Maybe you pay a usual visit to your favorite spa and maybe you sweat at your favorite studios often, but have you considered trying a customized stretching session? I was super curious about this new wellness trend, so I was thrilled to try STRETCH*D for the first time.

Guilty as charged: Despite being incredibly important, I often put stretching (and I mean REALLY stretching, not just a post-class group cool down) on the back burner. Unless I’m flowing at Y7, the odds are you’ll rarely find me taking the time to truly show my muscles some love. The result? My lower body is tight AF. My visit to STRETCH*D solidified this, that’s for sure.

So what’s STRECH*D all about? At STRETCH*D, you’ll get a one-on-one customized stretching session with one of their experts. They offer various kinds of stretching sessions, but I tried “The Quick*e” for 25 minutes. I kid you not, it was easily some of the best spent 25 minutes of my life. Thanks, Jeff!

Jeff was my Strech*r for the afternoon and he was totally awesome. We kicked things off by chatting about the areas that bugged me the most, and he tailored all of the stretches to work those specific areas (all lower body, back, and neck.) We also talked about the different types of workouts I do, and how often, so that he could get a better sense of what was going on with my body.

Much of the experienced consisted of laying on the table, strapped down in various ways. Jeff then worked through the different problem areas, like my hamstrings, hips, etc on each side of my body. One of my favorite stretches was the “thoracic lumbar rotator”, which involved sitting on the edge of the table and stretching out my lower back. The release was fabulous. The neck stretch was the best, though, since it essentially felt like a massage with some CBD oil mixed in (yes, we used that.)

Interestingly, this isn’t just a simple, passive stretch session. Though it’s incredibly relaxing, STRETCH*D specializes in dynamic stretching, so expect to be guided in and out of stretch positions. It feels INCREDIBLE, but be prepared to slightly move in sync with your stretch*r, rather than laying like a corpse.

Now, let’s talk takeaways! One of the biggest takeaways for me was how much tighter my left side is compared to my right side. By the end of the session, we had begun doing most stretches twice through on the left for a little extra TLC. Jeff had mentioned that my left side had become muscularly shorter than my right side (a result, I’m sure, of not taking the time to, you guessed it, STRETCH after working out), so I’m happy he was able to balance me out a bit over the course of the session. I also got a PHYSICAL takeaway, being that the front desk sent me an email with some recommended stretches to do at home on my own. I really appreciated that and hope I’ll stay motivated to do them!

To say I felt rejuvenated, lighter, and elongated after the 25-minutes is a true understatement. Similar to a massage, it felt like the ultimate tension release, and I could feel the results almost immediately. Coupled with the super relaxing aesthetic of the studio, it’s a slam-dunk experience.

As someone who trains 4-5 days a week, I’d like to make STRETCH*D an ongoing part of my regular workout routine so that I can get a well-rounded fitness and wellness experience on a daily basis. Their offerings are super affordable (for example, $45 for the 25 minute Quick*e, and $100 for the comprehensive 55 minute Flex*d experience) and they accept clients on both a walk-in and appointment basis. Just show up in comfy clothes and get ready to reap the benefits!

Have you tried an assisted stretching program before? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!