Become a Certified Coach!
The Science of Stretching®
Help Clients Overcome Injuries, Move, and Live Better
4.7 of 5 Star Rating
Exceptional Yoga Alliance School
Trusted by 23K+ Graduates Worldwide
If you have stiff hamstrings, tight hips, or a locked-up spine, the Science of Stretching® approach to flexibility training can effectively and systematically create more space in the body you live in. Founded in 2007, this unique methodology has helped hundreds of thousands increase mobility, reduce pain and injuries. If you’re excited about learning this methodology—and teaching it to others—I’d love to invite you to join our next live, online training course.
Science of Stretching® Benefits:
- Relieve back, neck and shoulder pain
- Learn to move like a younger version of yourself
- Protect and care for your joints
- Build long, strong supporting tissues
- Enjoy the sports and activities you love
- Feel the youthful freedom of a flexible body
- Learn to palm the floor in a forward bend
- Squat bum to heels without discomfort
- Interlace your hands behind your back with straight arms
- Sit school-style with your knees on the floor
Our approach is different. There are hundreds of stretching books and mobility routines available, but most don’t work. The stretches feel great, but they don’t change your range of motion. The Science of Stretching® approach uses best practices from published exercise physiology research combined with time-tested protocols from yoga, dance, martial arts, and gymnastics to provide a solution that delivers predictable results.
This system is taught to students of all levels, including complete beginners and students with injuries. Our goal is to re-establish basic range of motion (ROM) not to learn contortion or pretzel poses. The benefits of a long, limber body go way beyond yoga poses: flexibility improves your posture, reduces pain, reduces the chances of injury and allows you to move like a younger version of yourself.
Why Become a Stretch Coach?
Transform your clients bodies and minds. Science of Stretching® is a rigorous practice that delivers measurable results. Your clients will improve their flexibility, reduce stress, and enjoy long-lasting results.
Stand out in the yoga market. Stretch Coaches add value to their communities not by competing with others but by truly bringing something unique and needed to the market
Love your job. When you turn your passion for yoga into your profession, your work feels like play.
Enjoy a flexible schedule. If the typical 9-5 schedule bores you, yoga teaching offers creative scheduling options that can be built around the rest of your life.
Earn $25-75/hour. You can earn the starting rate of $25-40/hour and know that senior teachers earn upwards of $75+/hour for Science of Stretching® classes.
Huge demand for teachers. Specialized yoga teachers earn more, find jobs easily and attract clients. As a flexibility-focused teacher, you’ll find it’s much easier.
Get certified from home. If you’re looking for a convenient way to learn a new skill, this course allows you to go deep without leaving home.
Join our supportive community. Our teacher community spans 41 countries and includes a positive peer group that will support you.
Is this Yin Yoga?
Like Yin yoga, Science of Stretching® classes leverage the power of passive, long-hold poses. Unlike Yin, Science of Stretching® does not teach meridians, does not stretch ligaments (bad idea), and does not teach or subscribe to structural limitation theory. YOGABODY is a non-dogmatic, science-based, and business positive school.
Science of Stretching® at-a-glance
- Year Established: 2007
- Style: Long-hold, passive stretches for flexibility
- 3 Principles of Practice: (1) wet noodle (2) breathe to relax (3) time under passive tension
- Props: mat, block, strap, balls (optional)
- Prerequisite Experience: 10-25 yoga classes (any style)
3 Primary Teaching Opportunities
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Private Sessions - I’ll show you how to quickly find students in your area and all around the world. As a private teacher, you’ll work for yourself, set your own schedule, enjoy hourly rates, and can make a huge impact on your students’ lives. You can teach from anywhere. For deep stretching classes in particular, online classes are an excellent option.
Location: your home, theirs, or virtually via video chat.
Earning potential: $40-80 per hour for private sessions -
Group Classes - These classes are offered at local studios and fitness clubs and include both the "why" and the "how" of Science of Stretching®. You’ll lecture on the basics, teach groups, and assign homework. I’ll give you a sales email to send to local studios in your area so you can book your first 60-minute group class easily and start teaching right away. I’ll also give you posters, event handouts, and promotional materials you can provide to the studios so you’ll look like a pro.
