KINSTRETCH: A movement enhancement system that develops maximum body control, flexibility and usable ranges of motion.

Scientifically proven principles are applied in a group training class setting to create improved joint health, body control, injury prevention, physical longevity, and greater movement capacity. Unlike other systems, it was specifically created by medical and physical conditioning professionals to result in improved flexibility, strength, body control, and better quality of life.

Kinstretch practice also involves a self-assessment system allowing you the ability to monitor your own body for dysfunction that may be causing pain, loss of performance, or that may be putting you at an increased chance of injury. In addition to use with everyday people, it has also been used by professional coaches and athletes from around the world including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.

This class is designed to make everything you do easier. Not only does it open up new ranges of motion for your joints, but it teaches your body how to control those new ranges. Rather than being an alternative to other forms of exercise, Kinstretch is a system that prepares you for all these other things. So whether you want to strength train, run, do yoga, garden, or play with your kids, the better you move, the better you can enjoy these things

What should I expect?

To improve breathing by training your diaphragm like the muscle it is.
To understand the link between breathing, the nervous system, and core stability.
To improve body control, awareness, and movement.
To improve flexibility while making sure you know how to use your new ranges.
To prevent injuries and reduce pain and tension.
To make your joints healthier.
To learn how to self-assess your joint health and discover potential issues before they cause problems.
To develop a practice that is based on scientific research in mobility training.
To see a variety of students in the class. Expect a variety of ages, body types, athletes, individuals with various occupations and fitness levels on a continuum.

How is this different from Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient discipline of physical, mental, and spiritual practices, with origins in the 5th or 6th centuries BCE. Classical yoga involves 8 distinct branches or limbs, which include codes of conduct on how to relate to others, breathing practices, stages of meditation, and physical practices (asana). All of these ultimately, are pursued with the purpose of achieving self-actualization.

When most Americans think of yoga, they are usually just looking at the Asana branch, or the physical practice component.

While many aspects of the physical practice of yoga may result in an improved strength or flexibility in some joints, yoga as a discipline is not explicitly designed to optimize full body joint health.

How is this different from Pilates?

Pilates is a form of exercise that was developed in the early 1900s by Joseph Pilates, a German born martial artist and circus acrobat. Working as a nurse in WWI, he used springs mounted to hospital beds to help bedridden soldiers exercise. Using these techniques as a foundation, he moved to the US and created an exercise system that was popularized by professional dancers in NYC..

As the practice became more mainstream through the latter part of the 20th century, it maintained it’s WWI roots with a heavy reliance on spring-loaded apparatus’, and maintained its dance roots with flexibility components woven into its strengthening exercises.

Modern versions of Pilates tends to focus on abdominal and low back strengthening, and still usually uses equipment loaded with springs, bands and pulleys (“Reformers” and “Mega-formers”). Though many people have seen improvements in their strength and flexibility, and/or reductions in pain through Pilates practice, current interpretations are still built on the foundation of one man’s trial-and-error version of how things should work.

Yoga and Pilates as movement practices can have many benefits, and has helped many people around the world improve their health. However, neither was explicitly designed from scientific research to improve your joint health, control and range of motion.

Many people have tried Yoga, Pilates, or other movement practices, yet still:

Have aches and pains that aren’t getting better;
Have joints that still feel stiff no matter how much you stretch; or
Have muscles that feel weak despite years of workouts.

If any of this sounds familiar, Kinstretch may help you get to the next level. For more information visit www.kinstretch.com

Dr. Bernard is the only Kinstretch certified chiropractor in the entire Southeastern US, and among just a small handful of manual therapists with this certification worldwide.

Kinstretch is taught on Saturdays at 10:00 am at Kodawari Studios.

Register for a class here