Stretch to Recovery

Our Mission Statement

By encouraging health and vitality through the Pilates Method, our goal is to help restore your dignity, hope, and dreams by physically strengthening your body and mentally reviving your spirit.

Our New Name

Stretch To Recovery, formerly Pilates Wellness Institute, has a new look! Our new name and logo reflect movement and transition. And now with our new business model we are better able to serve you with a growing number of participating studios. Your first session is complimentary — no commitment required.

Our Organization

We are the only known 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that subsidizes one-on-one Pilates training for those recovering from all types of cancer during all phases of treatment. Other programs fund only group classes, but we have adopted the philosophy that "one-shoe-does-not-fit-all" and we work with the individual to design a customized program. Our goal is to not only provide you with supervised sessions, but to help you transition into an exercise program that you can to take with you as you enter the next phase in your cancer recovery.

How Our Organization is Unique

Pilates can provide a gentle reintroduction to movement at any stage of recovery. Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing invasive treatments can make survivors feel detached from their bodies. Pilates can mend this mind-body separation by encouraging "mindful" movement, focusing on quality rather than quantity.

Cancer survivors face many physical challenges after undergoing treatment and/or surgery. The impact on most cancer survivors includes fatigue both during and after cancer treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy can terribly impair one’s ability to function and perform daily tasks. This fatigue can be overwhelming and increases with the combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Following cancer treatment, individuals may fear returning to exercise. What makes Pilates different from other forms of exercise is that with other exercise methods, you may be forced into a certain position by any means necessary. Pilates exercises were designed to build strength and mobility on both sides of the body, making the exercises ideal for individuals who have undergone surgery with residual, one-sided weakness or stiffness.

What makes Pilates different from other forms of exercise is that with other exercise methods, you may be forced to attain a certain position by any means necessary. Pilates exercises were devised to build strength and mobility on both sides of the body, making the exercises ideal for individuals who have undergone surgery with residual, one-sided weakness or stiffness.

We offer a safe and supportive program that will improve the quality of life for survivors, as the physical and psychological benefits of Pilates aid the rehabilitation and recovery of this special population. We are excited to be able to say that Pilates exercise accompanying treatment for cancer is steadily gaining acceptance in the fitness community because we know first hand what a difference it can make!