- 1. StretchYour practitioner takes the muscle to a comfortable stretch and holds it there. Firm, never sharp. All you do is breathe.
- 2. PushYou push gently against their hand, about 30% of your strength, for 5 seconds. A hold, not a fight: the muscle works, nothing moves.
- 3. FurtherWhile the muscle is still engaged, the stretch goes a little further than before, held for 15 to 20 seconds. No release in between.
- 4. Again, then releaseFrom that new position, another 5-second push takes the stretch further still. You only let go completely, and breathe out, after the last hold. Then the next muscle.
Service
Assisted stretching & PNF in Waverton.
Guided passive movement paired with brief, targeted muscle contractions, a method called PNF. A practitioner takes each joint through its available range while you contract and release specific muscle groups.
From $72
- From $72
- Yann or Farid
- Mobile with Farid
- Next to Waverton Station
- Gift vouchers
HICAPS is not available on assisted stretching booked on its own. It applies to massage and acupuncture in the clinic.
What we do
In the clinic, or at yours.
| Approach | What it involves | Price and booking |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted stretching / PNFIn the clinic, with Yann or Farid | A practitioner takes each joint through its available range while you contract and release specific muscle groups. Firm, never sharp. | From $72Book |
| Mobile stretchingNorth Shore, with Farid | The same guided stretching, at your home or office across the North Shore. HICAPS not available on mobile appointments. | From $150Book on FreshaText Farid |
30 min $72 · 60 min $105 in the clinic. Current prices and durations are listed on Fresha.
Read more
A 60-minute assisted stretching session is the same price as a 60-minute massage ($105), so you can split a one-hour session between the two however you like, with Yann or Farid. HICAPS available on eligible massage treatments in the clinic, not on mobile appointments.
PNF, in plain words
Stretch. Push a little. Go further. Then let go.
PNF stands for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation: a muscle that has just been asked to work tolerates a deeper stretch straight afterwards. Your practitioner takes the muscle to a comfortable stretch, you push gently against their hand for a few seconds, and while it's still engaged, they take the stretch a little further than before. You stay on the table the whole time, and you can ask your practitioner to ease off at any point.
Full session: one cycle per muscle group, worked through the body. Focused session: 2 to 4 cycles on the area you want to work on. Always a firm stretch, never pain — say the word and your practitioner eases off.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Does PNF stretching actually improve flexibility and range of motion?
Yes. PNF has long been positioned in the sports medicine literature as one of the most effective stretching techniques for short-term gains in joint range of motion (Sharman, Cresswell & Riek, Sports Medicine, 2006), an effect linked to how far a stretch is tolerated rather than to any change in reflexes. A separate review of PNF mechanisms found the benefit extends past passive flexibility into actual muscular function: how a joint moves under load, not just how far it can be stretched (Hindle et al., Journal of Human Kinetics, 2012).
Is PNF stretching more effective than regular static stretching?
Not necessarily. More recent meta-analyses find a single session of any technique, static, dynamic or PNF, produces similar immediate gains (Behm et al., 2023), and that PNF and static stretching are comparably effective over weeks of training, both ahead of ballistic or dynamic stretching (Konrad et al., 2024). PNF's edge here is the guided, hands-on delivery, not outperforming static stretching on paper.
Can assisted stretching help with muscle tightness or stiffness?
There's evidence for stiffness specifically: six weeks of regular stretching has been shown to reduce passive muscle-tendon stiffness (Murakami et al., Frontiers in Physiology, 2025). Claims about faster recovery through improved blood flow are common but not yet proven: a 2025 meta-analysis of 15 trials found no measurable recovery benefit from post-exercise stretching, so we treat that as a hypothesis, not a result (Zhang, Chen & Xing, Frontiers in Physiology, 2025). As with our other services, this is a general, well-researched effect rather than a promise of treatment for any specific condition.
How long does a session take, and how often should I book?
Session length and frequency depend on what you're working on: a one-off for general tightness, or a more regular cadence alongside training or an ongoing mobility goal. Your practitioner talks through timing and frequency with you at your first visit rather than fixing it in advance.
Is this a professional, non-sexual service?
Yes, and only that. Assisted stretching is guided, hands-on movement through a range of motion, strictly professional and non-sexual, in a clinical setting with a qualified practitioner. A request for anything else is not answered, and anything outside the treatment during a session ends it at once.
Book your session
Ready to book Assisted Stretching & PNF?
Call the clinic
0467 467 567Shop 9, 100–102 Bay Road, next to Waverton Station. Live times and prices are on Fresha.