Restore Motion and Longevity on Whidbey Island

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is one of the most effective techniques for increasing mobility, relieving pain, and improving athletic performance. At Whidbey Massage Therapy in Freeland, I use AIS to help clients from Langley, Clinton, Greenbank, and across Whidbey Island recover from chronic tension, limited range of motion, and injuries. This modality isn’t passive—it’s collaborative, powerful, and rooted in science.

What Is Active Isolated Stretching?

Developed by kinesiologist Aaron Mattes, AIS uses short, targeted stretches (2 seconds at a time) paired with client-assisted movement and precise breathing. This method avoids the “stretch reflex” (the body’s natural resistance to overstretching), allowing the muscle to elongate safely and effectively.

Where traditional stretching can feel passive and sometimes even ineffective, AIS activates and trains the neuromuscular system while elongating fascia, ligaments, and muscles. That makes it particularly useful not just for athletes, but for anyone who wants to stay limber, functional, and pain-free.

Conditions and Goals Addressed with AIS

Clients throughout South Whidbey Island come in for AIS to:

• Regain mobility after surgery or injury
• Relieve chronic stiffness in the hips, back, or neck
• Increase athletic performance and prevent injury
• Correct postural issues and muscle imbalances
• Improve circulation and lymph flow
• Support aging joints with safe movement
• Rehabilitate repetitive stress injuries
• Prepare for or recover from demanding activity

Whether you're training for a triathlon, healing from a sprain, or simply want to feel more agile in daily life, AIS supports functional movement and long-term joint health.

What to Expect During an AIS Session

AIS sessions are interactive. You’ll be an active participant as we isolate and stretch specific muscle groups, one at a time, in a guided rhythm. I assist each stretch, applying just the right amount of pressure at the end range of motion while cueing your breath and movement. Each repetition builds mobility and re-educates the nervous system to allow greater freedom of motion.

This is not a “lay down and relax” session—AIS is clinical, energizing, and surprisingly meditative. You’ll walk away feeling lighter, taller, and more connected to your own movement potential.

Why Choose AIS at Whidbey Massage Therapy?

I integrate AIS into massage therapy sessions to provide a comprehensive approach to healing. AIS works beautifully alongside Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, and even Sound Healing with tuning forks to support lasting, whole-body relief.

As a therapist with extensive experience in functional anatomy, injury rehab, and pain patterns, I use AIS not only as a tool to stretch but as a roadmap to restore your natural movement. My clients in Freeland, Langley, Clinton, and Greenbank love how this technique empowers them to stay flexible, youthful, and mobile—no matter their age or activity level.

Give Your Body Its Freedom Back

If your body feels tight, stuck, or limited, AIS can reawaken its natural grace. This isn’t about touching your toes—it’s about reclaiming your range, refining your posture, and moving through life with ease.

→ Book your AIS-integrated session today and experience mobility reimagined on Whidbey Island.