ALCHEMY OF STRETCH
Transformational stretching for strength, release, and expansion.
Transformational stretching for strength, release, and expansion.
Resistance stretching is a somatic bodywork technique in which the muscle actively contracts while it is being stretched. This controlled resistance helps lengthen the muscle safely and effectively, while also encouraging the release of dense fascia, adhesions, and scar tissue. Because the client works with the stretch rather than being passively stretched, the process engages the nervous system, increases strength, and supports long-term functional change.
The method is rooted in the Bob Cooley system and I bring over 40 years of martial arts training and a long-standing practice of subtle body awareness and perception to deepen the effectiveness of the work.
Our bodies encounter many issues over the course of time. Some arise through physical interactions or overuse, some through emotional overload that gets stored in the tissue, and some originate psychologically or energetically. Even when the main issue was physical, there tend to be disturbances in the other areas as well. An accident, for instance, will most likely have an emotional charge due to shock to the nervous system.
Through engaging the body’s musculature, we are strengthening and stretching the muscles and removing dense fascia and scar tissue.
It has been found that muscle groups can be associated with the Chinese meridian system based on proximity and function. This means that improving the function of certain muscle groups can support or rebalance the qualities associated with those meridians.
Dense fascia and scar tissue can develop anywhere in the body, encapsulating muscles, joints, and even organs. This is a normal reaction of the body to support those areas against physical, emotional, psychological, and energetic stresses, especially during events that overwhelm the system. Often, this support remains in place longer than desired and impedes sensation and function, reducing the flow of energy to those areas and making them numb or painful to the touch. The goal is to reconnect these parts to the rest of the body and bring sensations back online, which can be uncomfortable at first but is a necessary step in healing. As the body stores emotions in these restricted areas, trapped sensations and associated memories may release either during the session or afterward, including through dreams or emotional shifts.
Resistance stretching differs from passive stretching, massage, or other hands-on structural work because the muscle is actively engaged while it is being stretched. This active resistance allows the body to regulate how far it goes, which creates an immediate feedback loop between muscle, joint, and nervous system, preventing over-stretching while allowing access to deeper layers of tension and holding. This strips out the dense fascia and can remove scar tissue.
Protective and compensatory patterns are included in the process, allowing the work to safely and supportively access layers that are typically guarded or compensated around.
My approach combines classical resistance stretching with elements from other modalities - Block Therapy, acupressure, cranio-sacral techniques, and subtle body work - that support both the physical and energetic aspects involved in unwinding long-held patterns.
Many people come to this work after trying other approaches that offered relief but didn’t hold. Because the client is participating rather than being worked on, the nervous system is involved from the start. This active participation influences how the body organizes and integrates the work, supporting shifts that are structural, functional and more likely to last. The work tends to reach patterns that the body protects or compensates around, including areas where physical restriction is bound up with emotion and memory held in the tissues.
During a session, you will be guided to actively resist while a stretch is applied. The level of resistance is adjusted moment to moment based on your capacity, comfort, and the feedback your body gives. Sessions may include hands-on work, cueing to help you feel specific muscle groups, and targeted engagement of areas where fascia or scar tissue has accumulated.
Some stretches may feel intense or unfamiliar as long-held patterns begin to unwind. It is common to experience changes in temperature, sensation, emotion, or energy flow during the session.
I draw on my martial arts background and refined sensory awareness to track movement, tension, and subtle patterns of holding, helping guide the work with precision.
Resistance stretching is relatively safe, as the active resistance prevents over-stretching. You may experience significant soreness during the session or up to 48 hours afterward, lasting several days. This is often related to the state of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for clearing metabolic waste and byproducts released during the work.
Emotional or energetic releases may also occur, either during the session or afterward. This is normal and often reflects that deeper layers of holding are shifting.
To support the detox process, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids and have lighter meals. Gentle, very light cardio - such as walking - can help the body flush out toxins once soreness appears.
Adequate rest, warmth, and paying attention to subtle emotional shifts can also support integration. Some people experience more vivid dreams, increased clarity, or temporary fatigue as the body resets.
Please reach out whenever something out of the ordinary happens. We are happy to troubleshoot any issues with you.
I offer 90-minute and 120-minute sessions, depending on client preference, goals, and the depth of work desired.
straps
heated muscle-scraping tools
orbital massagers
essential oils formulated for the meridians based on the elements
These tools support deeper release, improved circulation, and greater ease in accessing the muscle groups and meridians being addressed.
Clients who are able to commit to a weekly schedule tend to notice stronger and more cumulative results, as the body adapts and the work can build from session to session.
For clients who travel frequently or cannot maintain a steady weekly rhythm, doing more than one session in a given week, when schedules align, can help maintain momentum. This supports the continuity that resistance stretching and fascial work rely on.
Long gaps between sessions can slow progress, as the body may return to familiar patterns of holding. While work is never “lost,” consistent engagement helps reinforce new patterns and prevent old ones from re-establishing themselves.
From my perspective, I strongly encourage clients to aim for a consistent and regular schedule whenever possible. While any exposure to the work can be beneficial, it’s the repeated engagement over time that allows the body to integrate the work fully and produce the most meaningful, lasting results. Consistency is what allows this modality to do what it does best.
Please contact me directly for current rates and availability. I offer both pay-as-you-go rates and pre-paid session packages, depending on what best fits your needs and schedule.
Pre-paid packages are designed to benefit both the client and the practitioner - supporting consistency and progress on your side, and structure and stability on mine. For that reason, packages are intended to be completed within a specified timeframe which is typically 13 weeks for 10-packs and 26 weeks for 20-packs. Unused sessions that fall outside of that timeframe are forfeited. Full payment is required in advance at the start of the package to qualify for the package rate.
For clients who travel often or can’t maintain a steady weekly rhythm, doing more than one session per week when possible can help keep momentum and continuity. If that level of consistency isn’t realistic, the pay-as-you-go option is often the most appropriate arrangement for everyone.