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

Melika Ghali’s curiosity and enthusiasm in life has cultivated his unique treatment style as a Registered Massage Therapist. His style approach incorporates deep tissue therapy, sports massage, myofascial, joint mobilizations, various dynamic stretch routines, and hydrotherapy. His passion for the wellness of others was cultivated while completing his Bachelors of Science at Boise State University and Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology at Eastern Michigan University while competing as a distance runner in the NCCA D1 over five years. His knowledge and experience of high-level competitive running coupled with the growing running population in Toronto has driven him to dedicate himself to helping clients reach their goals. So whether you are a weekend warrior looking to prepare for your first local 5km race, an experienced athlete rehabbing an injury, or someone seeking low back pain relief, he’s got you covered,

While working with Melika, you will be welcomed into a space of care that always places the client’s interests first. Through continual assessment and meticulous analysis of biomechanical movements, Melika will formulate a long-term treatment plan to tackle your injury and give you the tools to be self-reliant. Melika has an interest in growing as a Massage Therapist by obtaining his acupuncture license and continuing to educate himself on the human body’s complex connections and intricate nuances.

In his spare time Melika still dabbles in competitive running with friends and Monarch Athletics. He also works as a mentor for youth for his community non-profit organization, Taking Kids Out of Poverty (TKOP) within the St. Jamestown community, by providing after-school literacy and numeracy programs.

Melika Ghali’s curiosity and enthusiasm in life has cultivated his unique treatment style as a Re... 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

Roman is an innovative physiotherapist, specializing in injury rehabilitation, musculoskeletal health preservation, and performance optimization.

Roman provides unmatched treatments through his unique application of Contemporary Medical Acupuncture, Dry needling, joint mobilization/manipulation, and soft tissue techniques.

Roman has had the absolute privilege of working with professional athletes, OHL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, CFL, Paralympic, and Olympic-level athletes, in-clinic, and courtside alongside medical staff. He is very happy and proud to have seen some of his athletes succeed on the world stage, including gold Olympic medal achievements.

Roman’s interest, and passion for physiotherapy started after having suffered from chronic and acute pain issues as an athlete and student. He was particularly interested in the benefits derived from exercise when prescribed as medicine due to its global effects on the body.

During your Initial Physiotherapy appointment, Roman will perform a full-body evaluation to get to the root cause of the problem. He has always been fascinated by the body’s ability to operate as a system, all parts in symphony with one another. His treatment approach is a combination of joint mobilization, myofascial and neural release, acupuncture, therapeutic and corrective exercises, as well as modalities.

Roman works hard to understand you and your goals so as to develop a treatment program tailored to your needs, desires, wishes, and preferences. He is especially keen on empowering clients to learn about their bodies, and to find ways to manage their pain, mobility, and fitness from a preventative rather than reactive approach. Although he enjoys working with athletes, weekend warriors, and sports enthusiasts he also finds particular fulfillment in working with all age groups through a broad range of injuries from acute to chronic.

Roman is an innovative physiotherapist, specializing in injury rehabilitation, musculoskeletal he... Read More

The human body has always fascinated me, my own body in particular. This started while training and running competitively in high school. I grew up playing competitive soccer and started narrowing my focus on distance running by age 14. What drew me to the sport was the control you have over the final outcome, only you and your body against your opponents. Running is the only activity where I can say I have pushed my body to pure exhaustion.

In order to do this over and over again I would seek out therapy to keep my body recovering properly. I loved seeing my chiropractors in high school and would ask them endless questions about what they were doing and why. I continued my learning at Middle Tennessee State University where I studied Exercise Science and competed on the cross country and track team.

My approach in the treatment room focuses on the energy of my patients, and meeting my patients needs that day. I work towards bringing the nervous system back into balance.

Since retiring from competitive running I enjoy running outside without a watch on.

I started practicing yoga in 2010 as a tool to help with recovery. Over the years my yoga practice has continued to grow into a daily practice which includes more breathwork and meditation.

The human body has always fascinated me, my own body in particular. This started while training a... 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

“How can I help people the most?”

That’s the question I have asked and continue to ask myself every day. This one question was what ignited my decision to be a chiropractor and fuelled my love of coaching.

Running found me through my Dad. The moment he saw my siblings and I in last place in school track races, he signed us up with our first track and field club and there was no turning back. I raced XC and middle distance track events throughout high school and for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. After graduation from university, I dabbled in road distances up to half marathon. Throughout my run journey I coached both kids and adults, and founded CMCC’s Run Club, where I discovered my love of coaching and sharing my joy of running with others.

