Strength & rehab coaching

Bridging the gap between personal training and injury rehabilitation, helping you return to the activities that make life meaningful, without the backdrop of pain.

(Without the fluff)

START YOUR JOURNEY

Hey! I’m Michael

I'm a trainer specialised in coaching adults over 40 who are in pain, and have found themselves sidelined from the activities they love. For some, that’s running half-marathons, hitting 18-holes with the guys on a weekend, or rejoining their hockey league. For others, it’s walking the dog, carrying groceries, or simply living without restriction. Athletes of life, if you will.

If that sounds like you, you might be feeling that trainers tend to lack the skillset to be able to help you properly. Or maybe the recurring physio appointments don’t seem to be moving the needle.

And you’d be correct.

Trainers are generally unequipped to handle injuries, and physios tend to be really great, up until a point.

But that doesn’t sit right with me. So, I decided to bridge the gap between personal training and injury rehabilitation.

If you're looking to return to the activities that make life meaningful without the backdrop of pain, chances are you’re the exact kind of person I work with. Hopefully you’ll find the info on my website helpful, and if you have any questions at all, do reach out and I’ll get back to you!

Talk soon.

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how i can help:

I coach both online and in-person, in either 1:1 or small group settings.

In-person coaching is for you if:

You’re seeking a more hands-on coaching style
You value the accountability of having someone in the gym with you
You’re early in your training journey
You can commit to a regular, consistent schedule

Online coaching is for you if:

You’d prefer to attend your own gym or train at home
You’re looking for guidance and support to execute on your own
You’re incredibly autonomous, a keen learner, highly communicative and are willing to follow a program independently
You’re a little less flexible in your schedule, or you’re not located close to Montreal, Canada.

Simply indicate which type of coaching you’re looking for in your contact form using the link below. And if you’re not sure, that’s okay too! We can brainstorm it together.

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Here’s what my clients have to say…

For more client results, check out the testimonials tab!

Meghane Phillips

4 months ago

I have been training with Michael for a couple months now and I have already seen so much improvement! I am a competitive dancer, so I was looking to improve my fitness to be a better performer. However, I have been dealing with shin splints and knee pain. Michael has been amazing at helping me adapt movements and train the right muscles to strengthen my legs. I haven’t had pain training in the past couple of weeks and have finally been able to return to normal movements, like jumping. I know I owe a lot of that to the exercises I did in training, so thank you!

Lorne Novolker

1 month ago

I have been training with Michael for a few years now and my entire family has joined once a week. The workouts are tailored to each of our fitness levels, are at the right intensity levels for everyone, and have encouraged everyone to prioritise our Thursday nights to training with Coach Bower.

Anna Jva

3 weeks ago

I’ve been training with Michael for nearly a year now. He’s helped me significantly with my chronic pain issues, gotten me stronger, feeling better than ever! But the thing I appreciate the most is the care he puts into making sure that, despite my limitations and fluctuating abilities (suspected hEDS), I am able to train pain-free, there is always an alternative available if I cannot do an exercise due to pain, information on how to manage it, tracking and reminders of how far I’d gotten, and just a very good, kind human that I feel absolutely comfortable training with

Sam Chankowsky

6 months ago

Coach Bower is the absolute BEST!!! I’ve been training with him for over a year now and am always SO excited for my training sessions. He tailors the workout to your level of comfort and abilities, but still pushes you to work harder and get stronger! He also knows SO much about fitness, injuries, rehabilitation, anatomy, nutrition, etc. I’m always learning and never feel afraid to ask questions. Workouts are always so fun and chill, and have become one of the best parts of my week no doubt.

Mbotenayo

4 months ago

Our sessions have strengthened my muscles and improved my stability and hip strength, reducing pain. Michael's attention and corrections during exercises are invaluable. We've worked together for months, and the results are clear. Highly recommend!

Ryan Riback

2 months ago

I've been working with Coach Bower for a while now, and he's truly a game-changer. His personalized workouts are always spot-on, and his wealth of knowledge across all things wellness is truly unmatched. He really cares about you as a person, not just as a client, and knows exactly when to push you to reach your full potential. Training in Krav Maga with him was also a blast, and I've learned so much. Scheduling sessions is pain free, and I can confidently say Coach Bower is a trainer for life. Highly recommend!

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FAQs

No. And that’s exactly why this approach exists.
Many clients begin while dealing with pain or limitations. We use a structured, progressive system to rebuild strength, resilience and confidence starting from where you are right now.
Physios tend to be great at getting you out of pain. And Trainers tend to be great at building overall fitness.
Now this isn’t the rule across the board, but often one is not so good at the other. Physios may lack the late-stage performance side of things, and trainers may lack the skillset to competently work with clients in pain.
I bridge the gap between the two, integrating rehab principles with performance training.
Yes. Many of my clients approached me either with other goals in mind, or they WERE in pain and no longer are but continue to work with me.
They all have one thing in common though: They’re in it for the long-run. They view training as an investment to their health - not a quick fix. So if you align with that, we’d probably make a great team!
Whatever you have access to.
Your program is designed around your setup. For some of my clients, that’s their local gym. And for many, it’s a home space with just the basics. If you’re missing anything essential, I’ll guide you on simple, affordable ways to fill the gaps.
Premade programs are structured templates made to suit most people. I’ve spent hours designing them to be not only straightforward to complete, but brutally effective as well. They’re ideal if you want a proven system to follow on your own.
Online coaching is a premium coaching service built specifically with you in mind. Your goals, injury history, preferences etc.
Put simply: programs give you the map; coaching helps you navigate it.