MY JOURNEY in bodywork began long before I ever knew it would become my life’s work. It goes all the way back to 1985, when I was an 8-year-old kid in New York City.
My father owned six restaurants, and every night he came home exhausted from long hours on his feet. He would ask me to use a body massager on his back and legs until my small hands gave out. Then he’d lie on the floor and have me pull his legs, rotate them across his body, and use my elbows to release the tension in his back muscles.
At the time, I had no idea that these early experiences were shaping my future. My father also made stretching a non-negotiable part of my life.
Before my soccer practices and games, he’d take me to the field an hour early and tell me: “If you start taking care of your body now, you’ll have a better quality of life as an adult.” That message stayed with me.
Years later, when I became a personal fitness trainer, I naturally incorporated stretching into the last 15 minutes of my clients’ sessions. One day, a client walked in and said, “Richie, I don’t want to train today, just stretch me for the whole hour. This is what really makes me feel good. Honestly, you should stretch people for a living.”
That was the moment my path became clear.
Since then, there have been two defining experiences that confirmed the impact of this work.
The first was when Columbia University’s men’s swim team hired me for the Ivy League Championships. Each school had two therapists, mostly traditional massage therapists, and then there was me, combining Thai massage, PNF stretching, athletic stretching, and fascial stretching. Every Columbia athlete chose to work exclusively with me and refused traditional massage. That was the first time I truly recognized the difference this style of bodywork could make.
The second came when former MLB star Alex Rodriguez reached out for sessions. I worked with him three times in one week. I’ll never forget what he said:
“Every pro player in Boston should be contacting you. This is what’s going to keep athletes healthy and extend their careers.”
Since that week, I’ve had the privilege of working with athletes in the NBA, NFL, and many others from collegiate to professional levels.
Today, my clients constantly tell me I should raise my prices because of the quality of my work. But I choose to keep my rates accessible. I want people to come in consistently and experience real, lasting results. I didn’t get into this business to get rich; I got into it because I love helping people.
When clients come to Stretchbro, they’re not seeing an employee who’s just there for a paycheck. They’re seeing the owner, someone who knows their story, cares about their progress, and is committed to their long-term health. My clients range from blue-collar workers to professional athletes and celebrities, and they all receive the same level of care.
At Stretchbro, you’re not just getting a service. You’re building a relationship with someone who’s dedicated to keeping your body moving, performing, and living at its best.
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Richie Kalaydjian is the owner of Stretchbro, located in Woburn, MA. Please follow him and contact him on Instagram @STRETCHBROBOSTON.
