The Three Stretch Disciplines Behind Assisted Stretch Therapy

Stretch and Soothe Team
2 days ago
2 min read

At Stretch & Soothe, Assisted Stretch Therapy is more than a series of stretches — it’s a holistic experience for your body and nervous system.

Our approach blends ancient wisdom with modern science, drawing from three core disciplines that each bring unique benefits:

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
Thai Yoga Massage Therapy
Rocking & Dynamic Movements

Together, they create a session that releases tension, restores mobility, and calms the mind.

1. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

PNF stretching uses manual resistance and guided assistance to help your muscles lengthen safely and effectively.

During a session:

Your therapist applies tension in the muscle before moving you into a deeper stretch.
After 8–10 seconds, you take a deep breath, and the stretch is gradually extended for 10–15 seconds.
Techniques follow the hold-relax, contract-relax, hold-relax protocol, progressively moving muscles toward their natural point of resistance.

This combination of passive and tension-based movements helps the nervous system relax, allowing your muscles to release more fully than traditional stretching methods.

The result is greater flexibility, reduced tension, and a calm, receptive body.

2. Thai Yoga Massage Therapy

Thai Yoga Massage works with the body’s fascial lines — connective tissue pathways that coordinate movement, posture, and strength.

Techniques include soft-tissue manipulation, acupressure, rhythmic compression, and yoga-like stretches.
Pressure may be applied with hands, feet, knees, elbows, and legs to improve flexibility, release deep muscular tension, and promote relaxation.

Also called passive yoga or “lazy person’s yoga,” this approach allows your body to receive the benefits without effort, creating a deep sense of calm while improving mobility and alignment.

It’s a practice where the body moves, and the mind can simply rest.

3. Rocking & Other Dynamic Movements

Originating from Thai massage, dynamic movements include rocking, waving, harmonic motion, and gentle stretching.

They mobilise joints and allow the therapist to vary techniques for a more therapeutic experience.
Benefits include:
- Enhanced relaxation through energy flow
- Improved flexibility and joint mobility
- Support for sensitive or tense areas
- Nervous system calming and tension release

By applying gentle rhythmic movements, this discipline prevents the stretch reflex, allowing muscles to relax instead of contracting against a stretch.

It’s particularly helpful for releasing energy blockages and easing nervous tension.

Bringing It All Together

When combined, PNF, Thai Yoga Massage, and Dynamic Movements form a holistic assisted stretch experience.

Each discipline complements the others, targeting muscles, joints, fascia, and the nervous system.
The session is tailored to how your body feels that day — a conversation between therapist and client.
Disciplines Behind Assisted Stretch Therapy. The outcome is a body that feels open, aligned, and calm, and a mind that feels softened and present.