Location: most group classes are held at local yoga studios or fitness centers.
Earning potential: $25-50 per class for group sessions -
Workshops - These 90-minute sessions include four parts: introduction, lecture, practice, and questions. I’ll show you how to deliver a 90-minute experience and provide you with all the materials needed to pitch and land your first paid gigs. Materials provided include slide show presentation, done-for-you contract, pricing info, promotional poster, and handouts for your attendees.
Location: workshops can take place in yoga studios, fitness centers, or corporate settings.
Earning potential: $100-150 per hour for workshops or corporate
*Rates for beginner teachers. Experienced teachers can earn 2-3 times as much. Where you live, your teaching venue, and your experience are the variables that increase pay.
A Letter from Your Trainer
I was a stiff office guy when I went to my first yoga class at age 23. When I bent forward, my hands only made it halfway down my shins. Backbends were out of the question and my hips felt like two blocks of ice.
When I sat on the floor, my back was hunched and my knees were way up off the ground. When I tried Wheel pose, it felt like my chest would explode. It’s terrible when you feel trapped in your own body, so I went on a mission to find a solution.
My yoga teachers told me yoga was not about flexibility, but that was easy for them to say — they were already flexible. For me, yoga was about flexibility because I couldn’t do anything.
My yoga teachers were no help, so I sought out gymnasts, dancers, and acrobats for some guidance, and here’s what I learned:
- Yes, you can increase your flexibility at any age
- Flexibility gains do not happen without targeted training
- Your current sports and exercise routines are probably making you tighter
I didn’t invent these theories. I discovered them from a handful of gymnastics and anatomy books, a super flexible yoga student named Anthony I met in class, and through my own trial and error.
What matters to you is that this approach really works.
When I first started teaching this method in 2007, my colleagues mocked me. They told me no one would ever come to a yoga class that was all about flexibility, but here I am all these years later with more demand than I can even manage...
... and that’s why I’m recruiting teachers.
Flexibility training has never been more needed in the market. Here’s why.
- Our modern lifestyles are making us stiff. We spend four hours a day hunched over our phones, six hours a day on the computer, and an hour a day in a car.
- Pop fitness trends also make us stiff. CrossFit, SoulCycle, Orange Theory, and obstacle races will get you in great shape, but they make you stiff. As people flock to these fitness trends, they need help to balance strength with mobility.
- Older people are everywhere. The world’s population is aging fast and people are living longer than ever before. Average lifespan is 75+ in most countries, and older people want to move like they did in their younger years. They need your help.
If this sounds exciting to you; if you want to become a certified Science of Stretching® coach and help students radically transform their flexibility and reduce stress, then I’m excited to invite you to our up-coming teacher training program.
Stay bendy,
Lucas Rockwood
Founder / YOGABODY
About The Certification
This course is registered with both Yoga Alliance Continuing Education (CE) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). By successfully graduating, you’ll be qualified at the 30-hour academic level for the official Stretch Coach.
It’s possible to start teaching immediately without any additional training. We currently have instructors in 21 countries (and counting), and the demand for teachers far outreaches the current supply. So it’s a great time to train.
NOTE: We do not sell certifications; all credentials are merit-based and well-deserved. We take pride in the caliber of our graduates and we’ll hold you to a high standard.
The Online Training Experience
Most online training courses are simply a bunch of downloads – that doesn’t work. At YOGABODY, we’ve trained professional teachers since 2006, and it’s clear that community-based, intensive, interactive courses are the ideal way to learn. You need to ask questions, practice teaching with your peers, have direct access to your instructors, and take an active role in your learning journey. YOGABODY pioneered online yoga education, and our experience is unmatched by any other school.
- 2 hour live sessions daily*
- Session times: 7 am California / 10 am NYC / 2 pm London / 3 pm Barcelona (find your time)
- Includes posture clinic, lecture and practice teaching (first hour)
- Guided group class (second hour)
- *Can’t make it live? All replay recordings are available the same day
Can’t Make Live Class? No problem. The replay is available the same day, and every single question is answered each day by your trainers. Plus, you’ll have real-time, ongoing discussions in our Telegram Chat group, so you’ll be able to follow along perfectly.
