On any given day, somewhere between a television studio and a private training session, Stacey Nemour is guiding someone into a stretch that feels, at first, impossible. A hamstring that hasn’t lengthened in decades. A hip locked tight from years of impact. A spine braced against old injury, or older grief. Then comes the breath: slow inhale through the nose, steady exhale through the mouth. Something releases.
‘Flexibility truly found me,’ she says. ‘I didn’t go searching for it. It revealed itself through the people who needed it.’
For Nemour, flexibility isn’t about touching your toes. It’s about touching the edge of who you believe you are.
‘Flexibility Truly Found Me’
Long before she became known in elite athletic circles as a flexibility and mobility authority, Nemour was a young girl racing her neighbor to the middle splits. Gymnastics fascinated her. ‘We practiced constantly,’ she recalls. ‘Even racing to see who could achieve the middle splits first – and I did.’
The instinct was natural. The awareness came early.
Years later, while training in martial arts facilities, she would practice kicking straight up on a heavy bag – a vertical line of precision that stopped conversations mid-motion. Athletes began approaching her between sessions.
‘How did you get so flexible? I need to get that way, can you help me?’
One afternoon, a man lay on the mat suffering from severe back pain. Nemour offered assistance. ‘After just 15 minutes, he said in amazement that his lifelong back pain was gone, despite having tried everything else.’ It was a pivotal realization.
‘That’s when I understood I had a gift capable of changing the trajectory of someone’s life.’
Her ability caught the attention of the renowned Carlson Gracie Team, who witnessed the effectiveness of her flexibility in motion and invited her to serve as their flexibility coach. It marked a significant milestone.
During her two years coaching UFC champion Vitor Belfort, the results were undeniable. ‘In our very first session together, I was able to alleviate his knee pain,’ she says. Throughout their time working together, Belfort won every fight. For Nemour, it wasn’t a coincidence. It was an alignment, a range of motion meeting peak performance.
From Splits on the Floor to Power in Motion
Early on, Nemour recognized a crucial truth: being flexible on the floor doesn’t guarantee dynamic flexibility in motion.
‘I quickly realized that although I could perform splits on the floor, that flexibility did not immediately translate to my kicks or to the hip rotation needed for effective self-defense,’ she explains.
Determined to bridge that gap, she trained with top Asian martial art masters and began practicing intensely between lessons. She developed methods to build the core strength and mobility required to transform static flexibility into usable power.
Her philosophy crystallized: flexibility without strength is fragile; strength without flexibility is restrictive.
Over time, her system evolved into something highly adaptable. She has worked with dancers, artistic swimmers, professional soccer players, gymnasts, high divers, martial artists, and stunt performers. ‘No matter the sport,’ she says, ‘I can design a flexibility training plan specifically tailored to anyone’s personal goals and needs.’
Photo credit: Ed Zabel
‘Flexibility Is Essential at Every Age’
In an industry obsessed with intensity and visible muscle, flexibility is often overlooked. Nemour finds that baffling.
‘When flexibility is prioritized, achieving various positions and movements becomes much easier,’ she explains. ‘Despite its importance, flexibility training is frequently missing from routines.’
She has coached clients ranging from age six to over ninety. The transformation across generations is what moves her most.
‘Anyone, regardless of age or experience, can improve their flexibility,’ she says. Young athletes navigating growth spurts often feel disconnected from their bodies. ‘Providing solutions that restore their mobility and confidence is incredibly fulfilling.’
Older adults frequently assume stiffness is inevitable. Nemour challenges that belief. ‘Age does not have to dictate a decline in movement or independence. Flexibility training can truly give people their lives back.’
The Breath, The Sequence, The Science
A common mistake, she notes, is approaching flexibility without understanding that it is ‘both an art and a science.’
Many people stretch improperly: holding their breath or jumping directly into large muscle groups like the hamstrings without preparation. ‘People go straight into a hamstring stretch and quickly feel stuck, which can lead them to give up.’
Her correction begins with breath. ‘Begin each stretch with a deep inhale through the nose, then move into the stretch as you exhale through the mouth,’ she instructs. ‘This mindful breathing helps release tension and allows you to sink deeper into the stretch.’
Sequence matters just as much. She teaches clients to stretch the foot and calf muscles first, then open the back and hips – foundational “bookends” that make deeper stretches effective and safe. ‘Once these parts are warmed up, stretching becomes much more comfortable and productive.’
The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
Nemour’s system moves beyond biomechanics into something more expansive.
‘The body can be viewed as a map of the mind,’ she says. Before each session, she engages in meditation. ‘I ask to be guided in channeling the work. This allows me to operate at a high frequency.’
During sessions, she often receives intuitive insights about what a client needs: sometimes techniques she hadn’t consciously planned to use. ‘I always trust this process, as it consistently leads to remarkable breakthroughs – spiritually, emotionally, and physically.’
Flexibility sessions can unlock stored trauma. ‘It is not uncommon for clients to experience emotional releases,’ she explains. Tears surface. Long-held tension dissolves. ‘Even those who have spent years in therapy may still carry unresolved trauma in the body.’
For Nemour, flexibility is not simply the expansion of muscle fibers. It is an expansion of consciousness.
Tools Designed With Intention
Over the years, Nemour has custom designed tools to support her methodology.
The Stacey Stretch Strap® features continuous loops that allow users to adjust resistance based on their flexibility level. ‘It significantly maximizes the effectiveness of each training session,’ she says.
Her Stacey Posture Strap corrects alignment instantly, relieving pressure from the neck, back, and shoulders while improving breathing capacity. ‘Poor posture can negatively impact breathing and even mental well-being,’ she notes.
Yoga blocks remain a staple. ‘They create length and bring the ground closer to you,’ she explains, allowing practitioners to stretch safely without strain.
These tools are extensions of her philosophy: alignment, breath, safety, and intention.
Photo credit: Angela Yap
Expanding the Movement
Recently, Nemour has shared her expertise on television, including flexibility segments on Eye on the Desert. She has also appeared as a guest lead on Power Rangers, worked as a fight double for Cybill Shepherd, and contributed more than 30 articles to HuffPost.
‘These experiences have been incredibly fulfilling and energizing,’ she says of her television appearances. ‘I feel most alive when I can share my expertise in dynamic environments.’
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue additional television opportunities while continuing to evolve her online streaming flexibility courses.
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue additional television opportunities while continuing to evolve her online streaming flexibility courses. ‘My system is always evolving,’ she says. ‘Through creativity and innovation, I aim to make meaningful contributions to the fields of flexibility, mobility, and energy healing.’
Because in Nemour’s world, flexibility is not static.
It breathes.
It adapts.
It heals.
‘When you unlock the body,’ she says, ‘you unlock possibility.’
Connect With Stacey Nemour
Website:
https://staceynemour.com/
Online Flexibility Courses:
https://flexibilitymakeover.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/staceynemour/
