Our Story
Our Story
The Stretch Space began with two people from very different movement worlds — a boxer and a dancer — both navigating injuries, both searching for something that actually worked.
After years of trying the typical modalities with only partial relief, we stumbled into a movement-based approach that immediately made sense. We were both movers: one moving hard and taking hits, the other moving constantly and with precision. And like so many people, we were also dealing with the aches that come from not moving enough — long hours sitting, repetitive patterns, compression from gravity, and the general forces of life.
When we each experienced our first session of assisted stretching and fascial movement, everything clicked. The work felt different — more like gentle pulling, guided movement, and decompression rather than the “no pain, no gain” approach we had pushed through for years. Instead of forcing the body, this method met the nervous system first, and that changed everything. We felt lighter, more spacious, and more ourselves. We were convinced we were onto something real.. Around the same time, breathwork was becoming a major part of Cian’s life. With a background in wind engineering, he had spent years studying air — and later put breathing to the test inside the boxing ring, where breath became a lifeline for performance and composure. In 2016, breathwork became a powerful tool for healing as well, opening a new dimension of physical and emotional recovery. Carolyn saw the changes firsthand and dove in too.
The idea for The Stretch Space was born on a drive back from Arizona in 2017. By May 2018, we opened the doors to Vancouver’s first specialized stretch therapy and breathwork studio, built around a simple idea:
Movement and breath are medicine — when done with the right intention and support.
In February 2020 we expanded from a single room operation to our much larger current studio. We earned our first real business stripes in that wild year that was challenging for so many.
Working together, we’ve learned this work deeply, practicing on each other, refining techniques, and blending our unique perspectives from sport, dance, somatics, and science. The same goes for our business: different strengths, different life experiences, one shared vision.
Today, The Stretch Space is more than a studio. It’s the culmination of years of curiosity, injury, experimentation, growth, and a shared belief that the body wants to heal when given the right conditions.
We’re here to help create those conditions — through stretch therapy, breathwork, and education that empower people to feel better in their bodies and in their lives.
Read about us and our fantastic team of stretch therapists here
"Our mission is to empower regular people to use their sacred instruments (bodies) with great awareness and expression as a way of embodying their highest selves."
Interested in Joining Our Team?
If you are interested in joining our team and feel aligned with what we do drop us a line at thestretchspace@gmail.com to inquire.