Become a Certified
Stretch Coach
4.7 of 5 - Trustpilot Top Rating
To Future Stretch Coaches
From Lucas Rockwood, Founder, YOGABODY
Update 11 Apr 2026
I’m recruiting future coaches to lead group classes and private sessions designed to increase flexibility, unlock their stiff joints, and overcome injuries.
Here’s the problem: most people can’t touch their toes, squat deeply, or sit cross-legged comfortably on the floor. This affects their posture, their knees and backs, and their quality of life – and that’s where you come in.
Here are the top reasons to become a certified Stretch Coach:
- Work that Matters. When you job is to help people improve their posture, move better, and find greater freedom in their bodies, it doesn’t feel like work at all. Monday morning hits differently when you know your work makes a real difference.
- Huge Demand. The demand is booming, but most personal trainers and yoga teachers lack the specialized training needed to serve mobility challenges. The market is hot and the timing is perfect for newly trained professionals. You can work from home, teach online, and lead classes in gyms and studios around the world.
- Predictable Results. People try but fail with stretching because they were never taught science of flexibility and tissue adaptation. The Science of Stretching provides you with a toolkit to deliver predictable results. That’s exciting for both you and your clients.
- Freedom. Set your own schedule and work from anywhere. Fitness-center jobs are abundant, and you can also choose to work as a freelancer, a private instructor, and online. With a yoga mat, block, and strap, you have everything you need to deliver effective sessions.
- Turnkey Business Model. We have over 2,300 certified coaches working in 23 different countries. During the training, learn to switch on a turnkey business model that allows you to launch your own practice quickly. You’ll learn grassroots tools for success that you can replicate in your area.
The Science of Stretching
There are two types of stretching. First are pre-workout stretches: short, dynamic and designed to improve performance. Everyone learns this style of stretching during sports, physical education at school, or at the gym.
The second type of stretching is long, slow, and deep. It’s designed to change your body’s functional range. This style of stretching occurs after, not before, exercise. Oddly, most people have never heard of, much less tried, true flexibility training, so they do warm-up stretches and wonder why they don’t work.
Warm-up stretches are great, but they are not what’s needed to help you touch your toes, squat butt-to-heels, and free up your shoulders.
The Science of Stretching® is an evidence-based protocol to restore basic range of motion (bROM), and the demand qualified teachers is booming. Here are the three principles of practice.
Wet Noodle
Muscles stretch best when relaxed, and the fascia that gives muscles their shape and structure, also remodels best when muscle fibers are passive in their end range. This principle teaches us that poses should be practiced with maximum relaxation if increased range is the goal.
Breathe-to-Relax
Your nervous system plays a huge role in flexibility, and if ignored, you can inadvertently spend an entire stretching session fighting your body rather than creating change. This principle teaches us to leverage 4:8 nose-mouth breathing to turn down the body’s natural myotatic stretch reflex and promote a parasympathetic response that allows you to go deeper.
Time Under Passive Tension (TUPT)
To build strength, muscle needs ample time under tension stimulus to elicit change. To build flexibility, that same principle applies – only passive tension rather than contraction is key. This final principle is the one mistakenly ignored, but it’s crucial to hold poses for two minutes or longer.
How Flexibility Changes Occur
Flexibility changes occur in phases, and they begin with your nervous system. Within the first 2-14 days, students experience huge “newbie gains” where the nervous system learns it’s safe to release tension and allow for end-range practice. This process helps you tap into the flexibility potential you already possess but haven’t been able to access. Breathing, repetition, and time under passive tension (TUPT) are the initial drivers of change.
The next phase is a process called sarcomerogenesis. Similar to strength training, deep stretch training changes muscle fibers at the contractile level and allows for greater expression. This usually begins at around 3-4 weeks, and the greatest changes are seen in the first 3-12 months.
Lastly, there are connective tissue changes. These follow a looser schedule and vary greatly from person to person. Fascia is remodeled: lengthened, thinned, thickened, or reshaped. Your joint capsules extensibility increase to allow for smoother movement and greater end range compliance.
As a coach, this means your students experience quick initial wins to help build momentum and then slower, but steady gains for a full year, giving you a great opportunity to lead them on this journey.
The Coaching Opportunity
There are three main opportunities for coaches: private clients, group classes in fitness centers, and workshop-style, multi-part seminars. On the low end, our graduates earn $40-70 per hour in gyms, and for private clients and workshops, earnings are often 2-5 times that base rate.
With private clients, you'll meet them in person or online once per week to provide highly customized classes. We use a problem-solution block methodology that makes it easy to plug-and-play your knowledge to tailor it for your clients. You’ll customize your teaching to meet their specific needs using our block methodology and create classes tailored to your students’ needs.
Full body and targeted group classes at fitness studios are often a successful addition to the existing class schedule and are extremely popular. You’ll learn how to block sequence 30, 45, and 60-minute classes geared toward mixed-level group experiences.
Lastly, workshops are the highest-paying “deep work” opportunities, with a huge demand and almost no local offerings. In the course, you’ll be given a step-by-step guide, including teaching slide decks, handouts, pricing, and marketing, to help you lead local workshops and empower you as a new teacher to start right away.
My Stiff Office Guy Story
I showed up early and sat in the front. Looking at my own posture in the mirror, I saw my knees bent to my chest, my lower back hunched, and trying to relax cross-legged on the floor felt just as difficult as poses in class. In all honestly, it was humiliating to feel so old and restricted in a young man’s body, but that frustration sparked a fire in me to find a solution.
My teacher, Reggie, told me to just keep coming to class. Little-by-little, he assured me that my body would open up. I believed him, but I’m a stickler for details, and with my sloppy math estimations, it could easily take me 2-3 years. I didn’t have that kind of patience. So, I started researching on my own by talking to people in New York.
My Stiff Office Guy Story
I took my first yoga class in New York City in 2002, and I was the youngest and stiffest guy in the room.
My teacher, Reggie, told me to just keep coming to class. Little-by-little, he assured me that my body would open up. I believed him, but I’m a stickler for details, and with my sloppy math estimations, it could easily take me 2-3 years. I didn’t have that kind of patience. So, I started researching on my own by talking to people in New York.
I talked to dancers, gymnasts, and martial artists. I read books, and I found people who had started out stiff and then unlocked their bodies as adults. Very quickly, I found a pattern in their practices. They were all doing supplemental flexibility training and they were all using very similar methods.
When I later delved into exercise physiology literature, again, I found the same message again and again. Warm-up stretches are for pre-game performance, passive stretches are done after and should be long, slow, and deep.
I’m someone that really needs to know the “how” and “why” before I can commit, but once I felt confident in my findings, I put my chin down and got to work in my own practice every night before bed.
Initial gains happened quickly—which was exciting—and even though my progress slowed somewhat after the first month, the results continued fast enough to keep me motivated. By the end of that first year, I still wasn’t the most flexible guy in class – but I was close. My body changed and people started asking how, and that was how my teaching of this approach began.
By 2006, I was leading big classes in my own studio. By 2007, I started teaching online with private clients around the world. By 2012, my classes were huge, and today, I teach thousands of people per month online and hundreds in person.
How Online Training Works
This course is live, interactive, and fast-paced. Classes include video, handouts, pose charts, and breakout rooms creating an unparalleled learning environment.
No more boring online courses with endless downloads and rambling lectures. At YOGABODY, we pioneered online fitness education and you’ll find our experience fun, practical, and effective.
This 10-day program spans two weeks (Mon-Fri) and combines academic learning, practice teaching, and real-world skill training. Each day includes two hours of live classes, and a 10-min daily homework assignment.
Practice
Lecture
In-Action
Training Day Overview
- Posture Clinic (15 min): guided tutorial of poses
- Lecture (35 min): mixed-media, interactive learning
- Teaching Practice (10 min): working in pairs
- Guided Class (60 min): themed sequences led by trainers
- Homework: 10-min practice teaching assignment
eLearning Overview
- Web and phone app access
- Zoom for live classes, replays available same day
- All notes and recordings available
- Group chat, bonus sessions, and tutoring available
Academic modules include:
- Science of Stretching
- Yoga for flexibility
- Injury and pain management
- Class planning
- Session planning
- Business and marketing
All sessions are live on Zoom, and recordings are available within an hour for those who cannot attend in real time. This is a structured, day-by-day program designed for consistent practice and engagement - not a weekend crash course.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the education, confidence, and real-world teaching experience needed to start working professionally—whether with private clients, in studios, or leading local workshops.
