Stretchio - Voice-Guided Stretching Routines
Stretchio is a stretching timer that talks you through each session, so you can follow along without staring at the screen. Choose a routine, press Start and the voice names the pose, explains it briefly, counts down the hold, tells you when to switch sides and announces what comes next.
It is meant for people who feel stiff from desk work, want a short morning or bedtime habit, or simply never know how long to hold a stretch. The library has 70 stretches for the neck, shoulders, chest, back, lower back, hips, hamstrings, quads, calves, ankles and wrists, each with a simple pictogram, steps, an easier and a deeper variation and a caution note.
Every finished session is saved in your browser, so you can watch your streak, total time and calendar fill up. No account or sign-up is needed.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use Stretchio
- Read the safety notice. The first time you open the app it shows a short safety notice. You can read it again any time from Settings.
- Pick a routine. The Home tab offers a quick start and recommended routines; the Routines tab lists all 12 ready-made ones, such as Morning Wake-Up, Desk Break, Bedtime Wind-Down, Lower Back Care and Runner's Legs.
- Choose an intensity. Open a routine and switch between Gentle, Normal and Deep. Hold times and the number of poses change, and the screen shows the total duration before you start.
- Press Start and follow the voice. A ring counts down each hold. Use the buttons to pause, go back, skip a pose or add 10 seconds if you want to stay longer.
- Rate how it felt. When the session ends you see your time and streak and can mark it as very easy, just right or tough, with an optional note.
- Build your own. Add your own stretches in the Library tab, or create a routine from any poses with your own hold times in the Routines tab.
- Adjust the guidance. In Settings you can turn the voice, the 3-2-1 countdown and the chimes on or off, and set the default hold and the rest between poses.
Features
- 70 built-in stretches with pictograms, steps, variations and cautions
- 12 ready-made routines, each in Gentle, Normal and Deep
- Spoken cues: pose names, ten seconds left, countdown, switch sides, next pose
- Chimes at the start, side switch and finish
- Pause, back, skip and +10 seconds during a session
- Up to 5 custom stretches and 2 custom routines on the web
- Streaks, total time and a calendar of completed days
- Light and dark themes, many interface languages
How to stretch safely and get more out of it
Static stretching in a nutshell
Most of the stretches in a routine like this are static: you move slowly into a position where the muscle feels gently lengthened, then stay there while breathing calmly. Common general guidance for adults is to hold each stretch for roughly 15 to 30 seconds and to repeat the habit on most days of the week. Short, regular sessions tend to be more useful than an occasional long one, which is why a few minutes in the morning or before bed works well for many people.
Find a comfortable tension, not pain
A good stretch feels like mild, even pulling in the belly of the muscle. Sharp, pinching or burning pain, pain in a joint, numbness or tingling are signals to ease off or stop. Never bounce to go further; bouncing can trigger a protective tightening of the muscle. If a stretch feels too strong, use the easier variation or the Gentle level, and remember that flexibility differs from day to day and from one side of the body to the other.
Breathing and timing
Breathe slowly through the nose and let each exhale soften the position a little. Holding your breath usually makes you tense up. Because the voice tells you when to start, switch sides and finish, you can close your eyes and pay attention to how the stretch feels instead of watching a clock.
Warm muscles stretch more easily
Muscles are more pliable when they are warm. Stretching after a walk, a workout or a warm shower is often more comfortable than stretching straight out of bed or after sitting for hours. Before sports, many coaches prefer a light warm-up and gentle movement, and leave longer static holds for after the activity.
Building a habit
Link your stretch to something you already do every day, such as making coffee, a lunch break or brushing your teeth. Keep the first sessions short so they are easy to repeat. Tracking how a routine felt over a few weeks helps you notice progress and decide when to move from Gentle to Normal.
When to ask a professional
Talk to a doctor or physiotherapist before starting if you are pregnant, recovering from an injury or surgery, have osteoporosis, joint replacements, a back or neck condition, or any pain that does not go away. They can tell you which movements to avoid and adapt stretches to your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. Open the page and start a routine. There is no sign-up and nothing to install.
Where are my sessions and custom routines stored?
Only in this browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded to a server. Clearing site data for this website or using a private window removes them, and they do not sync to other devices.
Why can't I hear the voice?
The voice uses your browser's built-in speech. Check that the tab is not muted and that Voice guide is on in Settings. Some browsers have no voice for every language; if none matches the app language, the session runs silently with chimes and the on-screen timer.
Can I use it with the screen off?
Keep the page open in the foreground. Where the browser supports it, Stretchio keeps the screen awake during a session. If you switch tabs or lock the phone, the timer keeps counting but the voice may pause.
Can it remind me to stretch every day?
Not on the web. Browsers cannot deliver reminders when the page is closed, so the reminder settings are hidden here. The iPhone and Android apps include daily reminders.
How is the web version different from the phone app?
Routines, the voice guide and basic statistics work the same way. The app's Premium option adds unlimited custom stretches and routines, multiple reminders, detailed statistics and backup and CSV export; purchases are not offered on the web.
Limitations of the web version
- No daily reminders or notifications on the web
- Up to 5 custom stretches and 2 custom routines; detailed statistics, backup and CSV export are app-only
- Voice quality and available languages depend on your browser
- Keep the tab in the foreground during a session
- Data is stored only in this browser
- In-app purchases are not offered on the web
Disclaimer
Stretchio offers general stretching routines for healthy adults and is not medical advice. It does not replace a doctor, physiotherapist or other professional. Move slowly, stretch only to a gentle tension and stop immediately if you feel pain, numbness, tingling or dizziness. If you are pregnant, injured, recovering from surgery or have a health condition, consult a professional before you start.
Phone app
Stretchio is also available as an app for phones and tablets: