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I recently explored the practice of assisted stretching. I visited a studio and was greeted by John, a trained flexologist, who asked me, “Are there any parts of your body that are sore or stiff?” Without hesitation, I pointed to the top of my head, and then ran my finger down my body to my toes. “Let’s just start with this,” I reported honestly.
Recently, it has been a very stressful time for me and I am physically and emotionally tense. I have to finish writing a book. Simultaneously, I must write a post. On top of this, I have to get ready for a long trip. I am spending about 12 hours a day sitting at my computer with my fingers clicking away at furious speed. I tried deep breathing, supplements, and self-talk. But my body has a mind of its own and it made its distress known.
That’s how I ended up trying assisted stretching.
First, I had to do a few easy standing stretches in front of a digital body mapping device. I was guided by a peppy avatar. Then I got the results of my posture, mobility, activation, and symmetry. I scored pretty high on symmetry, not too badly on activation, medium on posture, and mobility was absurdly low. How could that be? I walk and move all the time—except when I am frozen into immobility at my desk. “You’re a little above average,” John said. “You mean people are worse than I am?” He laughed and reassured me that everyone has issues, and that’s why they come for sessions.
John beckoned me to lie down on a table, and I didn’t have to do a thing. No performance. No pushing. No trying. No effort at all. I realized that I was unused to being passive.
I just lay there and he stretched me. My arms, legs, hips, shoulders, feet, ankles. And while he worked, we talked. John is a natural philosopher, and he spoke about non-duality; not only are mind and body connected, but they can sometimes be viewed as the same thing. Just like tires and steering wheel and brakes are part of one entity — a car.
“You’re pretty flexible,” he said cheerfully, and then we talked about the connection between having a flexible body and being behaviorally flexible. I was about to comment when I noticed something unexpected: I felt relaxed. I looked around to see where my tension was, but I couldn’t find it. John was stretching my body, but my mind was stretched as well. Of course. They are all part of the same thing: me.
By the end of the session, there were a few body parts that were whispering rather than shouting, and their range of motion was somewhat improved. But it was what happened to my mind and emotions that intrigued me.
Perhaps it was that John is also a yoga teacher, so working with stress and relaxation is part of what he does, and the way he approaches it. My husband, Paul, had a session at the same time, and his flexologist was also a yoga teacher. Their conversation was quite different, but he too felt calm. Other flexologists include a personal trainer, a physical therapist, a massage therapist, and one with a degree in kinesiology.
I think that gentle, healing touch is part of what makes the body and mind loosen up. Someone assisted me, and I didn’t have to do it by myself. I had a partner in seeking wellness. There was no self-monitoring to see if I was doing it correctly. With nothing expected of me, I could relax. I understand why studios like these are popping up all over the country. It’s another option in the quest for freedom of movement, relief from tightness, and inner and outer calm.
