A sedentary lifestyle can leave you with phenomenal aches and pains. Chris Watts, the dynamic founder of Stretch, coaches Amanda Cheung through a session of AIS.

“You have an elevated left shoulder and a tilted occiput, which leans to the right side … due to the upward tilt of the left hip, your quadratus lumborum muscle on the left side is short, tight and in spasm.” Chris Watts is giving me a postural analysis that lasts roughly 30 minutes, in which time he’s managed to reduce me to a body fascist. For some reason, he’s not buying my excuse for putting off exercise (sweat allergy). Soft-spoken and highly articulate, Watts is sizing me up, while I come to grips with the realization that perhaps now’s the time to sign up for a year-long gym membership. “You have a pelvic torque from left to right and your right side piriformis muscle is short and tight,” he continues confidently. I stare at him wondering whether or not there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, as he places his hands on my hips.

Since opening his clinic, five years ago, Chris Watts has become a buzzword for local aching CEO’s, politicians and salarymen alike. Having single-handedly introduced the practice of AIS (Active Isolated Stretching) to this part of the world, Watts remains the only certified instructor of this modality in Asia. He describes AIS as “a method of structural rehabilitation that is not painful and is guaranteed to make a difference to the way you move and the way you use your body.” Watts emphasizes the importance of stretching in order to “realign the posture and improve the range of motion at the joints, which is where flexibility is determined.” He adds, “Stretching is essential for breaking down adhesions and scar tissue from past injuries, and most important of all, it will promote better mobility.”

As he explains his plan of action for our hour0long session, I ask Watts whether I am his typical patient. Watts explains how most of his clients come to him for the treatment of lower back and neck pain (which is precisely why I’m here). “Mostly, the pain stems from too much sitting – that is, inactivity – and poor ergonomically designed work stations and badly designed chairs.” Watts adds that our sedentary jobs have led us into having “shortened hip flexors and hamstrings, and a forward-poking head.”

The session involves Watts manipulating my limbs while I lie on the rather comfy massage table. He performs several manipulations to realign my hips, and all the other parts of body that seem to have been knocked out of shape through too much of doing, well, nothing. By the end of the session, Watts claims he has realigned my legs so that they are now the same length (whereas one was a whole inch shorter than the other when we began).

Watts can take up to five hours to thoroughly stretch the average person – though this can almost be treated as a necessary luxury, as an hour-long session costs $1,000. (Other instructors at the clinic charge $800 per hour.) For a mote economical alternative, Watts has recently published Stretch Your Life ($158). Between the covers are tips on stretching at home and at work (it’s fully illustrated), plus tips on nutrition.

Having come to the session feeling creaky and out of sync, I found the experience to be educational (I had no idea how out of shape I was), rather than relaxing per se. A few weeks after the session and Watts’ words of wisdom are still resonating with each step I take – I’ve reorganized my work desk to make it more ergonomically friendly, and I try to walk with my shoulders back and head back (as opposed to letting it come forward pigeon-like).

Stretch is currently offering free postural analysis for first time visitors. 4/F, 73 Wyndham Street, Central, 2167 8686.

One minute with Chris Watts: AIS Explained
“AIS is a distinctive therapy that deals purely with flexibility, helping to unwind tight body structures and realign the skeletal system. This increased flexibility results in less long-term strain and overuse injuries.
“Don’t static stretch as it reduces the blood and lymph circulation, besides, it hurts and doesn’t work. Learn to use AIS, where the body part you want to stretch is totally relaxed. Once you recognize where your barrier or end range of motion is, you will then stretch that muscle for two seconds and no longer.
“Find five to six stretches that are perfect for your lifestyle and do them before you leave the house. It will only take eight to 10 minutes of your time. This will prepare your body for the day ahead.”

Who should avoid stretching?
“People with osteoporosis should avoid stretching, and those who have had recent surgery or broken bones. People with hip replacements should avoid stretches going across the body (adduction), as this can cause dislocation. In any stretch, use pain as a guideline. If it hurts, don’t do it.”