Welcome to StretchLab Newport-Mesa

Joaquin's love for fitness started at an early age playing baseball, running cross country, and track. He has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Cal State University Fullerton, is a personal trainer and certified in massage therapy. Joaquin is committed to continued lifelong learning and growth. His favorite part of being a Flexologist is helping his clients achieve their goal and helping people discover talents they never thought were possible.

Andres earned a Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from Concordia University of Irvine. He is the head coach for Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Whittier Christian High School. Outside of StretchLab, Andres has competed collegiately as a runner and javelin thrower and is currently training in Olympic style powerlifting.

Growing up, Jaime never realized the benefits of health and fitness until she made a lifestyle change and started training regularly in the gym. Wanting to learn more and show others the impact of moving the body, she got her personal training certificate. Jaime loves lifting weights, doing HIIT workouts and short distance running. Outside of the gym she enjoys being on the beach relaxing or in the bowling alley improving her bowling game. She loves being a part of StretchLab and seeing first hand the benefits of getting stretched and how the body can overcome many obstacles that we think are out of reach.

Matthew received a full scholarship to UC Irvine to play basketball and received his Bachelors in Economics. He hold certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine - N.A.S.M. and has been a Personal Trainer for over 15 years. As a Flexologist, Matthew has the opportunity to help people feel and move better, and encourages everyone that can to get started with a flexibility program!

Kana has developed a passion for optimizing athletic performance and creating a life of motion without discomfort through stretching and exercise. He is a fitness specialist with certifications from the International Sports Science Association, and has chiropractic knowledge as a corrective/rehab trainer. Throughout the years, Kana's passion for sports has lead him to be on the receiving end of multiple injuries. This lead him to physical therapy for recovery sparked his interest in the importance of preventive care and learning how to use the art of stretching for many benefits. He believes that this, tied together with a healthy lifestyle and exercise, will set you up for success.

Cosmo is from Upland, CA. She began her love for stretching through dance. Her passion for dance led her to study as a dance student at Cal State University, Fullerton. She danced professionally for a few years and then became a certified personal trainer in Santa Barbara, CA. Now she continues her love for movement by helping the stretching community!

Throughout Bethany’s life, she has taken to fitness and physical well-being with a passion while seeking to help others navigate through personal bodily obstacles. At five years old, she began swimming competitively and continued on through her four years of high school on varsity. Through swimming and weightlifting at the gym; she further developed her education and training. This drive and motivation sparked her journey of discovering the importance of healthy, personal physical maintenance. Bethany’s passion set her on a physical therapy career path. She has aided sports teams at Orange Coast College’s sports medicine program for five years and has taught adults, children, and infants swimming for over seven years. Bethany has aided with physical therapist in rehab clinics and is studying at California State University Long Beach. “The opportunities involving a Flexologist are always ongoing. I continue to seek knowledge with rehabilitation of the human form and the importance of internal and external health. It’s a privilege being part of the StretchLab team. I enjoy meeting great people everyday and providing the best quality attention, support and increased quality of life to anyone who walks into the StretchLab doors. Come on in, and let’s get started!”

Kat's passion for movement began with a yoga class 23 years ago; she walked out of class, bought a 20-class pass, and began a 4-classes-a-week yoga habit. That evolved into co-teaching other prenatal yoga students in regular classes (because once-a-week prenatal-specific classes were not enough yoga for her!). In 2011, Kat received her Iyengar Yoga Teacher Certification. Her mentor teacher during teacher training was Eric Small, a pioneer in the adaptation of yoga for those with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological issues. Kat apprenticed with him for 5 years and taught a Yoga for MS class for the National MS Society for 8 years. Her first yoga teaching job was at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, and she continues to work with seniors, people with MS and Parkinson's, and people recovering from stroke and other injuries. Kat is also a massage therapist and brings her knowledge of yoga and massage to her application of stretches at StretchLab. Integrating her background in yoga and massage to provide the best stretch experience is what Kat loves about being a Flexologist. When she's not stretching, Kat is at the beach, hiking with her dogs, or reading.

