I have been avoiding dealing with my injured shoulder for almost 3 years. I always found personal training intimidating but John has been amazing and he recommended that I see Dr. Emily. They both have been super patient with me and working together to heal my shoulder. They genuinely care to help you to recovery. John has been writing workouts and communicating with Dr Emily to make sure I’m getting stronger. When I started training with John my pain was at a 12 and thanks to the both of them my pain has gone down to a 4! I highly recommend this dream team to anybody that needs help to become stronger!
Personal training · pain & injury · Toronto
Get stronger without making the pain worse.
An old shoulder injury, a knee that complains on stairs, a back that stiffens after a day at the desk. Training can help, as long as the program is built around what your body can do today.
Sound familiar?
- You’ve put off dealing with an injury because the gym feels risky.
- You don’t know which exercises are safe and which will flare it up.
- Rehab helped, but you stopped improving once it ended.
- Years of desk work have left you stiff, weak, or sore.
How I train around it
Start with an honest picture
The free assessment covers your injury history, what hurts and when, and how you move through the fundamentals. Nothing is loaded until we know where the limits are.
Adapt every exercise
Range of motion, load, tempo, and exercise choice are adjusted around the problem area, so you keep training everything else while it gets stronger.
Progress by evidence
Every rep is logged. We increase load when the numbers and your pain levels say it’s time, not on a fixed schedule.
Work with your care team
If you already see a physiotherapist or chiropractor, I’m happy to coordinate with them so training supports your recovery instead of working against it.
Sessions run 45–60 minutes at Carpio Strength & Conditioning, 213 Geary Ave in Toronto’s west end, or in your home anywhere in the city.
Clients who trained through it
Full Google reviews, exactly as clients wrote them.
I’ve been training with John for a year and half and it’s been a great experience. I’ve seen big improvements in my strength, endurance, and overall muscle tone. After years of working office jobs, it definitely took a toll on my body, and started limiting what I could do. Going into my 30s, I really wanted to focus on building my strength and finding the fun in working out so it wasn’t something I had to do but that I wanted to. John is very welcoming and encouraging in the gym space. He’s adaptable to any injuries, great at making modifications, and modelling/explaining the correct form and technique for each exercise. John is great at gently pushing me to try new things and reach new goals. He always infuses some humour into the workouts which I always appreciate. He knows how to match his client’s energy to help them feel at ease and succeed.
John is a knowledgeable and skilled trainer, who adapts his efforts to each session’s situation. He varies activities to keep them interesting, encourages me to do just a little more than I think I can. It has been only 8 or so weeks but I see improvement in stamina and strength, and a long-time weakness in my knee is mostly gone. I have more mobility in my legs from a recent injury. Still don’t love exercise but knowing John is on his way gets me motivated, and I feel better afterward.
Common questions
Is it safe to train with an injury?
Usually, yes, when the program is built around it. Many injuries improve with the right kind of loading. If something needs medical attention first, I’ll tell you, and we can start once you’re cleared.
Do I need a doctor’s note?
Not to book the assessment. If you’re currently under care for an injury, let me know at the assessment so we can plan around your provider’s advice.
Is this physiotherapy?
No. I’m a strength coach, not a physiotherapist. I build and coach the training; your physio or chiropractor handles diagnosis and treatment. The two work well together.
How much does it cost?
One-on-one sessions are $70–$80, and the assessment is free. Many workplace Wellness Spending Accounts cover personal training. I provide invoices for reimbursement.
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Bring the injury to the assessment.
We’ll talk through what happened, test what you can do comfortably, and map a plan around it. No pressure, no commitment.
Book a free assessment