Welcome to Stretchlab West Loop

Natalie received her B.S. in Health & Human Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy. As an athlete herself playing volleyball in school, Natalie experienced injuries and the rehabilitation process firsthand and was drawn to study physical therapy to learn how to help others with their own mobility. She loves that StretchLab allows her to practice her skills and educate her members on the importance of recovery for athletes and non-athletes alike. When she’s not stretching you, Natalie enjoys outdoor activities and we have recently discovered she is a pool shark. She is also on a quest to find the best pulled pork nachos in Chicago - recommendations welcome! Natalie is on the schedule Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Taylor earned her B.A. in Dance and A.S. in Exercise Science. She also earned her personal training certification through ISSA. During college, Taylor completed an internship with Athletic Evolution as a strength & conditioning coach, taking young athletes through movement progression and physical therapy exercises. That experience along with her own background as a dancer ingrained in her the importance of stretching and mobility. She was drawn to StretchLab as an opportunity to bring that education and awareness to her clients, and work with an awesome team. Outside the studio, Taylor continues to pursue her passion for dance with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. She also enjoys traveling, namely eating at new restaurants in new places. Come stretch with Taylor on weekdays mornings (7am-9am) and Saturdays!

Cassandra is an ISSA certified personal trainer and nutritionist as well as a certified mindfulness meditation teacher. She is working toward her Master's in Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine and most recently completed a fellowship with Wild Health, a genomics precision medical practice where she shadowed physicians in training to become a DNA-Based Health Coach. Her philosophy embraces the fact that everyone is unique and needs an individualized approach to truly optimize health safely, and she is excited to bring these insights along with her years of experience in personal training and stretch therapy to StretchLab. When she's not working, Cassandra enjoys going to Milongas, social dancing, hiking, swimming and working in her art studio. She is on the schedule Fridays and Sundays - come stretch with Cassandra!

Molly is a dancer, teacher and movement specialist. She earned her B.F.A. in contemporary dance and choreography and continued her dance training with several different companies in New York, NY. For the past 7 years Molly has split her time between her dance career and traveling the world as a flight attendant with American Airlines. She has also been an avid practitioner of yoga since age 18 and completed her 200 YRT certification through Yoga Renew. Her own wellness routine is heavily focused on relaxing; it includes pilates, yoga, massage, reiki, getting outside, and taking epsom salt baths. Molly was originally drawn to fitness because she loves being on the journey with people as they grow and move toward their goals. She is excited to continue this at StretchLab, and to focus more deeply on mobility and 1-on-1 body work. Come stretch with Molly and get some travel tips while you're at it! She's on the schedule Fridays and Saturdays.

Dru is a NASM certified personal trainer with 5 years of experience in the healthcare industry, most recently as a physical therapist tech with Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. He is also completing his B.S. in Kinesiology, and his long-term goal is to pursue his doctors in Physical Therapy. Dru’s interest in fitness started with his own weight loss journey of losing 50 lbs. After learning from his own amazing mentors, he developed a passion for rehabilitation and injury prevention. “The thing I love the most about my job is working with so many interesting people and assisting them to enhance their performance, all while relieving their pain and tightness from their vigorous training and lifestyle. I chose to work at StretchLab as a great opportunity to use my hands-on skills to help a broader audience and perfect my craft as a future physical therapist!” Come stretch with Dru on Monday-Thursday and Saturdays!

Kristen has her B.S. in Exercise Science and is working toward her Masters in the same discipline. After undergoing rehab herself in 2017, she developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the importance of recovery. Prior to joining StretchLab, Kristen worked as an Exercise Specialist at Core Physical Therapy. She loves connecting with people 1-on-1 regarding their own recovery and wellness journeys, and she is excited to bring this knowledge and passion to her clients at StretchLab. “The best piece of advice I have been given is to treat everyone with kindness because you never know what they could be going through. Just a smile and a simple conversation could make the biggest difference to someone!” Come stretch with Kristen Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays!