12-Day Course (2hr daily). Set aside approximately two hours per day for study and practice. This can happen all in one session, or you can break it up into two or even four parts. It’s up to you. It’s ok if you need to miss a day, simply double up on another day to catch up.
eLearning Platform. You’ll be issued a login and password for our official eLearning platform where you’ll find pose-by-pose tutorials, setup and safety videos, checklists, flashcards, and more. This new and updated platform has five times the number of resources offered in any other course, and you get lifetime access!
Class Discussions. Our private Telegram group and Chat is where most of the discussions happen. We’ll share photos and videos of our practices, answer questions, and explore opportunities together. We are active in the group every single day.
Live Training Sessions. YOGABODY’s expert trainers conduct training sessions via Zoom Meeting. We’ll field questions, demonstrate, and practice together. This is the next best thing to you and I being together in the studio. NOTE: if you’re unable to join us during the live class, replays are available the same day, and you’ll still be able to join in our lively discussions and Q&As.
Bonus Materials. Our ever-growing resources include new student forms, copy/paste promotional forms, business card templates, and more are all included in the program. We make it fast and easy to get started—a big part of the reason our graduates are doing so well.
Course Curriculum At-a-Glance
The training curriculum is designed to empower you with the anatomy, physiology, leadership, safety, and business skills needed to become a successful Stretch Coach. Course director, Lucas Rockwood, has been training professional instructors since 2006, and his approach is 100 percent focused on results. This is not a yoga retreat or an extended workshop. You’re here to learn to teach, and you’ll walk away as a qualified instructor.
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Science of Stretching®
Learn what’s under the skin with the stretch reflex, sarcomeres, the nervous system, muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. -
Science of Stretching® 101
Based on the best peer-reviewed research from exercise physiology, you’ll learn the three principles of practice and how to apply them to open up the body. -
Hamstrings: Anatomy and Physiology
Three of your hamstrings start at your sits bones and another joins the group halfway down your femur. These muscles are the key to hinge movements, healthy spinal flexion, and functional posture. -
Hips: Anatomy and Physiology
This large, strong joint is supported and articulated by dozens of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and tissues. No wonder “stiff hips” are such a common problem. You’ll learn the key areas we target to open them up. -
Spine: Anatomy and Physiology
Lumbar spine injuries are one of the big reasons people come to yoga, but to create a healthy spine, we need to understand the entire spine, from the neck to the tailbone. We’ll explore function, dysfunction, and mobility. -
Sequencing
You can create hyper-focused classes (hips, hamstrings, spine) or full-body flexibility themed classes. In this module, you’ll learn how to craft a great class. -
Teaching Techniques
Our approach is to be (1) effective (2) progressive and (3) accessible. To this end, you’ll learn how to organize your room, how to use your voice, body language, camera positioning, authority, verb choice, and more. In this module, you’ll learn how to be an effective leader. -
Class Enhancements
Music, candles, essential oils, and setting. Since Science of Stretching® is a slow, quiet practice, the small details you add to your classes can greatly increase the experience itself. -
Injuries 101
Lower back, knees, shoulders, and wrists are probably the most common injuries we see. As a yoga teacher, you’re not here to diagnose or treat injuries, but you are here to coach. In this module, you’ll learn how to help clients heal themselves. -
Pain Management
Pain is your body talking to you, saying “Hey, slow down!”. As yoga teachers and students, it’s our job to listen and to decipher the pain messages – not to mask the pain or push through it. Rather than vilifying pain, we embrace it as our body’s intelligence guiding us to safely move forward. -
Your First Paying Class
There has never been more demand for flexibility-focused teachers than right now – and not just in yoga studios. In this module, we’ll do real-time walk-thru demos on how to pitch yourself to local studios, how to obtain private clients, and how to get your first gig in the next week. -
Marketing 101
Most yoga teachers tell me they don’t like marketing, sales, or business. Can you relate? If so, don’t worry, you’ll love this module. Our done-for-you marketing and promotions are simple, ethical, and exciting – and they really work.
