Denton County Magazine • July August 23 • STRETCHING IT

Many people use maps to decide where they want to go on vacation or how to get to a doctor’s appointment. Whether those maps are generated on a phone, by GPS or printed on paper (yes, they still exist — and they’re still hard to fold!), people follow maps to their destinations.

At StretchLab, MAPS serve a different purpose: to determine how well a person’s body is moving, and which muscles, when stretched with the assistance of a flexologist, can help improve motion and resolve muscle aches and pains.

MAPS (Mobility, Activation, Posture and Symmetry) is a 3D body scan that measures data points to customize how flexologists help their clients stretch. StretchLab is the only assisted-stretching studio that offers MAPS, including the Denton location owned by Sandie Tetterton.

“Flexibility and mobility is our goal,” Tetterton said. “We provide one-on-one assisted stretching to help people move better and reduce their aches and joint pain so that they can live long and have better lives.”

After years of working as a nurse and a yoga instructor, a burned-out Tetterton began looking for a new career path when the yoga studio where she worked closed in June 2021. In a matter of days, she purchased a franchise to open the Denton StretchLab, participated in management training and offered some pop-ups in the area to demonstrate the benefits of assisted stretching.

Although COVID was still a health issue, Tetterton opened the Interstate 35 location and welcomed clients that November. She hasn’t looked back.

“We have a good team here — 11 staffers — who all have completed 90 hours of training to become certified flexologists. Many have backgrounds in nursing, physical therapy, fitness and kinesiology. In fact, StretchLab is the only certified stretching flexology program in the U.S. And we all love our clients.”

So, what’s the difference between physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, massage and flexology?

“Physical therapy is ordered by a doctor, post-injury, and usually treats one area of the body,” Tetterton said. “Chiropractic is completely different; it uses manipulation to treat one area of the body. Massage helps for a few hours, but pain and discomfort return. Flexology works with the whole body, focusing on joints, muscles and tendons; it helps keep you going.”

She is quick to point out that StretchLab employees don’t diagnose or treat illnesses or injuries. “We do help people stretch their bodies and help them lead more mobile lives,” she said. “We have golfers who have improved their swing, athletes who stretch to improve their performance, seniors who improve their flexibility and many others who want to simply feel better.”

The Denton StretchLab has more than 200 clients, and staff can accommodate individuals who use wheelchairs or canes.

Clients at the Denton StretchLab can sign up for 50-minute full-body stretches, 25-minute maintenance stretches or group stretches. The cost for members is $159 for four 25-minute stretches per month. Four 50-minute stretches each month is $269. Eight or 12 stretches per month for 25 or 50 minutes also are available for members at a higher rate. An introductory 25-minute stretch is $29 for people who want to check out StretchLab’s program before they become a member.

“Our bottom line is that flexology works on a person’s overall wellness,” Tetterton said.

A visiting trainee from Nebraska gets hands-on help from Robert Conlin, DFW master flexologist, at the Denton StretchLab.