One of the most common things new clients tell me before their first session is that they are not sure what to expect. They know they are in pain, they know something needs to change and they have heard that stretch therapy might help. But they have never experienced assisted stretching before and they are not sure what it actually involves.
That uncertainty is completely normal. Assisted stretch therapy is different from a massage, different from a chiropractic adjustment and different from a yoga class. It occupies its own space and first-time clients are often surprised by how simple and how effective it is.
Here is exactly what your first session with Detroit Stretch looks like from the moment you book to the moment I pack up and leave.
"By the time I leave you should feel noticeably different than when I arrived. That is not a promise for some future session. That is the goal for session one."
Step by Step: Your First Session
You Book Online
All new clients start with the New Client Consultation + Full Body Stretch. You book through our online booking system and choose a time that works for you. When you book you will be asked a few basic questions about your primary areas of concern and any relevant health history. This helps me arrive prepared for your specific situation.
I Arrive at Your Door
I arrive at your home, office or preferred location at your scheduled time with everything needed for a full professional session. You do not need to have anything special prepared. A small clear area on the floor roughly the size of a yoga mat is all the space required. I bring the table or mat and all other equipment.
The Consultation
We start with a conversation. I want to understand what brought you here. Where are you feeling pain or restriction? How long has it been going on? Have you had any injuries, surgeries or physical therapy? What does your daily routine look like? This is not a clinical intake form — it is a real conversation so I can understand your body and your goals before we begin.
The Assessment
I do a brief physical assessment looking at your posture, your range of motion across the major joints and how you move. This takes about five to ten minutes and gives me a clear picture of where your body is holding tension and where restriction is limiting your movement. Most clients find this part interesting because they learn things about their own body they were not aware of.
The Full Body Stretch
You lie fully clothed on your back and I begin the assisted stretch sequence. I move your body through a progression of guided holds and transitions working from the feet up through the hips, spine, shoulders and neck. Each stretch is held for enough time to allow the nervous system to respond and release. I check in with you throughout to calibrate the depth and pressure to your comfort level. You do not have to do anything except breathe and receive. The session runs approximately 45 to 50 minutes.
The Debrief
At the end of the session I share what I found and what I addressed. I give you practical feedback on patterns I noticed and simple things you can do between sessions to support the work. If I think a series of sessions would significantly benefit you I will say so and explain why. There is no pressure. You decide what makes sense for you.
I Pack Up and Leave
I clean up and head out. You stay exactly where you are — already home. This is the part that most clients appreciate more than they expected. There is no drive back. No re-entry into traffic. You can rest, nap, shower or simply sit with how your body feels. The session does not end with a commute. It ends with you at home feeling better than when we started.
Common Questions Before a First Session
Will it hurt?
No. Assisted stretch therapy should never be painful. You may feel a therapeutic sensation as tight muscles release but the work is always within your comfort range. I check in throughout the session and adjust based on your feedback.
What should I wear?
Comfortable athletic or yoga-style clothing that allows full movement. Leggings, athletic shorts or sweatpants all work well. Please wear clean socks. Avoid jeans or anything that restricts movement at the hips or knees.
Do I need to warm up before the session?
No preparation is needed. Some clients come straight from sitting at a desk all day and that is perfectly fine. The session works with your body as it is right now.
How will I feel afterward?
Most clients describe feeling lighter, looser and more relaxed after their first session. Some experience mild soreness in areas that received deep work — similar to how you might feel after a productive workout. This typically resolves within 24 hours and subsequent sessions produce less of this effect as the body adapts.
How many sessions will I need?
Many clients notice a meaningful difference after just one session. For lasting change — particularly for clients dealing with chronic pain or long-term holding patterns — a series of sessions over four to six weeks produces significantly better results. I will give you an honest recommendation based on what I find in your first session.
A Note for Post-PT Clients
Many of my clients come to me at a specific moment in their recovery. Physical therapy has ended. They are better than they were but they are not where they want to be. There is still tightness, still a nagging ache and a feeling that something has not fully resolved. They are not injured enough to go back to PT but they are not well enough to feel right in their body.
This is exactly the space where assisted stretch therapy excels. PT restores function and rebuilds strength after injury. What it often does not fully address is the residual holding patterns — the way the body learned to guard and protect the injured area and then never fully unlearned that guarding. That is the work I do. And for most clients in this situation the first session produces a noticeable shift in the areas that have been lingering.
If that description sounds like you I would encourage you to book a first session and experience what it feels like to have those patterns addressed directly. Your body already knows how to release. It just needs the right conditions and the right help to do it.
The Best Way to Understand It
Is to Experience It.
Book your New Client Consultation and let us show you what your body is capable of. We come to you anywhere in Southfield, Royal Oak, Ferndale and Metro Detroit.
Book Your First Session
60 minutes · Full assessment included · We come to you