Rehab & Strength coaching

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

(Without the fluff)

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Hey! I’m Michael

I'm a trainer specialised in coaching adults who’ve found themselves sidelined from the activities they love due to pain.

For some, that’s running half-marathons, hitting 18-holes with the guys on a weekend, or playing in a local hockey league. For others, it’s walking the dog, carrying groceries, or simply living without restriction. Athletes of life, if you will.

You might be feeling skeptical about working with a trainer. Or maybe those recurring physio appointments help in the short-term, but don’t seem to be moving the needle. Totally understandable.

Most trainers lack the skillset to be able to rehab injuries, while physio can sometimes stop short of fully rebuilding strength and confidence. That gap is exactly what I set out to bridge.

With an academic background in Sport Science & Physiology and nearly 10 years of coaching experience, I combine performance training with injury rehabilitation to help people return to the activities that make life meaningful, without the backdrop of pain.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, I hope you find the info on my website helpful. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Talk soon.

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how i can help:

I coach both online and in-person.

In-person coaching is for you if:

You’re seeking a more hands-on coaching style
You’re pretty new to strength training
You value the accountability of having someone in the gym with you
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 & support to execute on your own
You’re autonomous, a keen learner, highly communicative and know how to follow a program
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 results, check out the Client Stories 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 times, one lacks experience with the other. For example, 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.