About YOGABODY
Teachers College®
Founded in 2006, YOGABODY Teachers College® is a “Top 5” training school with over 15K graduates in 41 countries. Our school is science-based, business-positive, and future-focused. The success of YTC graduates speaks for itself. No gurus, no incense, no chakras, no Oms. We’ve taken the best of ancient yoga practice and combined it with modern science and technology to provide trainees with real career opportunities.
Meet Your Trainer
LUCAS ROCKWOOD
Master Trainer & Director (E-RYT, YACEP)
Lucas Rockwood is an internationally renowned yoga trainer, TEDx Speaker, author, podcaster, writer, and entrepreneur.
Lucas' corporate training clients include Meta and Noom. His early yoga and meditation teachers include Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (deceased), Paul Dallaghan, Alex Medin, Gabriel Cousens MD, and SN Goenka (deceased).
Lucas left the USA in 2003 and traveled and taught extensively before making Barcelona, Spain, his home base. In a previous life, he worked in theater, publishing, and as a plant-based chef and nutritional coach. He’s the father of three international kids and remains as passionate about yoga as when he first began practicing in 2002.
Lucas is the founder and managing director of YOGABODY®, YB Teachers College®, The Lucas Rockwood Show (podcast), and author of Yoga Business Mastery: Earn a Great Living Doing What You Love.
5 - 16 August 2024| Limited Space
Science of Stretching® is one of the most effective mobility training methods in the world, with more than 40,000 students in 81 countries—but there are hardly any teachers. YOGABODY is excited to offer this online teacher training course where you’ll learn how to teach both group and private sessions for beginner and intermediate students.
Tuition Fees Include:
- Live, real-time video classes, mentorship, and support from trainers
- Lifetime access to eLearning training and business resources
- 30hr Yoga Alliance YACEP and ACE registered course
FREE! Bonus Materials
($574 value)
When you train with the YOGABODY Teachers College®, you get access to dozens of resources for life. Our constantly expanding bonus materials, support offerings, and resources make the course the obvious choice for career-minded teachers.
Online Business Bio Page ($249 value – FREE!)
You’ll get a custom web page where you can take online payments, stream or sell video classes, schedule and setup Zoom classes, and create a 100% personalized online web presence. Best of all, it takes about 10 minutes to set it all up. No cost for life for all graduates.
New Student and Liability Waiver ($49 value – FREE!)
For insurance and data privacy reasons, it’s essential that you have a new student form with a liability waiver for your classes. You’ll get access to our 100% online form your students can sign with their finger (phone) or mouse (computer). A signed copy of the contract will be sent to both you and your students. No cost for life for all graduates.
Business Card and Postcard Templates ($109 value – FREE!)
Save time and money by using our done-for-you designs. We have a Canva portfolio, pre-designed and fully customizable that includes postcards, business cards, social media posts and more. New designs added every 2-3 months.
PDF Pose Charts x55 ($99 value – FREE!)
We’ll send you our studio master file PDF of pose charts we've developed after years in our studios. This is a great place to get ideas, copy/paste sequences, and find structures for your classes.
Science of Stretching® Training Manual ($39 value – FREE!)
You’ll use this manual to learn pose-by-pose this system of targeted mobility training. You’ll learn the principles of practice, breathing, modifications, and more.
Music Playlists on Spotify x8+Lists ($29 value – FREE!)
If you’ve ever tried to make a yoga playlist, you know how challenging it can be. In our studios we release new lists every three months, and all our trainees get access.
Student Reviews
★★★★★
“Great program!”
I learned so much and had a great experience. In addition to the personal benefits, I feel excited to share what I have found to be beneficial for myself, with others. Investing in this program has allowed me to invest in myself, and I recommend this program to anyone looking to do the same.
- LaVella Delgado
★★★★★
“Lucas is best yoga instructor ever!”
I did the flexibility coach training and got my certificate. I wanted to let everybody knows that Lucas is amazing and the best coach ever. He is one of a kind and has his own and unique way of teaching. Even if you don’t have yoga or flexibility knowledge, you will learn a lot from him.
- Mar Dood
★★★★★
“Lucas and his team were available to answer any and all questions about the course”
The course information was rich with straightforward and easy-to-grasp information. Engaging with others around the world was also pretty amazing.
