StretchLab — Attraction in Austin

Five stars for the stretch experience, zero star for the high pressure sales tactics so an average of 3.

The therapist I saw was amazing. Great stretch. Personable.

After the stretch session I got a hard pitch for a membership. Even knowing it was coming I somehow thought “you know, this sounds great actually” and ended up signing up.

One red flag was I asked if I could opt out of arbitration in the contract and even though they said yes didn’t warn me or stop me from accidentally signing that section (which had other things hidden).

If you do sign a membership make sure to opt out of arbitration.

I felt great going home but a few hours later I just felt gross like I had been emotionally manipulated. It felt awful. I saw you can cancel within 3 days (yes I read other parts of the contract). I called to cancel. They were super nice. But then knowing then I had the thankful insight to ask how I would know it worked. They said they would email me a termination agreement (sketchy but okay).

I never got an email. When I checked my account it still showed my membership and my account was charged.

I had to email them to followup and I threatened a credit card chargeback. Thankfully they responded quickly to this and issued a refund.

Before the stretch they put me through a measure system. The system they use to evaluate posture etc seems pseudo-scientific. I don’t doubt it’s accurate in telling if it leaning to one side or another, but I do doubt if it served any purpose other than to quantify a “problem” that they could sell me a fix for. Reminds me of a Scientol*gist measuring a theaton level. Versus an actual GP doctor heavily cautioning me against getting an MRI for a certain type of pain because “I guarantee we would find something we could call wrong with you, but it’s more than likely not the direct problem”.

I love metrics but I’m very skeptical of metrics provided by a private source. Also I was complaining about tightness between my shoulders and the system didn’t seem to have any info about that area. Only reason it seems to put me through it was to give me a number in my head to focus on improving.

Overall I plan on going back but I just hated that whole experience. If a non-franchise version of this same concept were to pop up I would choose it on a heart beat. I was even suspicious before going that the main stretchlab website isn’t about selling a service, it’s about selling to potential franchise owners.

The whole experience (minus the stretch) felt like an attempt to extract maximum cash from me. It really reminds me of an old school gym where it’s impossible to cancel a membership once signed up. Or like a timeshare sell.

I feel especially uncomfortable in a health and wellness space where someone is recommending me take actions to improve my health when their evaluation also impacts their bottom line. Maybe it’s an honest assessment why 2x stretches a week will give great results but I’ve got basically zero trust with such recommendations.

Currently I’m planning on trying out buying a package and seeing if there’s some improvements after awhile. Hopefully they don’t try to continuously upsell me or push me to do something I’m not comfortable doing.

It’s worth it for me to spend a little more cash per session to have some flexibility. If I don’t love it enough to pay full price then it’s probably not a good deal with a membership.

To recap: extremely scammy and gross business practices but with a good product. Don’t sign anything without opting out of arbitration. Cancel within 3 days if you accidentally sign up and have a change of heart. Make sure to follow up if you try to cancel and leave a paper trail wherever possible. If you call them, I would record the call. That’s the level of...

Nathan the Amazing returns me to my life!

I am an avid yogi. Not the best mind you, but it is the only thing I have found to release my stress and anxiety. I tore my shoulder and was preparing for surgery. I was devastated when I learned I would be out of yoga for six months. I didn’t want to lose my flexibility that I had gained over the past two years, so I turned to Stretch Lab Mueller.

My first 50 minute session was with Nathan! He walked me through the Stretch Lab techniques and I learned very quickly through his direction that I would not only keep my flexibility, but I was GAINING flexibility! My hamstrings were the tightest, my back was always sore and my glutes, well they were non existent. Nathan told me to work on the connection between my brain and glute (he said it more scientifically, but I knew what he meant, lol). He gave me exercises to increase glute strength and how to keep stretching my glutes on my own through home work-outs. After my surgery we kept stretching and he was SO mindful of my shoulder! He has a great rapport, he is genuine, positive and he knows his stuff!

If that last paragraph wasn’t enough the facility is so clean. The front desk staff is friendly and eager to help, and all of the staff doing the stretching are on their game! I had to freeze my membership for a couple of weeks due to my surgery and this was done with ease. Appointments are booked in person or through the app which is simple to navigate.

I am back into yoga now and my fear of losing my flexibility did not come to fruition! I am more flexible and stronger all the way around on my return to the activity that I love! I want to thank Nathan and everyone at Stretch Lab Mueller for keeping me yoga ready! I cannot recommend this place enough! They are simply the...

Stretch was 5/5 stars! I wish I could remember his name. Very knowledgeable. Hard to explain how I felt after. Not bad or anything, just difficult to put into words.

Minus 2 stars for a couple of things. You need skid less socks. I can't remember how often they really came in useful, probably a couple of times. If you don't bring your own you can purchase them there for $17. The management/sales staff are really nice, but the pressure at the end of the stretch session with a bit much for me. Trying to get me to sign up for a monthly membership. (Which seems a bit overpriced.) The introductory rate of $50 feels like that should be the normal rate for a 60min stretch. I told them I would think about it, they said they would call the following day. Luckily my phone picked up the number as stretch lab so I just ignored it, knowing they were going to partly try to get me to sign up for a membership.

I also question the validity of the results the mobility machine gives you at the beginning of the stretch. They have you stand and squat 3 times and it supposedly tells you where you are not flexible (or something like that). I never do squats without some light stretching first, and the position they have you put your feet in, is not the position I would ever put my feet in for squats.

Great concept! Stretch was wonderful! I can see this being worth it for some people and how they can truly benefit from it and have it change...