Studio Onboarding New Stretch Practitioners (for LSAs)
Updated: Nov 11, 2025
What a relief to find the right Stretch Practitioners ("SPs") for your studio! By now you will have finished...
Interviewing candidates and helping select who moves forward
Greeting them in Slack as they work through Stretch Zone University portal
Answering questions & inviting them into the studio to prep for their 2 day certification
Adding new hires in Club Ready and onto the schedule
and finally... you've congratulated them on passing their 40 hour Stretch Certification!
FROM THEIR FIRST MOMENTS IN STUDIO, WE WANT THEM TO FEEL
SUCCESSFUL AND VALUABLE!
Everyone wants to do a good job, especially our SPs who are mission driven to do the work they do. Let's set them up to win by being clear with what is expected, being patient and kind as they catch on to their duties and our communications cadence, and being positive and supportive as they grow into their new role and begin to excel at delivering our only product.
Below is an outline of what a great first day might look like.
Welcome them!
For their first shift in the studio the LSA or regional manager should be present to welcome them in at start time. Show gratitude and appreciation that they have put in the work to qualify to be on our team. They are a big deal to our business! And we can't wait to get to know them and work together with them, and we are here to help them succeed.
Don't skip this welcome step. One big reason for employee turnover in business in general is that new employees say they don't feel supported. They need to know who to go to with their questions instead of feeling dumb or like they are a burden. Let them know there are no stupid questions in their first 60 days whether it is about stretch protocols, Club Ready or member situations.
The first 30-60 minutes of their first shift should be spent just in conversation and orientation to the studio and existing staff.
Make introductions to staff that is there
Give them a tour of the studio. Show them where the bathroom is and the break area so they can stow their shoes, food and personal belongings. Educate them (and remind any employees within earshot) that we put away personal belongings and THEN clock in so that once they are on the clock they can help a customer or answer a phone without their hands full. Our policy is that they arrive 5-10 minutes before their shift official start to prepare. This is the perfect time to show them where they can keep their phone while they work, and share that personal cell phones (for SPs) are for break time.
Explain our break policy of 15 minutes paid break time during a shift that is 3 hours or longer. If they have a 30 minute break in their schedule ("white space") then they should get back to work after the 15 minute break is done and help with cleaning or other SP White Space duties for the other time. Encourage them to set a phone timer for the 15 minute break so they are aware once the break is over and can get back to work.
Reiterate our communication system;
We use Slack messaging for non-urgent communication any time.
We use To Do when we need a staff member to do a task
The LSA is the "Manager on Duty" and should be consulted for studio issues if they are on the clock.
If there is no LSA present and something needs urgent attention within the next 2 business days (especially if an invoice may run), then text or call the regional manager directly at any time.
Walk them through clocking in for their shift.
Show them how to log in to Club Ready and add it to their phone and they can check their schedule when they are out of the studio.
Begin working through the NEW STRETCH PRACTIONER CHECKLIST. This includes reviewing our Utah Stretch Zone policies and procedures linked at the bottom of the checklist.
Make sure they have 1-2 uniform shirts and a studio key (or at least scheduled shifts where another employee can open the studio until they get their own key). They should have received these the day they pass certification, so just confirm it.
Help them navigate client stretches
Understand CR Grid View schedule for the day
Understand how to see client notes for upcoming bookings
Help them write down cells they will perform and review them in the spiral book if needed
Show them how to make notes after the sessions and log off bookings
Ease them into filling their white space, inviting in their friends and family (they can come in for free stretches during new SP first two weeks for practice!), and light cleaning
On their first day their schedule should be a short 2.5 or 3 hours just to get them through their first member stretch jitters and get a general feel for the workday. It will feel like a lot to them because of how many new situations there are.
Their day should be structured ideally with 3-4 client stretches (no demo stretches) with frequent breaks. Like this:
30 minutes with LSA / RM
stretch staff, member (or family/friend) 30 minutes
stretch staff, member (or family/friend) 30 minutes
30 minute break for notes and questions + prep for next client
stretch staff, member (or family/friend) 30 minutes
30 minute wrap up for the day with LSA or staff member
By the end of their first shift, make sure they know our Low Five celebration and congratulate them on a great first day. Let them know how well they did and that it will get easier very quickly! Ask them what they loved best about the shift and reassure them that we will continue to work closely with them as they learn all the details of the job. Make sure they understand when their next shift is and send them home with a smile :)
As they continue their following shifts, slowly ease them toward a regular SP workday and completing the New SP checklist items over the following week or two. Keep tabs on how they are feeling, their confidence level and accuracy with stretches. Have them use some white space to brush up skills with seasoned co-worker SPs. Pass along positive feedback you hear from members, co-workers and session surveys. Be gently with constructive criticism as they assimilate into the team and get proficient with stretching.
Finally, ENJOY what they bring - their personal energy and experience. Great SPs make your job easy!
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