was curious, so I did in fact purchase three 25-minute blocks for $259 US (which included tax). Two of those blocks can be stacked to create a 50-minute session, which is what I did.

My 50-minute StretchLab session

Two weeks later, I was back to try out the longer session. I had booked with Liv specifically, since she did such a great job the first time. She greeted me by name and asked if anything had changed since I was there last. I had actually tweaked my lower left back and was having some minor pain and tightness. This time she had me lie face down on the bench, using a massage-type pillow for my face. As promised, she started the session by using a massage gun on my upper and lower back, paying special attention to the sore area, and my glutes. From there, I rolled over to my back, and we began the stretching. This time, I let her go a little deeper with the stretches, as I had a better idea of what to expect. It felt great.

To finish up the session, we walked over to the MAPS machine. Basically, I stood in front of a scanner, held my arms over my head and did three squats. Here’s what the StretchLab website says about the machine:

By just doing three overhead squats, the MAPS machine will use the 3D camera to process thousands of data points to measure your Mobility, Activation, Posture, and Symmetry. After taking a full-body scan, MAPS will immediately provide you with a score that evaluates how well you are moving. Based on your assessment, your Flexologist can better customize your stretch session specifically to your body’s needs and help get you started moving and feeling better! Plus, we will do monthly scans to see your improvement over time.

As promised, Liv went over the results with me, a copy of which was sent to me via email the same day.

After two sessions, I decided to enroll in a membership. Since I wanted to have a 50-minute session every other week, it was suggested I purchase the 25-minute weekly package. I could then stack two sessions every other week to reach my goal for the lowest cost, which by the way is $169 US per month (or $134.50 per 50-minute session). Should I miss a session during the month, it will roll over to the next month. You can also freeze your membership for up to four months per year for a small fee. This would be useful in case of a prolonged illness or travel. After the first three months of membership, you may cancel any time with a one-month notice.

Would I recommend StretchLab

You’ve probably figured out by now that I do highly recommend StretchLab to anyone looking to improve range of motion, improve posture, relieve stress, or reduce joint pain. The only drawback I see is the cost, which is slightly higher than the average cost for a 60-minute massage. Still, for me, the benefits are worth the cost. I plan to continue with my monthly massage and add in two stretches each month for the next 3-6 months and reevaluate at that point. I’ll be interested to see how my MAPS assessment changes over time.

Your turn

1. Have you ever had an assisted stretch, either as part of a massage, physical therapy, or a stand-alone session?
2. Have you tried anything new lately that you would recommend?
3. What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.