"Just breathe," he tells me as I lie there while he pulls my left leg in a position reminiscent of a Cirque De Soleil performance (minus the grace and cool outfits on my part).

The "he" I'm referring to is kinesiologist and fascial stretch therapist Robin Turner of Body Engineering, and today he is introducing me to a new stretch technique called fascial stretch therapy.

Fascial stretch therapy is an assisted stretching technique developed by Ann and Chris Frederick, therapists in Tempe, Arizona, who have been honing the art of stretching for over a decade. Because stretching is the last frontier to conquer with regards to exercise and sports performance, we are now just starting to see some really exciting research on how to bend, stretch and flex our bodies the way they were intended to.

Turner first found this type of stretching while looking for new techniques and treatments to improve his client's posture and ineffective movement patterns. For the past two-and-a-half years he has witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of this type of therapy on everyone from himself, to the athletes that he personal trains, to the average Joe and Jane.

What makes this type of stretching different from, say, static stretching? Well, first off, a fascial stretch therapist uses traction to improve the joint's range of motion. While the muscles may be tight, one also needs to address the joint capsule - where those vexing tight little muscles attach.

By adding traction before, during or after a stretch, you help to release the soft tissue adhesions, improve the range of motion of the joint (because the muscle is only as flexible as the joint that it is attached to) and increase the space between the joints for better shock absorp-tion. Traction also releases endorphins into the blood stream, which in turn aids in reducing pain and increasing relaxation.

From a personal perspective, it also feels great. I actually felt like I was two feet taller after leaving the session.

Fascial stretch therapy also demands the therapist work in a particular order through the layers of tissue for the best release. In general, Turner explains, the best results have been found by stretching the deepest layers of the muscles first and then working your way outwards.

For example, for my tight hips he started stretching my internal and external rotators (the deep six as they are known in the industry) and then worked his way to my adductors, glutes, hamstrings, IT band, psoas and quads.

After the series, which took about 30 minutes a leg, he got me to stand up and walk around to see if I could feel the difference. I was amazed how light I felt, and the pain that I was encountering in my deep glute area from a 10-kilometre race the day before was all but a bad memory. I think I was beginning to drink the Kool-Aid.

Turner emphasized that one of the most important aspects of this type of stretching is there should be no pain while in the stretch. It may be uncomfortable, because, let's face it, it's not every day you're on your back with your foot coming along the side of your body and towards your head, but there should be no pain.

This can be a fairly radical idea for most people. There are a great many folks out there (usually those pesky type A's) who believe in "no pain, no gain" when stretching, but the research is now showing us this is an extremely ineffective way to stretch.

Turner says if you are ever sore or feeling tighter after a stretch session, you have gone too far. A muscle that is pulled to its limits will tighten up, instinctively thinking it is going to be hurt, and a contracted muscle is impossible to lengthen. This rebounding effect is the death to anyone looking to see results.

Finally, just as the name suggests, fascial stretch therapy stretches more than just your muscles, it stretches your fascia. Fascia is a specialized connective tissue that is thin, but very strong and fibrous. Think of it as a tight stocking enveloping all our muscles, bones and joints.

Also described as a web of tissue, fascia extends from your head all the way down to your toes, front and back, around our internal organs, as well externally just below our skin. It is responsible for structural integrity (important if you want to avoid injuries), for providing support and protection to the body and it acts as a shock absorber.

Through their research, the Fredericks have found that by stretching the fascia, the rest of the body falls in order.

I truly believe this type of stretching works, for all parts of the population. Turner says it usually takes about three to six treatments for the individual to notice significant improvements. I already have my second treatment lined up and, if you live with any pain or are an athlete and want to improve your performance, I suggest you give it a try as well.

To contact Robin Turner for a complimentary 30minute fascial stretch therapy assessment, call 604-761-3488.

For more information on fascial stretch therapy, log onto www.stretchtowin. com.

P.J. Wren is a local personal trainer and writer in the Delta area who can be reached at www.fitnesswithpj.com.