Practicing Self Care For the New Year with Stretch Zone

With 2019 fast approaching, have you thought about what you should be doing for your mind and body in the new year? “Self care” is one of those phrases we keep hearing in the media because our lives have become so busy and overloaded that we can neglect our health and wellness. Self care has to be a priority if we want to be the best version of ourselves for our loved ones and our careers. And I think I’ve figured out what I will be doing for self care from now on…

I’d read about Stretch Zone at Preston Center in Dallas several months ago and I was really curious.

It’s not a massage, and it’s not a workout; it’s being stretched by practitioners who work with the stretch reflex and some lesser known but extremely powerful principles of neuromuscular behavior. I’d read they properly position, stabilize, isolate and manipulate muscles in a scientific way. Your body is better able to relax and allow for the full stretch when you allow them to do it in the right way. I wanted to try it out for myself and see if it really makes that big of a difference in how I feel. Afterall, everyone from Dr. Oz to Peloton stresses stretching as a vital part of your overall health. The best part is that you can come into Stretch Zone and try it for free the very first time to check out the experience.

So, here’s how it works:

I went in to the Stretch Zone in Preston Center and filled out some brief paperwork. I told Becca, the practitioner who would be stretching me, where my areas of concern were. Right now, it’s my neck, shoulders, and middle back from lifting my baby and bending over breastfeeding. They tailor your stretching treatment based on the areas you feel tightness and soreness, which is awesome. She explained how I would lay on the table and once I was in position, she immediately got to work! For those of you who aren’t very flexible or feel like deep stretching hurts, this ISN’T painful. Becca guided me through stretches that got deeper the longer she worked, but it never, ever hurt. In fact, it felt so good that I started wondering why I’d been spending so much money on massages this year! One interesting thing Becca told me is that our brains read the tightness in our bodies as weight and heaviness, so when we stretch properly, we instantly feel lighter. And you know what? She was right! Once she finished my half hour of stretching, I felt lighter, had more energy, and overall just felt refreshed. (You can tell from the photos how peaceful and calming it is.) I couldn’t believe how stretching made such a difference in how I felt within half an hour. And the feeling lasted all weekend long…it made me more aware of how important it is to stretch each morning when I get up, before a workout, and afterwards.

Here’s what I learned from this first Stretch Zone experience:

Stretching should be a regular part of my health and fitness routine. It’s just as important as working out or eating a healthy diet.
A Stretch Zone experience is an amazing gift to give someone. We all have enough “stuff”. Giving an experience is a much better gift-it leaves a lasting impression and actually helps the person you’re giving to!
Going to Stretch Zone can take just 30 minutes, which makes it easy to squeeze it into your schedule. You don’t have devote an entire hour like you do with a massage, and you aren’t covered in oil afterwards. You can even do this on your lunch break!
On a vanity note, I’ve learned that stretching lengthens your muscles and in turn, makes you look leaner. Heck yes.
You can start the new year off right by scheduling your stretching sessions in advance and sticking to them. Buy a package of several and you’re more likely to stay committed to your self care plan.
Stretching is for everyone. Whether you are 15 or 105, Stretch Zone can help you achieve better flexibility.

I’ve been searching for the right present for a few friends this Christmas, and since having my experience at Stretch Zone in Preston Center, I now know the gift of self care is one of the best things you can put under the tree. Who wants to start off 2019 feeling better? I know I do! (If you are outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, check out stretchzone.com for additional locations near you.)

Photography: S.Jackson