As preventive health gains momentum, wellness studios are stepping in to help people feel better, live fuller lives and invest in their long-term well-being.
StretchLab locations and teams provide assisted stretching through personalized sessions and assessments to address wellness objectives, such as improved sports performance, post-surgery recovery, pain reduction and enhanced flexibility.
Romeo Goia, franchise owner of the Bargersville StretchLab studio, says he's seen a shift in clients' focus toward improving their quality of life. While stretching is one of the five major components of wellness, it's often overlooked despite its long-term benefits. Romeo and his team are on a mission to educate local residents that both younger and older clients can improve how they feel and live with an assisted stretching routine.
With a background in medical biology, healthcare and sales, Romeo joined StretchLab first as a member in 2022. After experiencing the benefits, he says he invested in the franchise with three licenses. "StretchLab aligned with my values to improve lives. After four years of regular assisted stretching, I feel younger and more active," he assures.
Not only does the range of motion of clients' bodies improve, but StretchLab teams indicate minds do as well. “Stretching helps the mind become more relaxed and flexible,” says Romeo. “By stretching the body muscles, the brain also sees improvement in function.”
Zion Barnett, StretchLab Bargersville studio manager, sees how clients benefit from 1:1 training with the group's flexologists, who are accredited specialists who've completed StretchLab's proprietary and comprehensive 50- to 70-hour assisted-stretching curriculum that blends movement analysis education from both online learning and in-studio instruction.
“StretchLab offers 25- and 50-minute sessions, each tailored to the client," Zion explains. "Four types of stretching, including Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, are used to help prevent injuries and support clients’ well-being. No two members get the same treatment.”
Clients schedule sessions with StretchLab flexologists, who complete a proprietary, hands-on training program designed to deepen expertise in physical education, kinesiology and the muscular system. These specialists assess clients’ needs and develop customized programs. “By leveraging their educational knowledge, flexologists can determine the best stretching program to meet a client’s needs with continual review of a customer’s digital body assessments and mobility score,” says Zion.
“One of the biggest surprises for new clients is how much better they feel after the very first session,” says Zion. "I love seeing a client walk out after a session with a big smile.”
Romeo also tells the story of a visit to a 55-and-older community. “Everyone who attended the session saw a difference in how they felt. They were surprised, in a great way, by how stretching could benefit their daily routines.”
During sessions, clients are active participants. “Assisted stretching is hands-on and led by the StretchLab flexologist, but clients move alongside their trainer during the treatment. Part of the customized plan is doing stretching at home to supplement the assisted stretching in the studio," Romeo explains.
With two active studios, in Bargersville and Indianapolis West Avon, and another one currently in development, Romeo says he's excited to continue improving the community's quality of life through preventive stretching and to see people live better lives as a result. “Prevention is the key,” he explains. “It’s important to understand that incorporating stretching into a routine now will help avoid future injuries that could jeopardize a healthy, active lifestyle.”
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