Jake is currently completing his D.O.M.P. at the Canadian College of Osteopathy, where he is studying and practicing to become an osteopathic manual practitioner. Jake graduated from the University of Toronto, completing a Bachelor’s of Kinesiology & Exercise Science, while competing as a captain for the Varsity Blues Cross-Country and Track & Field Teams.

Jake is highly involved in the running community through competing at local university and community races. Jake has acquired a vast amount of running experience through training and competing at provincial and national level caliber races from 2009 to the present. He currently competes for the Toronto West Athletics (TWA) Track & Field Club.

In high school he placed 4th in OFSAA 3000m (2011) and 7th at OFSAA cross country (2010). On the university stage he has placed 1st in the 4x800m relay at OUA Championships (2019) and 3rd in the 4x800m relay at USports Championships (2019).

As a student of Kinesiology & Osteopathy, Jake combines his knowledge of movement assessment and strength & conditioning to identify musculoskeletal disorders and develop a personalized training program to regenerate function back into the body. Jake’s main coaching philosophy is to listen to your body, focus on what you CAN control, work hard and have fun!

Jake is currently completing his D.O.M.P. at the Canadian College of Osteopathy, where he is stud... Read More

Movement has always been a big part of my life. Growing up as a competitive hip-hop dancer, I developed a deep appreciation for how the body moves and the importance of taking care of it. As I got older, I realized that recovery and mobility were just as important as training itself, which ultimately led me to pursue a career in massage therapy.

Today, I specialize in sports massage, deep tissue therapy, and performance-focused treatment, helping active individuals, athletes, and everyday people move better, recover faster, and feel their best. Before becoming a Registered Massage Therapist, I worked as a Certified Personal Trainer, giving me a strong understanding of movement and exercise that I now combine with hands-on treatment.

I’ve had the privilege of working with professional athletes from the NBA, WNBA, and NFL, but my approach is the same for every client. Whether you’re training for competition, dealing with everyday aches and pains, or simply looking to move with less discomfort, my goal is to provide personalized care that helps you get back to doing what you love.

I believe great treatment is about more than just the time on the table. It’s about listening, understanding your goals, and giving you the tools to feel and move better long after each session. I look forward to being part of your health and wellness journey.

Movement has always been a big part of my life. Growing up as a competitive hip-hop dancer, I dev... Read More

Being active has been integral to the foundation of who I am. Growing up, I immersed myself in sports, competing at a high level in ice hockey and basketball. In my adult years the shift towards endurance sport took place. I developed a strong passion for running, cycling and triathlons, both personally and professionally. As a runner and cyclist, I understand the importance of a healthy body and pain-free training for optimal results for performance and well-being.

In my clinical practice, I am committed to integrating the emotional and psychological aspects related to injury, pain, and dysfunction. Developing strong relationships with my clients and having clear goals is a priority when establishing a treatment plan. I take great pride in understanding each of my client’s needs, their barriers to success, limitations and strengths. My goal is to provide evidence-based strategies to manage different injuries through movement and create independence during the recovery process. Each treatment is individualized and consists of various manual therapy techniques, acupuncture, soft tissue and active release, taping, cupping, therapeutic and functional exercises, and education.

Outside of the clinic, I can be found running, snowboarding and playing hockey in the winter months and spending a lot of hours cycling around the city in the early hours to catch the sunrise. Getting the rides done early allows me to enjoy the remainder of the day with my family. We enjoy exploring different parks and activities around the city, providing the kids an opportunity to be active like their parents.

Being active has been integral to the foundation of who I am. Growing up, I immersed myself in sp... Read More

Racing on the cross-country course, track, and roads with my friends has been one of my favourite activities since the start of elementary school. The ability to push yourself and truly find out what you are capable of is what excites me. This pure enjoyment of sport has brought me to the provincial and national level in high school and as a top competitor for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

My passion for running and human performance has shaped my desire to learn more about injury rehabilitation and prevention. While studying Kinesiology at the University of Toronto, I presented at the national undergraduate research conference on running gait factors related to injury and the current research on gait retraining. Today, running gait assessment is an important skill that I use clinically with my patients to assess for factors that may contribute to overuse injury and allows me to go further than only treating the presenting symptoms. After graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College with academic honours, I have been able to use soft tissue therapy, joint manipulation, acupuncture and more to help patients recover from injury and get back to doing what they enjoy most.

