After a serious knee injury, years of physical therapy, caddying and carrying camera gear for a living, I found something every golfer should probably be doing.
You would think years of basketball, skateboarding, running, biking, boxing, and just about every extreme sport I could get myself into would have been the thing to finally mess my knee up.
Nope.
Golf got me.
One step.
That is all it took.
Late June of 2019, walking on the golf course, I stepped into a grass covered hole I never saw coming. In an instant, I injured my meniscus, damaged my lateral ligament, and chipped my patella.
The timing could not have been worse.
I had a golf trip to Torrey Pines planned for August.
Suddenly, I went from thinking about birdies and ocean views to wondering if I would even be able to walk the golf course.
Anybody who loves golf knows that feeling. When something threatens your ability to play, you suddenly realize how much the game means to you.
Golf has introduced me to incredible people and places over the years, including many of the courses I featured in my Best Golf Courses In Miami guide.
Weeks of physical therapy followed. Then more therapy outside of insurance. More appointments. More money. More work trying to get my body back.
And somewhere in that process, I found my way deeper into yoga and stretching.
Years later, that journey eventually led me to stretch therapy in Miami, where I found Stretch Space and started looking at mobility, recovery, and performance differently.
Not the “touch your toes for thirty seconds” kind of stretching.
Real stretching.
The kind that makes your body feel like somebody finally hit reset.
Golf Quietly Beats Your Body Up
Most people do not talk about that enough.
Sure, we are not taking NFL hits, but hours of walking, rotation, bending, uneven lies, range sessions, carrying bags, long car rides to golf courses, and repetitive motion add up.
And for me, golf is only part of it.
Photography is still my first love.
Much of my work involves carrying heavy camera gear, long production days, and constantly being on my feet. You can see some of that work throughout my photography portfolio.
Golf may have become part of my personality, but photography is the thing that built me.
That also means lifting heavy camera gear, standing for long productions, driving long distances, kneeling for angles, and putting my body through more than I probably admit.
Feeling good physically stopped becoming optional for me a long time ago.
Massage Feels Good. Stretching Feels Necessary
Now before the massage people come for me, let me say this.
I love a good massage.
Personally, I am a two hour massage guy.
After a long shoot or a brutal production day, there are times when getting a massage honestly feels cheaper than checking into a hotel room just to sleep for two hours before driving home. Some of the best naps of my life have happened on a massage table.
And yes, massages feel good.
But if I am being honest, there are times I have walked out of a massage feeling more sore than when I walked in.
Stretching feels different.
Stretching feels corrective.
Stretching feels like maintenance.
Honestly, I think stretching should be human mandatory.
Like brushing your teeth.
Like practicing your putting.
Like taking care of the thing carrying you through life.
That is part of why I use CastleFlexx every single day.
Nobody is paying me to say that.
I am not sponsored.
I just believe in talking about what actually works.
If something helps me move better, recover better, and feel better, I am probably going to tell my golf friends about it.
That philosophy is a big part of why I created Golf Connections in the first place.
Which brings me to Stretch Space Miami.
I have tried other stretching places.
Cool and all.
But the difference between some places and Stretch Space feels like grabbing something quick at Smoothie King versus someone hand selecting fresh fruit, blending it specifically for your body, and serving it to you in a Baccarat crystal glass.
That is the difference.
Personalized.
Thoughtful.
Intentional.
You feel like somebody actually understands your body.
Why Stretch Space Miami Feels Different
When I met Maria Chernysheva, founder of Stretch Space Miami, something clicked.
I originally found Stretch Space because I was looking for someone who could come to my place.
My schedule is weird.
There are days where I have an hour break between projects and need to be right back into work mode.
Sometimes you just need somebody to help get your body right and keep moving.
There are honestly moments where I jokingly fantasize about taking Maria on production trips with me and sneaking her into client budgets they already think I am too expensive for.
Half joking.
Kind of.
When I asked Maria why she started Stretch Space, her answer made sense.
When she moved to Miami, everybody seemed to be a fitness influencer or trainer.
But nobody was paying enough attention to stretching.
And for her, that felt like a real need.
Turns out, she was right.
Why Stretching Matters For Golfers
For golfers, I genuinely think stretching matters more than most people realize.
Better mobility.
Better rotation.
Better recovery.
Better chance at actually feeling good on the 16th hole instead of wondering why your back locked up on hole seven.
And let us be honest, if your hips are tight, your golf swing probably knows it before you do.
This is not about suddenly becoming flexible enough for yoga class.
It is about longevity.
Playing golf longer.
Feeling better.
Recovering faster.
Getting out of bed without making old man noises.
And something I appreciated about Stretch Space is this:
Not everybody walks in wanting to build muscle or become an athlete.
Some people simply want to feel good.
That matters.
In Miami especially, everything can feel like six packs, fitness content, and who looks the best in the mirror.
Sometimes people just want their body to stop hurting.
Sometimes people want to move better.
Sometimes people just want relief.
That is enough.
Stretch Space Miami Locations
Maria has two locations.
One in Bay Harbor, right next to Bal Harbour.
And another in Sunset Harbor, which honestly feels like a no brainer for anyone playing golf on Miami Beach.
And if you are coming from somewhere else?
Let me exaggerate for a second.
Even if you are playing golf in Atlanta, the drive might be worth it.
Kidding.
Kind of.
It is just that good.
I believe in non gatekeeping.
If I find something that genuinely helps me feel better, move better, and show up better in life, I want to share it.
Because if my golf friends feel better, then maybe we all have a better time when we tee it up together.
Stretching has become one of those things for me.
Not trendy.
Not flashy.
Just effective.
And honestly?
The best thing I have done for my golf is not swing related.
It is taking care of the body that swings the club.
And if it helps me feel better carrying camera gear, walking golf courses, caddying, and showing up stronger in life, that sounds like a pretty good investment to me.
If you are in Miami and your body has been talking to you lately, maybe it is worth listening.
Learn more about Stretch Space Miami: StretchSpace.com
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