About Us

AIS Northwest was established in April 2006 by Joshua Morton and Susan Guttzeit as an LLC with the goal of promoting Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) through educational public service events, professional continuing education seminars, group classes and corporate programs. In May 2025, the partnership closed and is now solely operated by Joshua Morton.

As a nationally approved provider of continuing education for healthcare and fitness professionals , the focus is predominantly but not exclusively on workshops and seminars in Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening. Occasionally AIS Northwest sponsors guest instructors in related fields.

My vision is to promote and advance treatment modalities that enhance a therapist’s ability to assess and apply AI Stretching and Strengthening as effectively as possible. I do this by providing students with an in-depth and dynamic learning environment as well as the tools needed to create a thorough program for patients to follow at home. Incorporating other therapeutic techniques into the curriculum enhances the effectiveness of AIS

I'd like to extend my sincerest thanks to Susan Guttzeit, who was excellent instructor and practitioner and who provided unwavering and invaluable support of AIS Northwest during challenging times. She moved to Germany in 2019 where she continues to promote the work through adult education classes. I’d also like to extend my deepest gratitude to Aaron Mattes, the developer of Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening: The Mattes Method, who was an inspiration to both of us.

Read more about us here.

(The AIS logo was created using a photograph of Susan stretching her hamstrings. A graphic artist at Copy Source in Bellingham supplied the finishing touches.)