Meet Mya Ayo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mya Ayo.

Hi Mya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Back in 2018, my life took an interesting turn. I was going through a tough breakup, I lost my home, and I didn’t have a job. Being a very health-conscious person with a fitness background I thought of looking for any job in the wellness industry. I came across a post for a front desk managerial position at “Stretch Pro”, I applied not knowing what Stretch Studio even was. I got hired at the spot for my ability to work well with people. After observing other stretch therapists and their work, my understanding of fitness, recovery, and health changed drastically. I never stretched in my 20s, I had no idea what recovery was! Being stretched by one of Stretch Pro’s therapists blew me away. After some time, I developed a great relationship with the owner of the studio, and he offered to train me, saying that I will be very good at it. I went through training and after a while, I became a lead therapist. My natural hand healing and intuitive abilities, knowledge of fitness, human body, and reiki practice were a perfect match to this new career path that I happen to absolutely love! ⁣

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, there were challenges! Stretch therapy is still a small niche in the fitness industry and wasn’t as popular as of right now. When COVID-19 hit the city in February 2020, Stretch Pro closed for good, and at that time, I didn’t even think about starting my own business. But sometimes, there is a blessing in the struggle. You just have to find it. The pandemic forced me to invest in myself. Sometime around June 2020, I met Mario Guevara, one of LA’s favorite fitness trainers, offered him a stretch session, and a beautiful friendship was born. Later In September, Mario opened “PHLEXX LAB” and offered me to be a part of it as a stretch and recovery coach. For the last three years, I have been building my business. It’s been challenging and exciting but very rewarding! I think the hardest part for me was redefining what recovery is and how important that is, and educating people about it. I wanted to also differentiate from “sterile” stretch routine and make it very enjoyable and pleasant. I wanted to make it relaxing yet very optimal for healing. I wanted people to look at my photos and videos and immediately wanting to try it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am passionate about helping others to have a peaceful relationship with fitness and their body. ⁣ ⁣Through gentle, sustained work, anyone can augment the body’s natural propensity to heal itself, restore health, overall sense of well-being, and become more flexible. The benefits of stretch therapy are endless: flexibility and agility, muscle recovery after workouts, improves range of motion, alleviates pain and aches, better sleep, and my favorite of all – assisted stretching boosts your mood, balance your energy, and increases your serotonin.

I practice AIS stretching (active isolated stretching), PNF stretching (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation), Thai massage, Theragun therapy, and energy healing.

I’m known for making stretch therapy feel very pleasant and enjoyable. I craftily curate my music playlist and color therapy, so you’ll really get an experience in combination of all the elements above. I’ve heard many of my clients refer to me as “she has the touch” and “healing hands” and that’s the secret sauce to my work.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck for me is to make an action at the moment when it presents itself. When that moment meets an opportunity – magic happens. That’s when you need to be very brave; all the good things you want are on the other side of the fear.

And then there is impeccable work ethic and how I treat people. Those are the two most important elements. It’s an intuitive work, and I have to be in a great spiritual and emotional hygiene to heal people, to give energy, to exchange, and sometimes intuitively determine what might be the issue aside from physical tightness or so. I have to be a great listener and be very patient.

Pricing:

• 50 min first stretch session – $100
• 5 pack – $450
• 10 pack – $900

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @MyaAyo

Image Credits
Photographer – Chris Peart (IG @traxstar.film)