By Any Stretch

HENRY and ADA GONZALEZ always lived an active lifestyle. Passionate about fitness, the Raleigh-based couple flew to California to meet with Xponential Fitness, the largest global franchise group of boutique fitness brands. While there, Ada Gonzalez stumbled across StretchLab, a newly launched fitness concept focused on flexibility and mobility. “After briefly speaking with one of the directors, Henry and I booked our first stretch that night at a local StretchLab. It was love at first stretch,” she says. “I knew right away this is what people needed, and I was ready to bring it to our community.”

After opening three studios in Raleigh, Henry and Ada Gonzalez opened their fourth StretchLab in The Pointe at Barclay last month. Plans are underway for a fifth studio in Wilmington at Center Point, a forthcoming development at the corner of Eastwood and Military Cutoff roads.

Because everyone’s body is different and everyone has different goals with a wide range of motivating factors, all stretching programs at StretchLab are designed to meet the individual needs of each client. Regular sessions can help prevent injury and improve athletic performance, Ada Gonzalez noted. “Stretching is required to keep our joints and muscles mobile,” she says. “You are only setting yourself up for the risk of injury when you don’t have flexibility in your hips for your golf swing, or you don’t stretch to counterbalance the damaging effect of prolonged sitting while working on your computer.” Additional benefits listed by Ada Gonzalez include decreased pain and stiffness and reduced stress.

At StretchLab, flexologists – the term StretchLab uses for its stretch practitioners – are health and fitness professionals who are knowledgeable in anatomy and kinesiology with training in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). “The PNF stretching technique is used by physical therapists as a method of treatment for musculoskeletal related issues. The PNF technique has several years of research supporting how effective the technique is in creating physiological change to the muscle. It is an effective method of lengthening muscles in a safe manner when used appropriately,” explains Ada Gonzalez.

Ada Gonzalez says getting stretched by a flexologist, rather than attempting to stretch on your own, elevates results. “Our team of flexologists partner with you on your flexibility journey and hold you accountable. Our motto is we are a studio of results,” she says.

Ada Gonzalez, who obtained her physical therapy degree from Florida International University, completed flexologist training in 2019 after deciding to become a StretchLab owner. Her background in the health/fitness arena is coupled with Henry Gonzalez’s corporate experience as a regional sales manager providing expertise in hiring, coaching, and developing teams. “Our strengths complement each other and allow us to take this journey together,” says Ada Gonzalez.

With an emphasis on improved mobility and injury prevention, StretchLab’s services are designed to help busy people who may not realize the impact a targeted stretching practice could have on their well-being. “Mobility is the foundation to everything we do. The lack of prioritizing stretching is related to people’s busy lives and unfortunately our society sometimes has more of a reactive versus proactive mindset when it comes to injury prevention. My passion is to help people to continue doing what they love to do – play tennis, run, cycle,” Ada Gonzalez says. “Mobility plays a major role in one’s quality of life and I want everyone to live life to their fullest.”

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