Feel better with every move

Is everyone prepared for fall? School supplies ready for the kids? Sports and activities added to the schedule? It’s a busy time of year.

Sarah Abood, general manager of StretchLab in Brecksville, reminds us that whatever the season brings for you and your family, consistent stretching will help everyone perform at their best—this fall and beyond.

“Stretching is great for anyone at any age,” says Sarah. “StretchLab not only stretches you but also teaches you how to stretch to prevent pain, injury and increase overall performance in a particular sport, and in life.”

StretchLab offers a one-on-one, assisted stretch guided by trained experts, Flexologists, providing you with a stretch you won’t achieve on your own.

“You get a much deeper stretch than you would ever get without assistance,” says Sarah. “People are often afraid to stretch because they aren’t sure what to do and they don’t want to hurt themselves. Overstretching can do more harm than good and even cause injury. Our Flexologists are extensively trained to build a program that provides each client with exactly the stretch they need to achieve their goals.”

Before you arrive for your first session, a Flexologist will reach out about your goals, lifestyle, past injuries and general information. Flexologists have backgrounds in a variety of health and fitness fields in addition to completing an extensive, three-tiered certification process that includes 60 hours of in-person workshops and 20-plus hours of hands-on training administering the 26 signature StretchLab stretches, which are designed to address every muscle group in the body.

“This isn’t a one-stretch-fits-all experience,” says Sarah. “Flexologists use a stretching technique called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, which uses relaxation and resistance to improve muscle elasticity. You are never in pain and are always in control of your stretch.”

StretchLab offers program-based stretching, meaning your stretches are part of a program built specifically for you to reach your individual goals. 

“For a younger athlete, we may work on lower body, ankle and leg strength for soccer, football and cross country, or hip flexibility for golf,” says Sarah. “Or we’ll target the upper body, like shoulders and arms for volleyball. We work on overall flexibility but also tailor your stretches to your needs.”

Stretching isn’t always part of a warm-up or cool-down routine for younger athletes. Still, it can be critical in lessening the likelihood of injury, increasing performance levels and aiding in recovery. 



“Kids are more structured in their downtime than they used to be, spending less time in active play, riding bikes and other activities,” says Sarah. “This has led to an earlier onset of chronic issues like tech-neck, lower-back and shoulder pain, usually seen in older adults.”

And for all the parents and grandparents of these young people, fall is also a time to return to routine. The travel time in the car, working from home, and other changes that define the summer months can all add stress to the body and the mind. 

“Summer can throw off a good routine,” says Sarah. “Stretching helps prevent the buildup of mental and physical pressure while maintaining the strength and flexibility you have and builds on that.”

Football, volleyball, cross country, soccer, golf, tennis and field hockey. Whatever is on the schedule this fall, StretchLab is a great way to prepare everyone for stronger performance, better recovery and improved overall wellness. 

StretchLab Brecksville

7590 Chippewa Road, Brecksville

440-792-6622

StretchLab.com/Location/Brecksville