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 and Friday mornings as well as Wednesday evening.

Kasey's background is in Occupational Therapy and she brings over 10 years of experience working directly with individuals on their rehabilitation and recovery goals. She joined StretchLab to apply her depth of experience and unique perspective to a new modality, and her members agree she has done just that. Her second love is travel, so come see her for a stretch and get some tips for your next trip while you're here! Kasey is on the schedule Tuesdays and Saturdays.

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 Tuesday & Thursday evenings, Wednesday & Friday mornings, 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 Wednesdays, 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!

Ernesto is a NASM certified personal trainer with over 7 years experience leading group fitness classes and training clients 1-on-1 toward their health and fitness goals. Ernesto pursued a career in fitness and wellness after his own experience with the power of exercise. “As a type 1 diabetic, becoming more active literally helped save my life. I love applying the knowledge I have from my educational background to the individuals I work with and watching them improve their lives for the better.” Ernesto chose StretchLab as our core values mirror his own, and he is excited to bring his coaching skills to a new community and show people they can move more freely and live healthier, more functional lives. He reminds his clients (and himself!) to work on being 1% better every day, and in taking each goal one step at a time you will create giant leaps forward. Ernesto is on the schedule Sundays through Thursdays.

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 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings as well as 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 Mondays, Wednesdays, 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, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Selena recently graduated from the University of Florida with her B.S. in applied Physiology and Kinesiology. She entered this field after playing tennis for much of her life and experiencing a back injury, which left her with a deep appreciation for both an active lifestyle and the rehabilitation process. During school she pursued an internship with a clinic focusing on patients with muscular dystrophy, which gave her a unique opportunity to evaluate each patient and create exercise prescriptions specific for each individual. “What I love most about the wellness space is being able to help individuals in a way that’s more than just results on paper. It is seeing their smile and joy which made me know this is what I want to do.” Ultimately Selena plans to pursue her medical degree, but for now she moved to Chicago with the goal of gaining more diverse experience within the health & wellness field. She was drawn to StretchLab because of the importance of stretching in preventative care and the opportunity to establish long term relationships with her clients, which is what she hopes to do in the future as a primary care physician. Her other passions include her pets (two dogs and a cat), exploring new hiking trails, and food. She is on the schedule Sundays-Thursdays, come stretch with her (and give her your best Chicago restaurant recommendations)!

Bria joins our team with over 5 years of experience as a Rehab Aide and Technician, most recently at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. She also completed her personal training certification and trained at Equinox, still focusing more on the recovery and rehabilitation space. Bria has her Master’s in Applied Exercise Science with a concentration in Human Movement, and her long-term goal is to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. For now, Bria is excited to put all of her training and knowledge to use in a 1-on-1 client setting with StretchLab. She is also a published author! Bria co-wrote a children’s book called When I See You (wheniseeu.com) with the goal of inspiring young kids of color to see themselves in their chosen profession. The best piece of advice I’ve received is from one of my mentors: “Life is a marathon not a sprint, pace yourself. Your journey is yours and no one else’s.” Look for Bria on the schedule Tuesday-Saturday!

Charlie recently graduated from UIC with his B.S. in Kinesiology and worked as a Rehabilitation Aide at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush for several years during his undergraduate work. He loves working with individuals on their activity goals - whether that be rehabilitation from injury, adopting a more active lifestyle, or peak athletic performance. Charlie is excited to join StretchLab to focus on the important role that stretching and flexibility play not only in recovery but for injury prevention and improved performance. “Mobility and stretching are too often an afterthought. We need to think about stretching as an integral part of our daily activity and exercise routines.” We couldn’t agree more! When he’s not at StretchLab, Charlie is also an Educator at Lululemon Experiential, where he supports class schedules and special events. Fun Fact: Charlie is left handed but throws and bats with his right. It’s a secret weapon on and off the bench! Come stretch with Charlie Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays!