Active Isolated Stretching (AIS): The Mattes Method is a scientific stretching method developed by Aaron L. Mattes. It is a manual technique that combines a series of short, controlled stretches with intervals of relaxation, which overrides your muscles tendency to contract when stretched tight.  If  you suffer from neck, back, shoulder, hip or knee pain or stiffness, AIS is a safe solution that offers tremendous relief quickly.  When the body starts moving and working properly, pain symptoms often go away.  In addition to learning how to stretch for a life-time of physical health, AIS benefits you with increased circulation, reduced risk of injury, improved posture, greater muscle strength, faster healing times, relaxed muscles and increased muscle potential.  AIS has been used by thousands of professional and amateur athletes to increase flexibility and performance while reducing the risk of injury.

Professional athletes and newborns share one thing in common - optimal flexibility. Many active people truly understand the health benefits of having a flexible body. Human movement is especially enjoyable and rewarding when the body is flexible and capable of free and easy mobility without restriction. Those who wish to restore ease of movement, relaxation,  and improved activity would be wise to include stretching techniques in their daily schedules.

Work or exercise that repeatedly overuses the same muscles day after day confines joints within a restricted range of motion and tends to reduce flexibility.  Accident or injury may also limit flexibility and range of motion. In spite of our best  attempts to avoid the inevitable aging process, older people generally succumb to a constricted, stiff posture due to loss of flexibility.  Trauma, overuse and age are the most common causes of muscle tightness resulting in stiff, rigid postures.

Fortunately, individuals can maintain a  healthier, pain-free state and enjoy a better quality of lifestyle through restoring flexibility through proper stretching.  Stretching can also improve a variety of chronic health ailments, including many conditions that are considered untreatable except by surgery.

The Benefits

Improve flexibility and health of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Invigorate the circulatory, respiratory, and neuromuscular systems.

Alleviate many of the symptoms of stress.

Facilitate the flow of lymphatic fluid.

Reduce risk of muscle, tendon, ligament, and joint injuries, such as strain and tear.

Reduce postural tightness due to aging.

Rehabilitate muscles, tendons and ligaments where there are injuries.

Reduce spasms, splinting, and tension

One of the primary obstacles to flexibility of a joint is the tightness of the surrounding
fascia. Fascia is a fibrous matrix that provides interconnections throughout all cells of the
body. Fascia surrounds muscles, bones, and joints, which gives our body structural
integrity and strength.  Distortion of the fascial matrix by trauma, aging, posture, hormonal
or metabolic imbalances, injury and toxins disrupts the homeostasis of the body.  Left
untreated, these conditions promote a host of disease states.  Fortunately, fascial
distortions can be addressed by the use of AIS.

How A.I.S works

Please wear comfortable clothes to stretch in.

The opposite muscle being stretch contracts. (in order to stretch the hamstrings the quads must contract) Once the muscle is at its full range a gentle stretch is held for no longer then 2 seconds, released and controlled back to the starting position.
.
This ensures a continuous supply of blood, oxygen, lymph, and nutrition, while stimulating waste removal and enforcing the neural process.

This process is repeated on the same isolated muscle up to 10 times, with each subsequent stretch a few degrees of motion is gained.

There is also a set sequence, in order to open up the hamstrings the calf muscles must be opened first...and so on...

Exhale during exertion (the stretching) and inhale during the recovery phase. Oxygen is an important fuel for muscle action.

Appointments range from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on area being stretched. Please keep in mind that a 30 minute session will not address the deeper muscles. In order to stretch some of the deeper muscles of the body other areas must be opened up first. Shorter sessions are good for an introduction and extremities.

Aaron Mattes and Dawn Brower
West Palm Beach first ever Advanced Active Isolated Stretching Seminar
Dawn Brower has taken several of Aaron's seminars as well as interning with Aaron Mattes in his Florida clinic.