About Our Trainees
Roughly one-third of trainees are brand new to teaching, one-third work in fitness currently, and the final third join for personal growth. Regardless of your background or motivation, you’re most welcome assuming you register with the intent to learn, engage, and take this teaching journey and support your peers.
YOGABODY is a professional certification organization with a long track record of training successful instructors worldwide. We take certification seriously, providing a clear, structured learning path that helps turn passion into a profession.
About Your Certification
This course is certified with Yoga Alliance as a Continuing Education Course (CE), and with American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the International Coach Federation as a Continuing Coach Education Course (CCE). After successfully completing the course, you’ll be qualified to coach students privately, in yoga studios and fitness centers, CrossFit boxes, and corporate settings anywhere in the world.
Meet Your Trainers
Lucas Rockwood
Master Trainer & Director (E-RYT, YACEP)
An internationally renowned yoga trainer, TEDx speaker, author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. Lucas is the founder and managing director of YOGABODY® and the YOGABODY Teachers College®. His corporate training clients include Meta and Noom.
Camilo Carreiro
Trainer (E-RYT, YACEP)
A senior staff trainer at YOGABODY since 2015, Camilo specializes in sequence development, teacher mentorship, and training programs. Certified in multiple yoga disciplines, he plays an active role in curriculum development, lectures, and alumni.
Free Bonus Materials
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 webpage 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. Free access 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. Free access 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
$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 this system of targeted mobility training pose-by-pose. You’ll learn the principles of practice, breathing, modifications, and more.
Music Playlists on Spotify x8+
$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.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
If you complete the course and, for whatever reason, don’t feel 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’ll help you turn your passion into a profession.
Customer Reviews
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“Already seeing results after 4 weeks”
I’m really impressed with YOGABODY’s programs and how Lucas teaches and coaches you through the stretching lessons. 15 mins a day of stretching is perfect for me, and I am already seeing results after 4 weeks. In fact, I just purchased my next course. Highly recommend for anyone looking to gain back their flexibility.
Matthew M
“Something I’ll continue for the rest of my life”
Science of Stretching is my third course from Lucas, all have met or exceeded my expectations. They become an integral part of my daily routine. I’ve noticed improvement in all aspects of my flexibility and reduction of pain in my back. I’ve learned a lot about my body and how to care for it. This is something I’ll continue for the rest of my life.
Dan B
“Shocked at the results so far!”
My husband and I are in our sixties and, while in decent shape, were feeling the impact of aging. We are 50% of the way through the program and are shocked at the results so far. We already have the second program we will take picked out. Lucas is a fabulous instructor: clear, informative, kind. I highly recommend!
Sue T
“Noticeable results, surprisingly quickly!”
I’m starting week 10 of this program, and it is making a huge difference already. I was incredibly stiff before, and it has wreaked havoc on my lower back in particular. The difference after completing 8 weeks of the program was startling and has encouraged me to keep going. Lucas is a talented instructor.
Christine C
“Great programs for improved flexibility”
I have Lucas' Hip Opening Challenge and Science of Stretching programs. Very easy to follow and options for all levels. Just 15 minutes a day and I have already seen significant improvements in my flexibility - I'm 67. An added bonus, I'm driving the golf ball 15/20 yards further!
Clive G
“Tutorials are fantastic and detailed”
Lucas is arguably one of the best yoga teachers globally. He has a gift in teaching and his ability to explain and demonstrate is second to none. His tutorials are fantastic and detailed. I have two paid programs, Science of Breathing and Science of Stretching and they are excellent.
Chris A
“Great for endurance athletes”
I’ve just finished the Science of Stretching course. I plan to repeat it over and over again. I love Lucas’s style of teaching, I love how much I’ve learned about stretching, I love the impact it’s had on my mobility. As a triathlete, I’ve been looking for ways to improve my mobility and it wasn’t until I found this course that I actually started making headway, especially on the bike. I can’t wait to see my progress as I repeat the program.
Joel C
“A fabulous instructor”
Thank you for showing how it is truly possible to regain lost flexibility and astonishingly quickly. I am pleasantly surprised at the results so far. I can truly feel the muscles relaxing and the benefits of the 15 minutes immediately the following morning and throughout the day. A fabulous instructor, Lucas is easy to follow with clear and adaptive instructions to cater for every level of fitness. I highly recommend!
Caroline D