- Sherrell Moore-Tucker
★★★★★
“This little journey has been quick, but so fruitful”
I was amazed by the consistency and knowledge I got from the program in such a short time span. And the way the program is set allows you to enter and finish smoothly - very well organized for students to learn and still feel motivated along the way!
- Iljana
★★★★★
“A complete course!”
The Stretch Coach course is a very complete course: theory behind stretching, but also a lot of practice, a lot of resources, and an extremely well organized course. Big advantage is that it is completely online, but it feels like a course in real life.
- Ellen
★★★★★
“A great resource”
I have gone through several YOGABODY courses, including flexibility coach. Lucas and his team are wonderful teachers. I have learned so many valuable and universal teaching techniques that can be applied to most if not all types of fitness instruction. I would recommend YOGABODY to anyone interested.
- Shanna Tobin
★★★★★
“It’s the third online training I took with YOGABODY”
You can see improvements in the programs so the feedbacks are taken into consideration (and necessary from the students). I love YB trainings and it’s not the last one I have done for sure.
- Sarah Budin
★★★★★
“It was an excellent course covering a lot and super well communicated”
My very first yoga teacher training with Lucas Rockwood and hopefully not the last! I feel lucky to have had this opportunity to soak in knowledge from him.
- Maria Morel Horvathova
★★★★★
“Thanks to this course I’ve been able to overcome one of my life hurdles”
I’m a very shy person but I love to help other people, and with this course, I‘m able to take my first step towards one of my dreams; to teach and help others help themselves (while also helping myself). Thank you to this wonderful team.
- Sarah Storey
“Great program!!!”
I learned so much and had a great experience. In addition to the personal benefits, I feel excited to share what I have found to be beneficial for myself, with others. Investing in this program has allowed me to invest in myself, and I recommend this program to anyone looking to do that same.
- LaVella Delgado
“Lucas is best yoga instructor ever!!!!”
I did the flexibility coach training and got my certificate. I wanted to let everybody knows that Lucas is amazing and the best coach ever. He is one of a kind and has his own and unique way of teaching. Even if you don’t have yoga or flexibility knowledge, you will learn a lot from him.
- Mar Dood
“Lucas and his team were available to answer any and all question about the course.”
The course information was rich with straightforward and easy-to-grasp information. Engaging with others around the world was also pretty amazing.
- Sherrell Moore-Tucker
“This little journey has been quick, but so fruitful...”
I was amazed by the consistency and knowledge I got from the program in such a short time span. And the way the program is set allows you to enter and finish smoothly-very well organized for students to learn still feel motivated along the way!
- Iljana
“A complete course!”
The Stretch Coach course is a very complete course: theory behind stretching, but also a lot of practice, a lot of resources, and an extremely well organized course. Big advantage is that it is completely online, but it feels like a course in real life.
- Ellen
“A great resource.”
I have gone through several YOGABODY courses, including flexibility coach. Lucas and his team are wonderful teacher teacher’s. I have learned so many valuable and universal teaching techniques that can be applied to most if not all types of fitness instruction. I would recommend YOGABODY to anyone interested.
- Shanna Tobin
“It’s the third online training I took with YOGABODY.”
You can see improvements in the programs so the feedbacks are taken into consideration (and necessary from the students.) I love YB trainings and it’s not the last one i have done for sure.
- Sarah Budin
“It was an excellent course covering a lot and super well communicated.”
My very first yoga teacher training with Lucas Rockwood and hopefully not the last! I feel lucky to have had this opportunity to soak in knowledge from him.
- Maria Morel Horvathova
“Thanks to this course I’ve been able to overcome one of my life’s hurdles.”
I’m a very shy person but I love to help other people, and with this course, I‘m able to take my first step towards one of my dreams; teach and help others help themselves (while also helping myself). Thank you to this wonderful team.
- Sarah Storey
Frequently Asked Questions
100%, 365-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
If you complete the course and for whatever reason don’t feel like you received the education you expected, just email us for a full and prompt refund anytime within a year of purchase. We’ve been educating professional teachers since 2006 and take this responsibility very seriously. We regularly hire from our own graduating classes, so our curriculum must be at market leading standards. We’ll help you turn your passion into a profession.