Growing up, Michelle played soccer for about 10 years. When it came to ending her soccer career, she became invested in weight lifting and found passion in learning how her body could move and the new strengths she was able to achieve. Michelle began to study within the field of exercise science and obtained her bachelor's degree from California Baptist University in 2020. Since then, she has continued to pursue her passion of weight lifting and has worked alongside some of the best DPTs. She has 3 years of experience as a physical therapy aid, which broadened her knowledge of body mechanics, injury prevention, therapeutic exercises and muscular functions. It’s Michelle's goal to go back to grad school and achieve her Doctorate’s in Physical Therapy. Until the, she finds extreme joy in using her skills and knowledge to help others better understand their bodies and help them achieve a better quality of life through her work here at StretchLab.

Alexander is originally from Italy, but moved to California 7 years ago to study Kinesiology at San Diego State University. He has found his place in health and wellness, and loves to help and heal people. He recently moved to Newport Beach in search of awesome people to meet and to hopefully heal! Alex has played a variety of sports, most notably soccer and semi-pro basketball back in Italy. He enjoys hiking, Magic the Gathering, and video games in his past time, and always loves a good stretch!

Jonny did his undergraduate studies in kinesiology at San Diego State university, where he was also a Division 1 pitcher on the baseball team. Jonny plans to attend Southern California University of Health Sciences to receive his Doctorate of Chiropractic. Alongside baseball Jonny is an avid recreational golf player, rock climber, and weightlifter. Jonny has also worked in a rehabilitation clinic prioritizing stretching and strength training. Growing up playing sports Jonny has emphasized the importance of mobility and stretching for staying healthy, longevity, and performance.

Katie is from Carpinteria, CA and began dancing when she was six years old. What started as a passion for performing and creating, led to an interest in learning more about the mind body connection. Katie graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance, Minor in Musical Theater, and Certification in Pilates. Throughout her life, she has longed for working in spaces to help others feel their best through her passions, which is what led her to Stretch Lab! She loves connecting with people and is excited to help others learn more about stretching. When not in the studio, you can also find Katie taking a dip in the ocean, trying new coffee shops around Costa Mesa, playing ukulele, or spending quality time with friends!

Rabie’s passion for fitness started at a very young age as he played soccer most of his life. Due to the injuries he encountered, Rabie’s interest in the human body deepened which led him to pursue a career in physical therapy. Rabie earned his Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Beirut Arab University. He then started his own physical therapy practice and earned certifications in personal training, strength and conditioning, post-rehabilitation, and sports nutrition. He moved to California 2 years ago in pursuit of his physical therapy license in the States. While he works towards this goal, he is happy to be sharing his knowledge and experience with clients as a Flexologist.

Ashley is passionate about helping people move, feel, and live better! She’s been a licensed massage therapist since 2009 and has specialized in stretch therapy since 2015, giving her a deep understanding of mobility, flexibility, and functional movement. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Safety and has extensive training in Myofascial Ashiatsu barefoot massage, teaching Range of Motion Stretch Therapy to licensed massage therapists, and Yoga Tune Up®, allowing her to create customized stretching experiences that help clients feel their best. When she’s not in the studio, you can find Ashley soaking up the outdoors—whether it’s hiking, spending time at the beach, or learning how to garden. She loves being part of the StretchLab team, surrounded by like-minded professionals, and is always excited to learn new ways to incorporate stretching and movement into both stretch routines and daily life!

Michelle discovered a love for movement after college and found herself immersed within the yoga community. After many years of dedicated practice, she desired to share the ability to connect with, and understand the mind-body and obtained her 200 hour yoga certification at Kaya Yoga Remedy in Huntington Beach. The injuries Michelle encountered over the years due to her hyper-mobility deepened her hunger to learn and understand more about how the body functions. Since, Michelle has spent countless hours deep-diving into the studies of mobility, flexibility, movement, and strength. Becoming a Flexologist has equipped her with the tools to combine her knowledge and skills to help people not only feel better, but to also empower them to understand their own bodies on a deeper level.