stretch Therapy
Stretch Therapy is table-based assisted stretching, combining passive movement, breath and hands-on guidance. Your therapist works with your body rather than forcing it, creating a treatment that is both deeply relaxing and purposeful. Stretch therapy is ideal if you’re feeling restricted, stiff or simply ready to give your body some attention.
The importance of stretch therapy
Flexibility isn’t simply about the length of a muscle. Your available range of movement is influenced by your joints, muscles and connective tissues, as well as your nervous system, previous movement experience and how comfortable you feel in a particular position. Regularly exploring movement at the edges of your available range can help you develop greater flexibility and control.
We also use breath throughout a session. Slow, soft breathing can help you stay relaxed and aware as you explore movement, making it easier to distinguish useful sensation from unnecessary tension.
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Benefits of stretch therapy
Physical Benefits
- Develop flexibility and mobility
- Explore areas that feel stiff or restricted
- Improve awareness of how you move
- Support your movement or training practice
- Feel more comfortable moving through your available range
- Develop greater control at the edges of your movement
- Take time to slow down and reconnect with your body
Mental Benefits
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves mental clarity and focus
- Enhances mood and emotional well-being
- Promotes better sleep and relaxation
A tailored approach to stretch at Mo.Co.
Sensation, not pain.
Stretching can feel intense, particularly when you’re exploring the edge of your current range, but we don’t believe in forcing your body into uncomfortable positions. There’s now reliable science showing that stretching at as low as 3/10 intensity is more effective than intense stretching.
Communication is part of the treatment. Your practitioner will work with you to find an intensity that both satisfies your desires while still being productive.
Techniques used at Mo.Co.
Our Stretch Therapy combines the principles of assisted stretching with the wider Mo.Co. approach to movement. Depending on what you need, your practitioner may use:
- Active Release: A skill developed during Stretch Therapy where the client learns to release body weight consciously. This skill is carried into everyday life – for instance, learning to release the weight of the arms and shoulders to relax the neck while walking.
- Passive Stretching: Therapist-assisted stretching is used to guide muscles gently into a deeper range of motion.
- Active Stretching: Engaging muscles while lengthening and releasing their counterpart (agonist) to facilitate increased range of motion and function.
- PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation): A contract-relax method to enhance muscle, especially helpful for areas that have atrophied or become chronically tight.
- Myofascial Release: Gentle pressure is applied to the fascia to reduce stiffness and improve movement.
- Pin and Stretch: Pressure to one area (typically an attachment site) to create more stability while stretching an adjacent area.
What to expect during a session
- Consultation & Assessment – Your therapist will discuss your needs and concerns. You’ll complete an intake and receive a postural/movement assessment.
- Personalised Treatment Plan – A tailored session based on your body’s requirements.
- Stretch Techniques – A combination of hands-on techniques for optimal benefits.
- Aftercare & Recommendations – Guidance on post-treatment care and take-home practices to prolong benefits.
Our team
Amy Laithwaite
Co-Founder, Stretch Therapy & Functional PT, Breath
Amy trained at Canada’s National Ballet School, where her passion for movement began. After a professional career in dance and teaching, she transitioned into kinesiology and manual therapy, driven by a desire to help people move and feel better. In 2019, she founded The Stretch Experience, combining her knowledge of biomechanics, stretch therapy, and postural restoration to create transformative results for her clients.
Amy’s work is rooted in advanced biomechanics, including techniques from the Postural Restoration Institute. She specialises in Myokinematic Restoration, Postural Respiration, and Pelvis Restoration, which address underlying biomechanical imbalances to improve alignment, flexibility, and movement efficiency. Her expertise in Anatomy Trains Postural Analysis further enhances her ability to unlock long-term tension and pain by repatterning movement and posture.
Beyond her hands-on work with clients, has written a CPD-certified course in Stretch Therapy, which is attended by industry professionals. Additionally, she is collaborating on self-care programmes for the NHS, ensuring her innovative approach to movement reaches a wider audience.
Movement Collective represents the culmination of Amy’s vision: a space to unite the art and science of movement.
Charlotte Telfer-Wan
Stretch Therapy, pilates & Functional PT
Charlotte is a movement specialist currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Dance Science at Trinity Laban University. With a background in Dance and Kinesiology, she has spent the past nine years in Vancouver, BC, honing her expertise in injury assessment, functional movement training, clinical Pilates, and fascial therapies. Her approach is comprehensive and holistic, integrating sport science with a deep understanding of individual differences to help clients achieve their goals.
Charlotte specialises in active rehabilitation, injury prevention, and manual fascial therapy. She collaborates with clients to build trust, comfort, and awareness of their bodies, believing this connection reduces both physical and psychological stress. Her passion for physical and emotional wellness inspires her to create tailored programmes that improve overall health and performance, whether for exercise, artistic pursuits, or everyday life.
In addition to her healthcare practice, Charlotte is a professional contemporary dancer, performing with an interdisciplinary collective. In her spare time, she enjoys training for triathlons, bouldering, playing basketball, and exploring aerial hoop.
Qualifications:
Fascial Stretch and Release Therapy
Bachelor’s in Dance and Kinesiology
Clinical Pilates Training
Functional Movement Specialist
Mubeena Hoosain
Pilates, Stretch Therapy
Mubeena is a Pilates Teacher and Stretch Therapist teacher at Movement Collective, specialising in Perinatal Pilates. She trained with London Pilates Academy, where she developed a strong foundation in anatomy, biomechanics, classical principles and contemporary movement. Her Stretch Therapy approach prioritises combining strength with mobility, helping clients release tension, restore balance, and move with greater ease. Her sessions are bespoke, appreciating each individual’s needs.
She teaches both group classes and solo sessions, tailoring each experience to meet clients where they are – whether building strength in a dynamic class setting or working more closely in a one-to-one environment.
Her classes focus on building strength with intention, moving with awareness, and creating space for clients to feel both challenged and supported.
Her work with pre- and postnatal clients is especially close to her heart, helping women stay connected to their bodies through pregnancy and confidently rebuild strength afterwards. She aims to empower clients with the knowledge and confidence to move safely through every stage of life.