Stretch Zone — Local services in New York

I was on a path of healing with a shoulder injury before Stretch Zone, now I am injured again in new places. What began as a pleasant complimentary session with the manager Alec quickly turned into a new bad injury in 30 minutes.

The intake was straighforward and Alec seemingly took time to understand my concerns about my recent injury I was finally recovering from. He made it clear that Stretch Zone practicioners were not doctors, which felt like a red flag to me but I decided to give it a shot as they seem to be a legitimate business. My injury was finally feeling much better at the time with little to no pain - so I felt like I could handle some stretching. I also found it odd that Stretch Zone does not disclose prices until you take a free session. A certain part of me understands, but I still find it to be shady.

The stretch happens on a massage table style bed and the practicioner proceeds to push your body around in various places. You are expected to tell them when you are pushed to your 8 out of 10 comfort zone with the stretch. For someone recovering from an injury, this can obviously be too much. After 30 minutes I was thoroughly stretched out arms and legs, with a focus on my upper body injury spot. I left with a slight soreness in my upper neck, trapezius area that initially felt like somehting normal when a massage is over. I let Alec know about this sorness, but we chalked it up to something that is probably normal. After a few hours my pain spread to my shoulder and down my back. To this day I am still in significant pain from my session and will likely continue to be debilitated by it.

I don't like writing negative reviews, but I feel the need to compose this because I don't want anyone to go through the stress and pain I am now experiencing on a daily basis. May my suffering at least prevent the suffeing of another. As these are not doctors and this stretch method isn't backed by scientific evidence - one is taking great risks to their wellbeing...

After years of nagging low back pain and numerous unsuccessful visits to chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists, I made an appointment at Stretch Zone figuring I had nothing to lose. My first session was with Alec, the manager, and after 30 minutes I felt more relief than I had in years and I immediately signed up for a three month package. I woke up the next morning without pain and stiffness and excitedly told all my friends suffering from similar issues about how they needed to get to Stretch Zone ASAP.

Unfortunately my subsequent sessions have not come close to matching my first. Alec is not a regular practitioner - he appears to only stretch potential new clients. The practitioner I chose in my next session only gave a cursory effort and proclaimed we were finished after 25 minutes; the next quickly lurched me off the table at at the end of my session, sending pain searing down my back and undoing any benefits; and the third was honestly committed to helping me, but I felt no improvement. And because of their small staff, I now find myself out of options.

I have 18 sessions left but I don't intend to use them - I will instead take it as a lesson learned. More than anything else, I feel like I was deceived - by having an amazing experience to bait me into signing up and paying a significant fee, only to be ultimately disappointed by the actual product.

To anyone considering Stretch Zone, I would advise that you insist that your free intro session be conducted by a regular practitioner, so you know what you are getting into. And to the Stretch Zone team, I mean no disrespect, as everyone I met was friendly and had good intentions. But I feel that greater transparency is due to...

I had been wanting to try one of these stretch studios because I felt like my body was asking me for it ! I’m glad I choose stretch zone for my first experience ! I didn’t quite know what to expect but from the moment I walked in I felt welcome and found my consultation with David to be reassuring because he said they focus on preventative health . I like that I was asked about my lifestyle in regards to what I do for work and exercise . Having a very active lifestyle I knew that I was only lacking in giving my body a good stretch regularly. David started my stretch session on the stretch table with straps that I found to be very comfortable & effective . I also found David to be very knowledgeable on the muscles of the body and how to stretch them . He was professional but also fun & relaxed to talk to . I felt so comfortable & enjoyed the session so much that the 30min flew by and by the end I really felt my body stretched and relaxed . Im already looking forward to my next session . It feels good to invest in your body as it is your temple . My body definitely thanked me for that 30min stretch...