As a chiropractor, I use a combination of hands-on techniques, ART, Neurofunctional acupuncture, exercise, education, and the latest evidence to deliver the best patient-centered care. Whatever your goal, my aim is to be in your corner to help make that happen.

Outside of the clinic I am either running or cross training, cooking up a storm in the kitchen or enjoying the quirky company of my pet chinchillas.

“How can I help people the most?” That’s the question I have asked and continue to ask myself ev... Read More

Gillian started running track in her early teens, participating in the long jump, triple jump, hurdles and middle distance events. She has enjoyed running as a hobby for most of her life and returned to competitive running in her 30’s as a member of the Monarch Athletics Club.

She is an experienced athlete who has trained and competed in events ranging from the 800m to the marathon and as a mother of two young children, Gillian has first hand experience with running during pregnancy and a return to training and competition postpartum.

Gillian is completing the National Coaching Certification Program with Athletics Canada and has a specific interest in supporting new runners and youth in developing lifelong healthy habits and in achieving their running goals.

Gillian started running track in her early teens, participating in the long jump, triple jump, hu... 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

A wildly talented runner and triathlete, Hugo is far too humble to create his own bio, so we’re going to take to the rooftops to shout about his immense skillset for him.

A former elite athlete, Hugo has travelled the world while racking up an impressive list of performance accolades: World Major Marathons, Ironman races, and professional sponsorships.

What really stands out about Hugo though, is his incredible knowledge of the human body, kind hearted nature and genuine curiosity about human movement and, more importantly, the individual person in front of him. When in conversation with him about an injury, symptom or performance question, you can practically see his brain working as he amalgamates info, asks pertinent questions and gets to work at drawing from his varied skillset to put a plan in place.

In short, our team has learned so much while working alongside Hugo, and we know that those athletes lucky enough to benefit from his expertise can attest to walking away with a better understanding of their bodies.

Officially, Hugo is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Registered Massage Therapist and Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Provider. Combining his osteopathic techniques with soft tissue expertise, Hugo’s approach is integrative. He combines joint mobilization, active stretching, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques, acupuncture, Swedish Massage, and exercise prescription.

Unofficially, Hugo is the most talented person on our team when it comes to living by the words “run for joy” and a true master of his craft.

A wildly talented runner and triathlete, Hugo is far too humble to create his own bio, so we’re g... Read More

I am excited to bring my unique blend of enthusiasm, research expertise, and lifelong passion for movement to The Runner’s Academy as a Physiotherapy-Resident. Currently pursuing a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences and with 10 years of research experience, I have studied firsthand the intersection of exercise and health, focusing on how physical activity and mobility enhances well-being in individuals with serious illnesses and amongst older adults.

My biggest goal is to help you stay active and engaged in the activities you love, even with everything life throws at you. I believe that finding new and creative ways to keep you moving is essential for maintaining your commitment to rehabilitation. My approach involves a mix of both the latest evidence and pushing you outside your comfort zone. I’m dedicated to keeping you excited about your journey through rehab, ensuring that each step you take brings you closer to what makes you “you”.

For me, running and training is a way to ensure I can always play in the mountains and oceans when the opportunity arises. I love challenging myself and I’ve always got my eye on the next race whether it’s a 5k or marathon. A past artistic swimmer for 14 years, I have always embraced exploring my own physical capacity and I can’t wait to bring this varied training background to my clients.

I am excited to bring my unique blend of enthusiasm, research expertise, and lifelong passion for... Read More

I firmly believe that movement, sport and exercise are integral parts of a healthy and happy life. When I realized that I could study human movement and performance in school, my path towards becoming a Kinesiologist was set. When I can help others learn more about the way they move, and give them the potential to feel better; that’s where I find joy!

As a co-founder of The Runner’s Academy, I am excited everyday that we have been able to create a space for runners and any human who wants to overcome injury and improve performance!

When working with clients I rely on a mix of education, exercise therapy, ELDOA and mobility work to get them moving well. I am very passionate when it comes to working with clients who are new to working out or running. The strength and development that can happen in those early learning sessions are what I love to see happen!

Having navigated the pregnancy and postpartum experience a few times now, I thoroughly enjoy helping pregnant clients enjoy their best active pregnancy and help guide their return to running journey.

Outside of the clinic, I am wrangling and raising my 3 boys. Strength training and getting out for runs definitely helps me be a better mom and to keep up with the busy times. I am now building my own self back to road races and hopefully some soccer matches again soon!

I firmly believe that movement, sport and exercise are integral parts of a healthy and happy life... 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

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