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Natural Awakenings South Jersey

StretchLab Helps Keep South Jersey Moving

Oct 29, 2021 09:44AM ● By Nancy Seigle
by Sheila Julson

According to reports from the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School, stretching can help improve muscle flexibility, range of motion and joint health. That’s what motivated entrepreneur Marc Kweeder to bring a StretchLab franchise to South Jersey. 

“I like the fact that stretching is helpful for people of all ages and fitness entry levels,” Kweeder says. “Through StretchLab, we can help athletes improve their performance, or we can help a person in their 70s walk and move better. It’s a way to help many people.” 

StretchLab is a California-based franchise company that was launched in 2015. Kweeder opened the Marlton location in October 2020. StretchLab features flexologists that provide one-on-one assisted stretching on specially designed benches. Upon the first visit, clients consult with a flexologist that will ask questions about fitness goals, everyday health, previous injuries and any ailments incurred from day-to-day living, such as tight shoulders from working at a computer. 

The flexologist then takes each client through a customized stretch routine that targets certain muscle groups and focuses on problem areas. All flexologists have a bodywork certification prior to coming to StretchLab, such as in massage therapy, personal training, yoga, Pilates or physical therapy. Each of them brings their own experiences to assist clients to reach their flexibility goals. 

Flexologists go through a proprietary certification which consists of 30 hours of online training modules, followed by a two-day, intensive, practical workshop with a Master Flexologist that trains them on every stretch, how it’s supposed to feel, how the stretch is supposed to be done and the process of modification. The final step is doing 20 hours of practice stretching before seeing clients.   

Kweeder observes that during the last year-plus, many people experience stiffness and tight shoulders from working at home on laptops or computers while sitting on a dining room chair or at a coffee table—settings that are not ergonomically friendly. 

“Stretching helps keep the muscles loose and the body more balanced,” Kweeder says. “If you perform a stretching routine under the guidance of a knowledgeable flexologist, you won’t develop muscle tightness from being sedentary or from repetitious movements. Nurses that lift their arms repeatedly while handling IVs can also develop tightness, so we teach them how to properly stretch to alleviate soreness and pain.” 

StretchLab’s flexologists also focus on proper balance, posture and stretching to reduce stress and increase blood flow. StretchLab Marlton offers individual stretch sessions and will eventually introduce group stretch sessions once the current pandemic is under control. Clients can choose from either 25- or 50-minute sessions, and attend four to 12 times per month. Monthly memberships are available. StretchLab also offers introductory sessions and starter packages for those that are curious and want to try StretchLab’s services. 

Kweeder plans to open two more StretchLab locations in South Jersey in the next year. He engages the community through events such as the Spellbound Century Bike Ride and the 31st annual Ron Jaworski Scholarship Golf Tournament, in Egg Harbor Township, Little Warrior Project 5K and many more.  

 

StretchLab is located at 101 S. N-73, Ste. 167A, inside the Marlton Crossing Shopping Center, in Marlton. For more information or to make an appointment, call 856-872-7416 or visit StretchLab.com/location/marlton.

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