Mauricio is completing his B.S. in Kinesiology at UIC and has worked for the past 3 years in rehabilitation at Athletico and Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. He grew up playing football and baseball and has always been naturally drawn to fitness and wellness, but started to really get into it in high school when he noticed the physical benefits that exercise has on your body. Mauricio decided to study Kinesiology and now can’t imagine working in any other industry. “I was drawn to StretchLab because of its uniqueness. Working toward becoming a physical therapist I have seen firsthand the benefits of 1-on-1 assisted stretching. Having a business dedicated to just that was something unheard of to me. I also wanted to put my knowledge and skills to the test and help positively impact people’s lives in a fun and unique environment.” His favorite breakfast food is a toasted bagel with plain cream cheese - it’s a classic! You can find Mauricio on the schedule Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Jared graduated with his B.S. in Kinesiology from The University of Illinois-Chicago and is a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Education is a core belief of Jared’s and he continues to develop his skill sets with further courses in biomechanics, nutrition, and MAT (Muscle Activation Technique). Jared is a personal trainer at Precision Human Performance (our West Loop neighbors!) where he works with a wide range of clients on everything from rehab integrated exercises to strength and conditioning routines. In his work with PHP, Jared approaches every client with the goal of improving quality of life and functionality so he’s a natural fit to join our team at StretchLab and apply that same mindset in a different modality. “Being part of the Stretchlab family has been an amazing experience so far. It’s such a complimentary addition to my own fitness routine that has increased my athletic performance and care for my own body.” Jared is on the schedule Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Haley completed undergraduate degrees in Exercise Science and Psychology and is currently pursuing her Masters in Clinical Psychology with a long-term goal of sports psychology. Her experience includes work as a rehabilitation aide and more recently as a crisis counselor in a community mental health setting, so Haley brings a unique blend of expertise in both the physical and mental aspects of health and wellness. She is looking forward to the opportunity to meet new people and bring that dual perspective to her work at StretchLab, and we’re thrilled to have her positive energy in the studio. While school and work fill much of her time, Haley loves reading (she’s a Stephen King buff) and recently got on a crochet kick! It’s something she’s always wanted to try, and she’s having a blast learning a new skill. You can find Haley on the schedule Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays.

Driesen joined StretchLab with a strong background in chiropractic and rehabilitation work, and he is currently completing his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. He loves working in health and fitness to help individuals realize how powerful their own bodies are and maximize that potential. Driesen gained some experience with stretch therapy and the PNF technique during his doctoral program so when he discovered StretchLab it was a natural fit. Or in Driesen’s own words “I wanted to work at StretchLab because stretching on your own is beneficial, but having an assisted stretch is like getting to that itch you can’t scratch on your own!” Outside of work and school, Driesen enjoys music, watching movies, and bird watching! He’s on the schedule Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.

Iesha joins StretchLab with over 5 years of experience in wellness coaching, strength and conditioning, personal training, functional fitness and performance recovery. She completed her B.S. and Masters in Exercise Science in North Carolina, and recently relocated to Chicago to expand her career opportunities and breadth of experience in health and fitness. Iesha was drawn to StretchLab’s focus on the recovery space as an often overlooked but essential part of any fitness routine. “I love seeing people committed to investing in their health and wellness, and embracing a process that continually pays off over time.” Iesha enjoys hiking and cooking, and her favorite show right now is Vikings: Valhalla. She is on the schedule Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Shadee completed her undergraduate degree in Microbiology and started her career in food safety, but her path took a turn when surgery left her with some reduced motor function and other physical and mental health impacts. She decided to try at-home yoga and through the consistent practice that followed, Shadee learned to rebuild her mind-body connections, adopted a more active lifestyle and ultimately changed her career plan. Shadee is currently completing her Doctorate of Chinese Medicine, Herbalism and Acupuncture. She has spent the past few years as a full-time student and part-time yoga instructor and is excited to continue her journey with StretchLab! "I’ve found StretchLab’s method of stretching very effective in freeing up the body, relieving pain, and cultivating mind-body awareness. I’m excited to help clients improve their overall quality of life and develop a newfound sense of hope and motivation to achieve their goals." Outside of school and work, Shadee enjoys aerial, painting, swimming in the lake and she recently discovered “Junk Journaling." She's on the schedule Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays!