Each person that teaches RFST and MFS has special interests in various aspects of our training, and the individual nature of each instructor or intern must be taken into consideration when selecting a trainer. Thus some instructors or interns focus more on the physical aspect of Resistance Stretching while others focus more on the psychological, spiritual, emotional, or psychological aspects. Chose an instructor that focuses on those aspects of the Resistance Stretching that you are most interested in. Each instructor or intern also has additional therapeutic skills and interests that bring unique advantages to working with them.

There are two levels of Meridian Flexibility trainers. Certified Meridian Flexibility instructors have completed the ten program certification. Certified Meridian Flexibility interns are in process of completing the ten program certification.

The Meridian Flexibility Center has exclusive rights to certify Meridian Flexibility instructors and interns. All certified instructors and interns must complete yearly continuing education courses to keep their certification. There are five levels to become certified, and anything under level five is considered an intern.

Also, be sure to check out the complete list of instructors: Instructor Listing by State

  Bob Cooley — Founder & President

Bob Cooley is the founder and president of the Meridian Stretching Center and the developer of a revolutionary stretching technique known as Resistance Stretching. An expert on flexibility and its relation to health, he has united biomechanics, structural kinesiology, Hatha yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a genetically based personality system in his powerful stretching program, The Meridian Flexibility System®.

Bob has over 20 years of teaching and research experience in such diverse fields as biomechanics, motor learning, stretching, movement, yoga, Chinese Medicine, personalities, and psychology. In 1978, he addressed the U.S. Olympic Swim Committee's Advanced Coaches Seminar on his head-up free-style swim stroke, which he developed to avoid "swimmer's shoulder". In 1979, he wrote a paper with Dorothy Voss, one of the developers of PNF, which is the forerunner of current rehabilitative stretching techniques. Bob did graduate research at the University of Massachusetts Exercise Science Department, where he worked with the developer of current biomechanical computer analysis, and the University of Maryland Biophysical Studies Department.

Bob has stretched Dara Torres, Olympic gold medallist swimmer, Eric Flaim, the four-time Olympic speed skater, Daniel Pelzig, choreographer for the Boston Ballet, athletes from the Boston Bruins, and professional dancers. He is a flexibility and psychological trainer for professional athletes, tri-athletes, and CEOs. Currently he is writing his second book on personality system entitled The Sixteen Geniuses - Sixteen Genetic Personality Types.

Contact Bob at:
Bob@MeridianStretching.com

  Tom Longo — West Coast Director & Certified Instructor

Tom teaches Resistance Stretching classes and workshops and he works with individual private clients in the San Francisco Bay area. He creates custom flexibility training programs and provides counseling on diet, nutrition and cross training. He works with both general audiences and serious athletes.

Tom was flexibility trainer to Dara Torres, winner of two Gold and three Bronze medals for swimming in the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Tom accompanied Dara to the Olympic Swim Trials, Olympic Training Camp, and then on to Sydney for the Olympic Games. For Dara, Tom provided flexibility training, injury prevention and correction, as well as nutritional counseling.

From 1992 to 1999, Tom trained and taught at The Meridian Stretching Center in Boston. He works closely with Bob Cooley, developer of this revolutionary system of stretching, to continually develop and refine the system. He assists Bob in creating and instructing the Teacher Certification Program for the Meridian Flexibility System.

Tom takes the mystery out of stretching, using strong communication skills and an innate understanding of how to create leverage in stretches. His knowledge encompasses extensive study of the human structure, flexibility and strength training, and personality theory, plus over ten years of practical experience. Uniting these with his own creative passion for health, he helps others recapture their innate flexibility and strength as well as physical and emotional excellence.

Tom stretches to strengthen and develop his body, to support his athletic abilities, and to advance himself both physically and mentally. His favorite areas of study include diet and nutrition, physical health, and spiritual and emotional development. He loves to share this knowledge with clients for a more rounded and balanced program.

Tom is the computer-modeling specialist behind Bob Cooley's research into computer analysis of human range of motion. His credentials include a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and over ten years of computer modeling experience at firms such as Andersen Consulting.

Contact Tom at:
650.494.0889
tom@meridianstretching.com
www.StretchWorks.net

  Elizabeth Smith-Troy — Certified Instructor

Elizabeth became associated with Bob and his stretching techniques after sustaining serious spinal injuries in a bus accident in January of 1991. She tried everything short of major surgery to relieve her pain. Stretching with Bob was the only thing that worked. In acknowledgment of how stretching has changed her life, Elizabeth has completely devoted herself to perfecting her own stretching practice while teaching others. She assumes a very intimate role in the lives of her students, providing advice and information about nutrition, spirituality, and life paths. She encourages individuals to reach their highest potential through the use of the Meridian Flexibility System®.

Elizabeth accompanied Bob Cooley on his trip to the Sydney Olympics to assist in the training of Dara Torres. She also appeared on ABC-TV's Good Morning America Program with Bob and Dara on January 30, 2001.

Contact Elizabeth at:
914.475.8838
elizabethtroy11@hotmail.com

Bjorn Holtan — Certified Instructor

Bjorn Holtan is a Certified Meridian Flexibility Instructor and the owner of Studio B - a studio established in 2003, dedicated to the practice and study of Meridian Stretching. Mr. Holtan's past clientele run the gamut from Olympic hopefuls, professional dancers, performers, to stretching enthusiasts as well as novices and people suffering from chronic physical and psychological impairments. He offers weekly Meridian Stretching classes and private sessions. He also offers ON-LINE TRAINING SESSIONS (see description in ON-LINE SESSIONS).

Mr. Holtan began his career as a Meridian Flexibility Trainer, under the direction of Bob Cooley, the founder and President of the Meridian Stretching Center. With Cooley's expertise and guidance, Bjorn has learned how to target each of the various Meridian lines in the body to promote greater physical, physiological and psychological flexibility to achieve a complete balance of mind, body and soul. As an accomplished and well decorated athlete, Mr. Holtan immediately recognized and began to combine Meridian Stretching with athletics both as a coach and participant, eventually leading to his own studio and business —Studio B.

Prior to becoming a Meridian Flexibility Trainer, Mr. Holtan was the assistant swim coach for San Francisco University, with over ten years of swim coaching experience including high school swimming, He currently trains the San Francisco Triathlon Club, other club and masters teams, as well as several top state and national level athletes.

As a member of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse swim team, Mr. Holtan was named Most Valuable Player as well as Conference Champion for his first and third place finishes in the 200 and 100 yard Butterfly, respectively. He was also a top competitor in several international swimming events and triathlons, most notably the Eurogames, Madison Classic Triathlon and Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim.

In addition to his full time employment as a Meridian flexibility trainer, Bjorn continues to coach swimming for the San Francisco State University Masters Swim Team as well as leading several local swim clinics for completive swimmers and triathletes.

Bjorn is also a member of the Elite Training Team.

Contact Bjorn at:
Studio B.
Bjorn Holtan
60 Dearborn Street, Studio 4
San Francisco, California 94110
415.503.1888
bjorn@meridianstretching.com
info@trainingwithbjorn.com
www.trainingwithbjorn.com

Nic Bartolotta — Certified Instructor

Joanna DiRice — Certified Intern - Level II

A 1989 graduate of the Florida School of Massage, Joanna has been practicing massage therapy for sixteen years in the Boston area. She has been involved with Meridian Stretching for fourteen years under the tutelage of Bob Cooley and Barbara Chandler, and is now a certified instructor of Meridian Stretching.

Joanna's caring approach integrates her massage techniques and stretching knowledge for each individual's specific needs. Her massages carry with them the knowledge of meridian stretching, and her stretching includes elements of massage. The benefits of these therapies include reducing trauma, detoxing, relieving stress, improving circulation, and decreasing depression, anxiety, and fear. The massage and stretching, especially in combination, promote restful sleep, normalize blood pressure, and improve body self awareness.

Joanna has an instinctive sense about what each client needs and what will help them. Her touch and knowledge help facilitate the body-mind-spirit connection.

  Doran Christie — Certified Intern - Level III

Doran Christie has been studying the Meridian Flexibility System with Tom Longo and Bob Cooley since 2001 and is presently a Certified Intern teaching in San Jose, California. Doran has over 20 years of training in Therapeutic Yoga and is certified in Neural Linguistics.

Doran is a personal flexibility trainer working primarily with women. She blends her yoga training and Meridian Stretching with her many years of practical experience and resulting intuitive development and understanding. She works closely with each client to create the benefits of stretching, strengthening and flexibility to create change and balance in one's life. She completes each session with a sensory relaxation to assist in integrating the work into the body memory.

Doran and Tom Longo currently co-facilitate Meridian Flexibility Workshops throughout the Bay Area and will soon be expanding the Workshops to Hawaii.

Contact Doran at:
San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area
Doran Christie, Certified Intern
408-269-7807
doran.christie@gmail.com

Phoebe Barnes — Certified Intern - Level II
Phoebe has practiced and studied Resistance Stretching and Strength Training for many years. She completed her teacher training in 1995 and has been teaching group classes in Meridian Stretching for 7 years. Her classes focus on Resistance Stretching with partner and group assists. With her private clients Phoebe is dedicated to searching and finding the root of the problem maximizing results and healing.

"The Meridian Flexibility System has changed my life many times over and I see it change the lives of others through my guidance and teaching."

Currently Phoebe is a Certified Intern working with Barbara Chandler under Bob Cooley's guidance.

Contact Phoebe at:
fibi2@comcast.net
781-516-2303

Roy C. Iggulden — Certified Instructor

Roy Iggulden is a Certified Meridian Flexibility Intern of Boston, Massachusetts. Roy has been stretching and instructing in this system since 1999. His style is attuned to each client in an extremely individualized manner, with the intention to break through sub-conscience barricades that exist within everyone. His focus is on improving people's lives through performance enhancement, achieved through the stretching process. The performance enhancement and stretching are not limited to the physical world, but include all pillars of life. Roy offers one-on-one sessions in the greater Boston area.

Roy became involved in the Meridian Flexibility System when pain and inflexibility were getting the better of him. Playing in countless sports leagues and spending a substantial portion of the working day in front of a computer had taken its toll. Muscle and joint pains were the norm and he thought this was just an inevitable step in the path of life. The Meridian Flexibility System taught him that the "cow paths" of life are just one well worn option. Numerous transcendent paths are also always present, for those with the ability to look beyond the common perspective.

Roy's background is in Materials Research. He received a Bachelors Degree in Composite Materials Engineering in 1994 and a Masters of Science in Materials Science and Engineering in 1996. He then worked for IBM for over 8 years focusing his efforts on the enhancement of materials, where he received 15 patents and authored or coauthored over 25 papers. His focus has now evolved from the enhancement of materials to the enhancement of life.

Contact Roy at:
Roy C. Iggulden
617-519-0271
iggulder@yahoo.com

Henry Nye — Certified Instructor - Brookfield, CT

Henry teaches the Meridian Flexibility System and Resistance Stretching classes and sees individual clients for private sessions in Fairfield County, CT, and in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley, New York. Through his helpful nature and his personalized stretching and health recommendations, clients attain balance in body, mind and spirit; feel a greater sense of well-being; and realize personal and professional potential. While specializing in athletes and performers, Henry welcomes and enjoys all.

Henry's interest in stretching started early as a teenage athlete. In 1999, he began training in the Meridian Flexibility System and Resistance Stretching under the mentorship of Elizabeth Smith-Troy at the Yoga Center in Fishkill, NY, and through her, met and trained with Bob Cooley. As a competitor in cycling, swimming, marathon, triathlon, and dancesport, Henry immediately felt the benefits of Resistance Stretching above and beyond those of other stretching philosophies. He started teaching advanced MFS and RS classes at the Yoga Center in 2002 in order to share these insights with others.

From 2002, Henry trained in shiatsu at the Ohashi Institute in NYC to enhance his knowledge of meridians and the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is a certified health counselor having completed his program at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC in June 2005.

Henry uses his training in stretching, shiatsu, and health counseling, together with his 20-years of experience in process integration as an engineer and manager with IBM, to seamlessly integrate MFS and RS into his client's lives.

Contact Henry at:
Hankn3@aol.com
914-646-5939

  Luther Cowden — Certified Instructor

Luther Cowden is a certified Meridian Flexibility Trainer who travels internationally to offer Resistance Stretching classes, workshops, private assisted stretching, couples stretching, workplace stretching, and online training. He was introduced to the Meridian Flexibility System by Chris Maher and originally trained by the founder, Bob Cooley, along with Tom Longo in San Jose, CA. He has since been trained by Bob Cooley, Steve Sierra, and Anne Tierney in Stamford, CT.

His past clientele includes professional and Olympic athletes, artists, dancers, performers, musicians, authors, executives, severely injured individuals, as well as people just looking to get in shape.

Luther worked with Kate Wodash and Jay Lyons to create the first Meridian Flexibility Center in the Southwestern United States based in Austin, TX. Luther also travels internationally and has taught Resistance Flexibility and Strength Training throughout North and Central America.

“I use RFST to upgrade all aspects of myself while providing the same service for others. I love helping others be everything they wish to be whether it’s a better athlete, artist, performer, or person. I enjoy working with people who desire a life free of pain, tension, and stress. I also enjoy the challenge of teaching others who may not at first be very open to or interested in creating and maintaining positive health.

I envision living in a world where people serve as positive checks and balances for each other. A world where every time people encounter each other, they create upgrades in each other's physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological health. I want us all to help each other feel good, because if you ask me, it's all about feeling good!

I have found MFS and RFST to be one of the most powerful positive gifts that I can share with others. I want stretching to be a practice that releases people's barriers allowing us all to come together as one and be free with each other!”

Contact Luther at:
email
512-743-7111
www.FlexibleStrength.org
www.EveryoneStretchEverywhere.com

Susan Bianchi — Certified Instructor - Bethlehem, PA / NY

Susan was introduced to Bob Cooley nearly 5 years ago and knew from that point on her life would never be the same. Since that time she has trained extensively with Bob, Anne and Steve and has completed all 5 levels of certifications. She continues to attend and asssist at certifications as well as teach workshops in PA and NYC.

Susan enjoys the diversity of her client base, from elite and professional athletes, CEOs and healthcare professionals, to those recovering from trauma and injuries. Each person's body has a unique story to tell and helping them discover their body's potential is the passion behind her work.

Susan is a Wellness Coach and holds certifications through NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and the CHEK Institute. Her emphasis is on core strength, stabilization and functional movement.

She is grateful to Bob, Anne and Steve for their ongoing support as she continues her quest to grow, learn and empower others.

Contact Susan at:
sbianchi@care2.com
610-751-9150

    Peter Guare — Certified Intern - Level V - Albany, NY

Human Hyperformance (www.humanhyperformance.com); Optimum Breathing Development, Emotional Freedom Technique, and Quality of Life Coaching.

Contact Peter at:
pguare@nycap.rr.com
518-727-6233

  Dr. Nicole Zivalich — Certified Intern - Level IV - Wayzata, MN

Naturopathic Doctor; Master Herbalist; Certified Nutritional Counselor; 2nd Degree Reiki

Contact Nicole at:
nikiz@visi.com
612-801-5195
www.TransformYourEnergy.com

  Jay Lyons — Certified Instructor - Austin, TX

Jay was introduced to many modalities of body work over a 20 year quest to be pain free after a motorcycle accident that nearly took his life. He found many temporary fixes for the pain and discomfort while investing a lot of time and money in each system. None of the systems "fixed" him, they only provided temporary relief. When Jay read Bob Cooley's book, everything made sense. There was a reason Jay was not healing and Bob's book gave 16 FAST fixes. These 16 basic self stretches provided instant relief, strength, and a real stretch at the same time. YES, pain relief, strength, and stretch in muscles that had
not been used in over 20 years. The 16 stretches gave him 100% control over his work out and pain management.

This health quest has taken Jay to NYC to be trained by two of Bob Cooley's elite trainers, Anne Tierney and Steve Sierra, as well as by Bob Cooley himself. At present Jay's clientele include rock climbers, executive and clerical staff, land surveyors, software engineers, Vietnam Veterans (PTSD), small business owners, building contractors, massage therapists, professional chefs, and corporate trainers.

Prior to learning body work Jay worked as an Administrative Professional Chef for over 20 years with great success in multi-million dollar corporate dining, catering, and retail specialty food operations. In the mid 1980's he was hooked on computers and technology creating his own .com company until late 1998. Since 1999, Jay has worked in the educational industry integrating technology into curriculum for everyday use.

Contact Jay at:
Austin, TX
512-913-1331
jay@fullbodystretch.com
www.fullbodystretch.com

Carrie Collins — Certified Intern - Level II - Chicago, IL

Carrie Collins received her training in the Meridian Flexibility System from Steve Sierra and Anne Tierney. She was introduced to Resistance Flexibility Training in 2003 while living in San Francisco, CA. Carrie is a classically trained pianist and found that the system not only relieved tension from long hours of practicing, but also helped balance and strengthen her body, mind and spirit. Between training she teaches piano to over 40 children in the Chicago Area and is an avid rock climber.

Carrie specializes in training musicians, actors, athletes and executives.

Contact Carrie at:
773-750-5031
clcollins78@gmail.com
www.stretchchi.com

  Donna Riley — Certified Instructor - Atlanta, Georgia

Donna Riley's first meeting with Bob Cooley was inspiring. It was clear that he had created a system that combined many of the human performance, fitness, and personal development techniques she had been practicing and teaching all her life. She's been training with Bob and working with individual clients in Atlanta since 2006. Donna has 25 years experience studying and teaching many techniques related to human performance. She holds a BFA in Dance from Rutgers University, is ACE and NSCA personal training certified, and is a Faculty member of Balanced Body University teaching Pilates certifications around the country. She possesses a highly intuitive and passionate style with a gift for analyzing and teaching movement in powerfully effective ways. Along with Donna's extensive knowledge of the sciences of movement and physiology, she has also spent many years taking workshops in emotional and spiritual development. With an ability to see beyond the physical form, and a keen eye for seeing the intricacies of the body in motion, Donna is able to bring her clients to the next level of physical, emotional, mental, and/or spiritual growth. "For me the body is the doorway in to the person. How someone stands, moves, and holds tension patterns in their body says a lot about how they show up in life. My intention is to bring them to break through moments which lead to discovery and transformation." Donna believes the Meridian Flexibility System® is a powerful way for people to become whole on their journey to a joyous and abundant life of fitness, balance, and health.