diff --git a/hierarc/Sampling/mcmc_sampling.py b/hierarc/Sampling/mcmc_sampling.py
index 036c0fe..9547714 100644
--- a/hierarc/Sampling/mcmc_sampling.py
+++ b/hierarc/Sampling/mcmc_sampling.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.chain = CosmoLikelihood(*args, **kwargs)
         self.param = self.chain.param
 
-    def mcmc_emcee(
+    def get_emcee_sampler(
         self,
         n_walkers,
         n_burn,
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def mcmc_emcee(
         continue_from_backend=False,
         **kwargs_emcee
     ):
-        """Runs the EMCEE MCMC sampling.
+        """Runs the EMCEE MCMC sampling and returns the sampler.
 
         :param n_walkers: number of walkers
         :param n_burn: number of iteration of burn in (not stored in the output sample
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def mcmc_emcee(
         :param continue_from_backend: bool, if True and 'backend' in kwargs_emcee, will
             continue a chain sampling from backend
         :param kwargs_emcee: keyword argument for the emcee (e.g. to specify backend)
-        :return: samples of the EMCEE run
+        :return: sampler of the EMCEE run
         """
 
         num_param = self.param.num_param
@@ -53,6 +53,41 @@ def mcmc_emcee(
             else:
                 backend.reset(n_walkers, num_param)
         sampler.run_mcmc(p0, n_burn + n_run, progress=True)
+
+        return sampler
+
+    def mcmc_emcee(
+        self,
+        n_walkers,
+        n_burn,
+        n_run,
+        kwargs_mean_start,
+        kwargs_sigma_start,
+        continue_from_backend=False,
+        **kwargs_emcee
+    ):
+        """Runs the EMCEE MCMC sampling and returns the flat chain.
+
+        :param n_walkers: number of walkers
+        :param n_burn: number of iteration of burn in (not stored in the output sample
+        :param n_run: number of iterations (after burn in) to be sampled
+        :param kwargs_mean_start: keyword arguments of the mean starting position
+        :param kwargs_sigma_start: keyword arguments of the spread in the initial
+            particles per parameter
+        :param continue_from_backend: bool, if True and 'backend' in kwargs_emcee, will
+            continue a chain sampling from backend
+        :param kwargs_emcee: keyword argument for the emcee (e.g. to specify backend)
+        :return: samples of the EMCEE run
+        """
+        sampler = self.get_emcee_sampler(
+            n_walkers,
+            n_burn,
+            n_run,
+            kwargs_mean_start,
+            kwargs_sigma_start,
+            continue_from_backend=continue_from_backend,
+            **kwargs_emcee
+        )
         flat_samples = sampler.get_chain(discard=n_burn, thin=1, flat=True)
         log_prob = sampler.get_log_prob(discard=n_burn, thin=1, flat=True)
         return flat_samples, log_prob