It brings me joy to help others find the same love of running and movement that I have been fortunate to experience. Whether it is returning from an injury or building up for your first race, I work with individuals of all ability levels and ages to progress training at an appropriate rate. After years of coaching experience, including The Runner’s Academy learn-to-run group and the University of Toronto Track Club, I truly believe that exercise can turn into the best part of your day.

Outside of clinic, I can be found training for the Canadian Track and Field Championships with the Royal City Athletic Club or on the U of T campus coaching high school middle distance track.

Dr. Robert Lawand is a registered Chiropractor in Ontario with the College of Chiropractors of Ontario https://cco.on.ca/

Racing on the cross-country course, track, and roads with my friends has been one of my favourite... Read More

I have loved running my whole life! I ran track & cross country in high school and university, representing the University of Windsor Lancers. While in chiropractic college, I began venturing into longer distances, and when I tackled my first marathon, I knew I had really found my jam! Since 2014, I have completed 12 marathons and improved my time by 23 minutes running a personal best of 2:33:37 in 2021.

I have sustained my fair share of running injuries, and have learned that injury can be an opportunity to learn and come back stronger. I hope to help others use their injuries as a launchpad to smarter, stronger, more joyful running.

I am fortunate to turn my passion into a career. At The Runner’s Academy I use a functional assessment, often including gait assessments, in order to diagnose the root causes of issues and injuries. I use a combination of hands-on and active care, including run technique training, to ensure we are doing everything we can to get you back on the run.

Along with my work at The Runner’s Academy, I am also a NCCP & Athletics Canada certified endurance run coach. In 2018, I founded StrideWise Running to provide exceptional coaching to runners of all levels. We are so proud to be partnered with The Runner’s Academy in order to better serve our community. I love any opportunity to help runners achieve their full potential on the run!

I have loved running my whole life! I ran track & cross country in high school and university... Read More

I was inspired to become a naturopathic doctor when I recognized the under-utilization of natural medicine in healthcare. I find that there is a divide amongst those who interact with natural medicines or and those who gravitate towards more conventional medicine, and I want to bridge that gap. I believe that both subsets of medicine can be useful to meet the goals of patients and to promote health, but more importantly, I see that there can be an integration of the two medical subsets to optimize the patient’s well being.

My treatment philosophy follows the tenets of naturopathic medicine:

First do no harm and utilize the healing power of nature: my goal is to assist my patients by using the least risky therapies to improve their outcomes.

Treat the whole person: I believe that both physical and mental aspects of the person must be addressed to optimize your health and training goals.

Identify and treat the cause: Addressing the root cause of injuries and health concerns is critical to stop the progression and recurrence, as opposed to simply managing symptoms.

Doctor as teacher: I believe that educating patients to understand their current concerns and how the treatment plan is designed to address them is a powerful strategy way to empower them.

Prevention: I believe that it is important to prevent issues before the arise, this is a much easier approach than dealing with symptoms that occur due to maladaptation and overlooking potential problem areas in both training and general health.

Outside of the clinic I spend my time being active, whether it’s running, training at the gym, walking my dogs or travelling the world.

I was inspired to become a naturopathic doctor when I recognized the under-utilization of natural... Read More

While studying to become a Chiropractor, I started running more and competing in Triathlons. It was never easy for me.

I struggled with injuries and was always curious about what else I could be doing to improve my running experience, endlessly researching and seeking wisdom from various coaches.

During this time I was working as a strength coach and attracted runners searching for the same thing. I realized there were many people relating to my struggles and tired of being told to run less when injured, and to simply run more to improve.

These early years inspired Janie and I to create a team of health professionals dedicated to raising the bar in what it means to treat and support runners. A team that not only has the education and skills, but the experience of running themselves.

I still get excited guiding people toward unlocking their potential, whether that is teaching them to move differently, change run form, ease pain or change lifestyle habits. I believe in helping people understand that health is multifaceted and that no single factor is going to help them achieve their goals, nor break them.

When I’m not in the clinic, I enjoy going on fishing and hiking adventures with Janie and our 3 boys. I love to keep active through running, cycling, swimming, strength training, Karate and climbing.

While studying to become a Chiropractor, I started running more and competing in Triathlons. It w... Read More