news and events - stretchworks

Tom Longo, co-owner of StretchWorks, was flexibility trainer to Dara Torres both before and during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where Dara won two Gold and three Bronze medals for swimming. He provided Resistance Stretching, injury prevention and correction, as well as nutritional counseling to Dara.

Check out a video of Tom stretching Dara for the 2000 Sydney Olympics!

Dara Torres is now competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing with Steve Sierra and Anne Tierney as her Resistance Flexibility trainers. Keep up with the latest news on Dara and Resistance Stretching at www.innovativebodysolutions.com.

coming in January 2008: The Essence of Yoga, with Connie Habash
This class is a personal exploration of body, mind, and spirit, emphasizing yoga philosophy, kindness, and compassion.

> every Thursday 9:30 - 11 am, starting on January 10
> appropriate for all levels

Taught by Connie Habash, MA, LMFT

This class is a personal exploration of body, mind, and spirit, emphasizing yoga philosophy, kindness, and compassion. Students will find the practice well balanced between building strength, confidence, and self-awareness with developing flexibility, relaxation, and opening the heart. Various styles, such as Iyengar, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Shadow, Restorative and Yin are integrated to best serve the needs of the students. Special attention will be given to beginners and building the foundations of practice. Challenges will be offered to more experienced students. This is a safe place for all to explore and grow.

Connie Habash has been teaching yoga since 1993. Her passion is weaving yoga philosophy and spirituality into the practice. Ayurveda, Sanskrit, chanting, and the cycles of the seasons also inspire her classes. She additionally holds a Masters degree in Transpersonal Counseling and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

find out more at Connie's web site »

see our class schedule »

Resistance Stretching trainers stretching Dara Torres for the 2008 Olympics!

Tom Longo stretched Dara at the 2000 Olympics where she won 5 medals. Now Steve Sierra and Anne Tierney, two of our elite trainers on the East Coast, are stretching her for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. And Dara's baby girl Tessa just had her first birthday!

One of the Olympic Games all-time most celebrated women athletes, Dara Torres has competed in four Olympiads over sixteen years, winning nine medals and setting three world records.

The first American to swim in four Olympics, Torres won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay at her first Olympics in 1984. At the 1988 Games, she earned a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay and a bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Voted U.S. Olympic team captain in 1992 by her fellow athletes at the Barcelona Games, Torres won gold again in the 4x100m freestyle relay, and contributed to a new event world record.

In 1999, after a seven-year absence from competitive swimming, Torres decided to make an attempt to qualify for the 2000 Olympics. This is where she first learned about Resistance Stretching as she worked with Bob Cooley, the creator of and genius behind Resistance Stretching, and Tom Longo, co-founder of StretchWorks. She not only qualified for the Sydney Games, she captured five medals, including a pair of golds-in the 4x100m freestyle relay in new world record time, and in the 4x100m medley relay, setting another world record. Torres also took home three individual bronze medals, one each in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

read more about Steve + Anne's work with Dara »

go to Steve + Anne's web site, InnovativeBodySolutions.com »

Stephanie Herman now has her own TV show!

Stephanie teaches the Body Conscious Movement class at StretchWorks

Stephanie Herman, former principal ballerina and now fitness innovator, is now the star of her own TV talk show. The show includes interviews with people and travels to places to help you Enrich, Enhance and Enjoy your life. Plus you'll enjoy dance performances by Stephanie and her dance team.

click here to check out the show! »

Stephanie teaches Body Conscious Movement every Monday night. see our class schedule »

Oct 20 & 21: Resistance Stretching Level 1 Certification Training
No previous experience required!
This opportunity is not just for professionals, but for anyone who wants to learn the system directly from our top trainers.

Saturday & Sunday, 10am - 5pm, Oct 20 - 21
Cabana Hotel, Palo Alto, CA

Only $500 for two full days of training.

Taught by Anne Tierney, Steve Sierra, & Dave Allen. Two of Bob Cooley's Elite Team, Anne Tierney and Steve Sierra do private sessions and run Certifications and Workshops across the country.

What You Will Learn

» Principles of RSFT and MFS
» Self stretching and assisted stretching
» Stretches for all 16 Meridian Muscle Groups
» Classroom and private session formats
» Nutritional supplement and dietary information

What You Will Receive

» Printed manual that includes all information covered in training
» DVD that includes videos of all stretches
» Instruction from highly skilled MFS trainers
» Accredited 1.4 NASM CEUs, 12 ISSA CEUs

Anne Tierney 847-687-6416 Anne@InnovativeBodySolutions.com
Dave Allen 408-253-4500 David@MeridianFlexibility.com

download flyer with more info »
get more info »

starting March 26: Conscious Movement
Understanding the origin of YOUR muscle isolations around YOUR skeletal alignment will allow you to have more control and fluidity in all of your moves.

three-week series, Monday evenings, 7:15 pm - 8:15 pm
> April 9th - April 30th (no class April 23rd)

series cost: $45 for 3-week workshop
dropin cost: $20 per class

Taught by Stephanie Herman, former Principal Ballerina, Fitness Innovator and Wellness Guru, as Keynote Speaker, and Movement Specialist.

Stephanie Herman shares with us her knowledge and experiences as a Former Principal Ballerina, dancing through obstacles, then creating her own methodology of Conscious Movement. Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, Stephanie has a deep understanding of the philosophy and science of physical expression and rehabilitation. Her innovative workouts offer strengthening, toning and therapeutic benefits while retaining the beauty, grace and spirit of dance. Join Stephanie to learn about conscious movement for women. Learn how to control your body with confidence, by feeling control over your body, instead of your body having control over you.

» Today is the day to Commit to Yourself and Feel the Difference
» "I have been taking classes with Stephanie for 6 years, I feel I am constantly learning and restoring my body confidence."
» Join us for fun, music, awareness, and body changes.

call 650-328-4909
email sh1dancer@aol.com
download flyer with more info »
see Stephanie's web site »

see our class schedule »

starting February 27: Empowering Women Through Conscious Movement - being proud of being a woman inside and out

4-week series, Tuesday evenings
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
February 27th - March 20th
series cost: $100 package ($90 with a friend)
dropin cost: $35 per class
> package includes:
> 1 Email Consultation with Stephanie Herman
> 1 Exercise Video based on Series
> exclusively choreographed

Taught by Stephanie Herman, former Principal Ballerina, Fitness Innovator and Wellness Guru, as Keynote Speaker, and Movement Specialist.

Stephanie Herman shares with us her knowledge and experiences as a Former Principal Ballerina, dancing through obstacles, then creating her own methodology of Conscious Movement. Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, Stephanie has a deep understanding of the philosophy and science of physical expression and rehabilitation. Her innovative workouts offer strengthening, toning and therapeutic benefits while retaining the beauty, grace and spirit of dance. Join Stephanie to learn about conscious movement for women. Learn how to control your body with confidence, by feeling control over your body, instead of your body having control over you.

» Come alone and immediatly feel welcomed
» Come with a friend, and enjoy an evening with women
» Walk away motivated in starting a new way to be fit
» Understand your body at a deep level
» Understanding how the muscle groups work together
» Be prepared to Move, and bring a mat if you have one

call 650-328-4909
email sh1dancer@aol.com
download flyer with more info »
see Stephanie's web site »

see our class schedule »

starting May 1: Awaken the Core - a movement class based on the Feldenkrais and Pilates methods
every Monday 5:00 - 6:00 pm, appropriate to all levels of fitness

Taught by Jen Cosgrove, an amazing teacher with many years of experience.

Increase the coordination, power, and range of your movements through these effective techniques. Reduce pain, and improve balance, fluidity and efficiency of both daily and athletic movements. Develop a stronger, more flexible back. Have fun while learning to move as children do, but with the knowledge and awareness of an adult!

Please email Jen with questions at JenCos@FK-Plus.com
see our class schedule »

starting February 16: Belly Dancing class, every Thursday 7:30 - 8:30 pm, open to everyone of any skill level, age, fitness, or gender.

This class is about fun and finding your own style. Everyone is welcome, no matter your skill level, age, fitness, or gender. It's taught by Anne Caswell, who believes that dance is about freedom of individual expression and the opportunity to really let go and move your hips.

Class is fun and freeing, yet also educational and physical. It incorporates a blend of styles and encourages individual exploration into your own belly style. You'll learn an expressive technique while experiencing a good physical workout, and you'll have a chance to really express yourself.

Wear non-constricting clothing. Skirts will enhance the movement but are not required. Bare bellies not required either. Some scarves and hip wraps will be available for use.
see our class schedule »

January 21, 2-5 pm: Join us for our Grand Opening and meet Bob Cooley, founder of the Meridian Flexibility System

In celebration of our newly expanded and beautifully revitalized flexibility center in Redwood City, California, we invite you to a grand opening celebration. Our special guest of honor will be Bob Cooley, author of the revolutionary new book "The Genius of Flexibility". Please join us on Saturday, January 21st from 2-5 pm at StretchWorks, a flexibility center in Redwood City. Bring your family and friends to see our amazing new space, meet the new teachers who are offering all new classes, and pick up a new schedule. Start 2006 by experiencing powerful freedom of movement.

StretchWorks is the West Coast Center for the Meridian Flexibility System. To celebrate, Bob Cooley, creator of this powerful system and the true Genius of Flexibility, will be there to meet you and sign copies of his all new book. If you don't already have a copy, we'll have lots on hand. It is our honor that Bob is launching his nation-wide book tour at StretchWorks.

Tom Longo and Doran Christie, the founders of StretchWorks, invite you to come and share in the fun, joy and excitement of their new center.

Organic snacks and beverages will be provided. We'd love to have you and all your family and friends join the party. Come and cheer us on. We could not do it without you!