1
Stretch
We take the muscle to a comfortable stretch and hold it there. Firm, never sharp. You do nothing but breathe, slow and through the nose.
With Yann & Farid
Assisted stretching in St Leonards.
You lie on the table, we do the stretching. A guided method called PNF: stretch, push a little, go further, then let go. With Yann or Farid in the studio, or mobile with Farid.
- Mobile with Farid
- Yann or Farid
- Private, one to one
- Qualified & insured
- LGBTQ+ welcome
Every session is strictly professional and non-sexual.
PNF, in plain words
Stretch. Push a little. Go further. Then let go.
PNF stands for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Behind the long name sits a simple idea: a muscle lets itself be stretched further right after it has worked.
So we do not just pull. We take a muscle to a comfortable stretch, you push gently against our hand for a few seconds, and while the muscle is still engaged we take the stretch a little further than before. You only let go once the hold is done. That is one cycle, and it is the whole method.
You stay on the table the entire time. You never have to hold a position on your own, and you can ask to ease off at any moment.
One cycle, four steps
What actually happens, muscle by muscle.
2
Push
You push gently against our hand, about 30 % of your strength, for 5 seconds. It is a hold, not a fight: the muscle works, nothing moves. Keep breathing while you push, never hold your breath.
3
Further
While the muscle is still engaged, we take the stretch a little further than before and hold it 15 to 20 seconds. No release in between: tension, push, further. Breathe out long as we go further, and keep breathing through the hold.
4
Release
Only once the hold is done do you let go completely and breathe out. Then the next muscle, or another cycle on the same one.
Full-body session: one cycle per muscle group, the whole body in one visit.Focused session: 2 to 4 cycles on the area you want to work on.Always: a firm stretch, never pain. Say the word and we ease off.Breathing: the whole way through. A long exhale as we go further, never a held breath. It is half the work.
Why it works
The push is the trick.
A muscle that has just contracted lets itself be lengthened further, straight away. The best-supported explanation is not a reflex switching off, but your nervous system tolerating a longer stretch after the contraction (Sharman, Cresswell & Riek, Sports Medicine, 2006).
That is why we ask for a light push, not a maximal one: enough to work the muscle, never enough to strain it. And why the gains show up within the session, not weeks later.
- Range of motion, within the sessionThe technique the sports medicine literature positions as the most effective for short-term gains in joint range of motion.
- Muscles that work through the new rangeThe effect extends past passive flexibility into how a joint moves under load (Hindle et al., Journal of Human Kinetics, 2012).
- Less stiffness with regular sessionsSix weeks of regular stretching reduces passive muscle-tendon stiffness (Murakami et al., Frontiers in Physiology, 2025).
- Everyday movementBending, reaching, getting up, turning to look behind you. Not a treatment for any condition: general, well-researched effects.
Sources: Sharman, Cresswell & Riek, Sports Medicine 2006; Hindle et al., Journal of Human Kinetics 2012; Murakami et al., Frontiers in Physiology 2025. Claims about faster recovery through blood flow are common but not proven (Zhang, Chen & Xing, 2025), so we do not make them.
Your session
Before, during, after.
Before
- Wear something you can move in: shorts or leggings, a t-shirt. You stay dressed.
- Tell us what feels tight, and what you want to be able to do: run, sit longer, sleep better, touch your toes.
- Eat light in the hour before. No warm-up needed, we do it on the table.
During
- On the table, the whole time. Hips, hamstrings, calves, hip flexors, chest and shoulders, in the order your body asks for.
- Each muscle gets the four steps: stretch, push 5 seconds, further for 15 to 20 seconds, then release.
- Breathe. Slow and steady, a long exhale as we go further. Half the work happens there.
- You set the limit. A firm stretch, never pain. Say the word and we ease off.
After
- Looser straight away, often lighter on your feet. Drink some water and move normally.
- How often: some book once before a big effort or a trip, others make it a routine. We work out a rhythm once we know what you are working on.
- Prices and lengths are on Fresha, where you also book.
Who and where
Yann or Farid, studio or mobile.
| Option | Detail | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted stretching, studio | One to one in the St Leonards studio. | Book |
| Assisted stretching, mobile | Farid brings the table to your home, office or hotel across St Leonards, Crows Nest, North Sydney, Lane Cove and Artarmon. | Book |
| Qualified & insured | Farid is Cert III Fitness qualified for assisted stretching, insured, with a clear scope of practice. |
Current prices and treatment lengths are on Fresha.
Where
In the studio, or at yours.
In the studio
St Leonards, in the studio.
Suite 9, 56-62 Chandos StreetSt Leonards NSW 2065
One to one in a private studio, no shared waiting area, with a private shower on site.
Book on Fresha →Mobile
Home, office or hotel, with Farid.
St Leonards, Crows Nest, North Sydney, Lane Cove and ArtarmonFarid brings assisted stretching to you.
See mobile optionFAQ
Common questions.
What is assisted stretching?
Guided, hands-on stretching where the therapist moves your body through a range of motion. PNF is the technique most supported in the sports medicine literature for short-term gains in range of motion (Sharman, Cresswell & Riek, Sports Medicine, 2006).
Does assisted stretching hurt?
It shouldn't: you're moved through a range of motion at a pace you're comfortable with, and you can ask Yann or Farid to ease off at any time. It should feel like a firm stretch, not pain.
Is assisted stretching safe?
Yes: it's guided by a qualified provider, at a pace and range you're comfortable with. Farid is Cert III Fitness qualified for assisted stretching, insured, with a clear scope of practice.
What's the difference between assisted stretching and a remedial massage?
Assisted stretching is guided, hands-on movement through a range of motion: the therapist does the moving. Remedial massage is manual tissue work aimed at specific muscle or joint issues. Both are offered at French Studio: stretching with Yann or Farid, remedial massage with Yann. Ask at the studio which suits what you're dealing with.
Who provides it, and is it available mobile?
Yann and Farid both offer assisted stretching in studio. Farid also brings it to your home, office or hotel across St Leonards, Crows Nest, North Sydney, Lane Cove and Artarmon.
What happens in my first assisted stretching session?
Yann or Farid talks through what feels tight or restricted, then guides you through stretches within a comfortable range, in the St Leonards studio or mobile across the Lower North Shore. Current prices and treatment lengths are on Fresha.
How often should I do assisted stretching to see results?
It varies by person and goal: some book a single session before a big effort or trip, others build it into a regular routine. Text ahead and Yann or Farid can work out a frequency once they know what you're working on.
Do you offer health fund rebates?
HICAPS applies to massage only, not assisted stretching.
How much does it cost?
Current prices and treatment lengths are listed on Fresha, where you can also book.
Book your session
Ready to book?
Text Yann
0420 616 754SMS only, and Yann replies personally. Prices and live times are on Fresha.