Your Performance Stretch Therapist Blog

When I first got into Stretch Therapy, I learned it on the table at first. We had a strap to make sure clients didn’t fall off the table and it took a while to find just the right height for my table so I wouldn’t constantly be bending over my client.

I started in Personal Training. Sure, now you can go to your local gym and there most likely will be a massage table there, but that wasn’t always the case. 

I would train my clients in the gym and then we would end up on the floor post-session trying to figure out the best way to duplicate an assisted stretch I had learned on the table.

When I decided to leave personal training and focus solely on Stretching, there was nowhere for me to work. So I started my business independently. I was working out of my home and doing mobile visits which required me to take my table with me everywhere I went. And it became exhausting. 

I knew there had to be a better way. So when I was creating The Performance Stretch...

Do you believe that there are themes that follow you? Themes that keep showing up until you take notice?

Well for me, if I had to choose a theme for myself in  2022, it would be failure. Not in a bad way, but in a very good way

I have spent a lot of time giving, receiving and accepting it this year so it’s time I discuss it.

You see, in our course The Performance Stretch System, I am the Lead Master Trainer and the final examiner for the online course. 

It is my job to decide whether the students pass or fail… and yeah, it’s much harder than you think . 

I truly want everyone to pass. I mean, our goal as a company is to #StretchTheWorld  and in order to do that, we have to have as many health and wellness pros come through our program and pass. 

But not everyone passes on their 1st try. And really, that’s ok; because for many it’s great!

We are dedicated to producing the best stretch therapists in the world. So we...

Someone sent to me a link to a Blog they read about The Performance Stretch System. I was so touched and filled with gratitude that I wanted to share it with you. 

I've been trying to figure out how I can share with you what this course really does for people and I'm so happy that Carisa Gaylardo, The Bodyologist was able to express it from her point of view. So here's to our first Guest post!!!

Thank you so much Carsia for letting us share this with Our community! 

Sincerely,

Sarah

What it Was Like to Get Certified in Sarah Mariano’s Performance Stretch System

Recently I attended Sarah Mariano’s (aka @thestretchtherapist), Performance Stretch System workshop in Austin, Texas.

I went there to become certified in this floor-based assisted stretch technique that combines elements like yoga, rehabilitation techniques, and martial arts (to name a few). I went there to expand my understanding of recovery and stretching. I went there to give myself another set of...

YOUR WORD FOR THIS YEAR

We are only a couple weeks into the new year and a lot of us are already overwhelmed. It seems as if everyone is trying to grab your attention. This sends your brain in so many different directions. It’s dizzying. 

My approach? I try to keep it simple. 

I choose 1 word as I reflect on my past year, by choosing my BEST DAY of the year. For 2021 my word was: FREE

Then I choose one word to focus on for my upcoming year. For 2022 my word is: SELF-LOVE

Take a moment and be proud of your accomplishments in order to plan for your future, for there is so much to learn from your past and so much to look forward to in the future. 

Here are some of mine:

• I learned how to: manage my stress + anger, stay peaceful, calm, confident and surrender to the process + journey
• I learned to be FREE
• Met amazing people and friends
• Connected with those who inspire me: Drake, Russell Wilson, Kelly Slater, Tati West
• I learned to TRUST myself
• I became able to...

A week ago I woke up to this:

I share a lot but I don’t share everything. I have many celebrity clients including Drake who I’ve been stretching for years, but I don’t share too much about them because their private lives are their private lives!

So when Drake posted a pic on IG after I finished stretching him, obviously I freaked out - I mean, he's arguably one of the most famous rappers/artists in modern times and he happens to be from my hometown! (and we were born in the same year!) 

I was inundated with dm’s and text messages and I literally had to shut my phone off because I couldn’t process it. 

He graciously took a photo with me and then tagged and posted it with a kind message alongside it. 

Insert freakout moment here: 

I am so grateful beyond words.

This is so valuable to me and my team because it highlights all the hard work we’ve put into building a program, system and business that would help to heal the...

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1SHOULDER MOBILITY
A tight thoracic spine can limit the range of motion for the shoulder, specifically lifting overhead by changing the position of the shoulder blade on the rib cage. (Crossfit, overhead squat anyone?)
2POSTURE
If you have a stiff thoracic spine, the natural curvature of the T-spine increases, thereby making the ability to extend (straighten up) and rotate is compromised. This leads to forward head posture (and text neck) which can be associated with neck pain (and headaches).
3LOW BACK
Because of this increase of rounded thoracic spine (kyphotic), like a domino effect, it affect the lumbar spine (low back), also increasing its rounded nature (lordosis). Therefore, the pelvis often ends up in an anterior tilt, which may lead to low back discomfort and/or pain.
4BREATHING
The more stuck the ribs and spine are, the more difficult it will be for diaphragm to contract and allow for optimal oxygen intake. This can affect optimal brain function (as the brain needs a need...

Stuck in a car, driving all day?

@fithaus.io is a fitness trainer and entrepreneur who hustles day in, day out. Lately he’s been lifting heavy and sitting in a car nonstop. His hips are stuck in an anterior tilt and his spine is stiff and immobile. Can you guess how wound up how’s shoulders and neck are like?

Our downtown therapist Nicole spent the session assessing and stretching around his pelvis, spine and neck. He came in feeling tension in his low back, hip flexors, and shoulders. After his session he felt loose, aware and pain free. Nicole has a background in massage therapy and incorporated some soft tissue work.

Should we show his before and after, and testimonial?! Yay or nay?

In order to grow and find success in my business, it’s important to review past failures and learn from them. I think working on personal development is crucial for business development. To me, they go hand in hand.

Ok, so I didn’t exactly FAIL as a personal trainer but I want to share with you why I FELT like I did.

1. I WASN’T PASSIONATE ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS. I didn’t have an interest in training people for weight loss. I wanted to train people for strength, mobility + athletics. I felt like I doing a disservice because my heart wasn’t 100% in it. Don’t get me wrong, I was (and still am) a very good trainer - my clients always got results. I studied and worked hard to learn to be the best I could be. But in the end it didn’t matter if my heart wasn’t in it. Your trainer shouldn’t care partially, they should care wholly to go above and beyond.
2. GOT LAZY. Because of this waning interest, I started to get lazy with maintenance systems....