I turn 60 this year. I want to continue to enjoy outdoor activities, playing with my grandchildren, and maintaining my independence for all the decades remaining to me. To do this, I must be flexible. Strength and endurance are important, too; but first comes flexibility. I need help with this: my efforts at stretching seem to go nowhere; my muscles have no give.

March 1, my first session. My goal was very general: more flexibility. When asked, I mentioned tight calves and hamstrings and tight neck and shoulder muscles. Of course, as we progressed through our sessions, we discovered many more areas that needed loosening. For motivation, Matthew demonstrated various poses, including the plough position. I thought, "maybe in a year or so."

July. My entire body was more flexible; I was feeling better, more energized; and now stretching was fun because I could actually feel my muscles lengthening. Toward the end of July, all of Matthew's advice seemed to gel in my mind and make their way to my body: don't hold your breath; don't tighten your muscles; relax into the stretch as you let your breath out!

The plough. Between sessions, I had been stretching my hamstrings using the method Matthew taught me, and during the sessions, Matthew folded me into a "semi" plough, which works on stretching the head, neck, and upper shoulders while keeping the legs bent. I never dreamed I was ready to put the two pieces together. But Matthew's keen eye noted that my upper and lower halves appeared ready to go the distance simultaneously, and, to my great delight, by the end of July I was able to fold myself into the plough!

I'm empowered. I now have the means to stretch my body from head to toe whenever I want, wherever I am. My body is capable of more than I believed, and I'm looking forward to challenging it further.

-Penny (Reston, VA)