FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should I expect at my first session?
To limit the number of guests in our studio, you will be asked to wait outside until you are called in by a member of our staff. A LYMBR session is built in three stages. During the first few minutes, your therapist will assess your goals and any physical limitations. Next, your therapist will guide you through a series of stretches based on your assessment. This will be the majority of your session time. To conclude the session, your therapist may recommend a personalized stretching program, self-stretching technique or both. Your therapist will explain that it is not uncommon to feel sore after your stretch because we are engaging muscles that you may not be accustomed to using. This may last one or a few days, depending on your session. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to speak to your therapist or a studio manager.
What should I wear to my session?
We encourage you to attend your stretching session in loose-fitting pants and shirt to allow for better, guided movement with your therapist. Face masks are optional. Please read our full policy here. Socks are required during your session. We will have socks available for purchase should you forget. If you are coming straight from work, we can accommodate you if your clothes are easy to move in. If you wish to change prior to your session then we recommend that you arrive 10 minutes earlier to allow time to change clothing and check-in.
May I tip my therapist?
Yes you may! Much like other personal services you may enjoy like a massage or hair cut, our therapists welcome gratuity if you are pleased with your stretch session. The frequency and amount is completely up to your discretion. For those who don’t carry cash, you’ll find an iPad at the front desk with the QR codes for each therapist to quickly navigate to their Venmo account.
Are your therapists certified, what certification do they have?
Our stretch therapists are trained in the LYMBRmethod™ of Progressive Emphasis Stretching (PES) and orthopedic modality. They must hold a high level national personal training certification, and many have a kinesiology, physiology, exercise science or orthopedic background. Every therapist has over 150 hours of hands-on training before they work with clients in the studio.
Are your therapists trained for certain medical conditions and pregnancy?
If you have a specific medical concern or condition that you would like to speak with us about prior to booking your session, please email us at info@belymbr.com. We have extensive experience working with clients with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease and other conditions that may affect mobility, flexibility and balance.
We have special protocols and training to work with women in all stages of pregnancy. We are happy to walk you through what to expect, email us at info@belymbr.com to arrange a call.
Do I need a credit card to make an appointment?
In order to reserve a session, you must either have sessions available in your account, or you must give your credit card information at the time of booking. We will charge your card at the completion of your session. Please see our full Terms & Conditions regarding our cancellation policy.
Should I stretch before or after a workout?
The type of stretching we do, Progressive Emphasis Stretching, is beneficial both before and after. Stretching before helps to prepare your muscles for your workout. It awakens muscle fibers and prepares your joints to move through their full range of motion in the most effective way. Stretching after exercise helps to release the muscular tension built up during your workout and helps to properly restore myofascial direction. This assists the healing process as you recover.
How is stretch therapy different from physical therapy?
Physical therapy assists recovery by working with the affected area directly through a variety of modalities. Stretch therapy is a kinetic chain approach utilizing active range of motion training, we are not restricted to specific body parts but we work with the entire muscular system as a whole. By working with the entire body, we may uncover something deeper that is causing your pain or your restricted movement. Our approach engages the nervous system and increases blood flow to actively assist the body’s healing process and to also re-teach the body its natural range of motion. We are a great complement to physical therapy and have great relationships with many in the field.
How is Progressive Emphasis Stretching (PES) and Yoga different?
In Yoga, you stretch groups of muscles at the same time while our PES-trained therapists isolate the stretches and stretch muscles individually .It is almost impossible to avoid compensation in Yoga while PES avoids compensation through proper stabilization. Therapists use belts to hold hips firmly to the stretching table and assist with stabilizing other areas when necessary.
All stretches in PES are active, which means a more effective and safer stretch. This happens through reciprocal inhibition: the active muscle “turns off” the muscle being stretched. Some yoga stretches are active, some are not. PES stretches the muscles for no more than two seconds, that prevents the myotatic/stretch reflex to trigger, which might lead to injury. Instead of holding a stretch for a long time (like some Yoga modalities), repetitive, short stretches in PES avoids muscle fatigue and enhances oxygen resupply and waste product elimination.
How can PES improve my Yoga Practice?
Our PES-influenced stretching increases the range of motion of individual muscles, which translates to increased flexibility in Yoga poses. Because there is a balanced approach to our stretch protocols, the result is less compensation in your Yoga poses, which leads to a safer practice. You will have better muscle stability, which is critical for proper joint function. PES allows you to feel muscles individually, which will help to increase muscles awareness and mindfulness in the yoga practice. PES increases strength through the WHOLE range of motion. (It is very common to be strong in the mid range of motion but weak at the end of the range.)
Why can’t I just stretch myself?
Our assistance, precision and knowledge allows you to get a deeper stretch than you could achieve on your own. Our techniques reach many hard to get muscles, and muscles you probably don’t know you have. Our approach balances joint and body segments to create symmetry so nothing is forgotten.
Our stretch therapy is based on PES principles and 25 years of experience, mastering and teaching these techniques. We use a systematic approach that not only delivers a feeling of relief but also retrains the neuro-muscular system and brain function, resulting in maximum benefits.
Do you take insurance?
We accept payments from your HSA or FSA accounts. We suggest checking with your insurance company first to verify your wellness coverage and your ability to use your funds at our studio. Should your HSA or FSA payment not process, you will pay for your session with a credit card and we will reimburse you once you’ve arranged payment from your insurance company.
How do I redeem a gift card?
You can redeem your gift card by purchasing sessions directly on MindBody, through our LYMBR Stretch app, or by bringing your gift card to your local studio. Gift cards can not be redeemed through the purchasing page of our website.