Welcome
The Healthy Back Program – Keeping your back strong and healthy, reducing your pain and helping you graduate from therapy to fitness.
Most people experience low back pain at some point in their life. It is one of the most common life challenges which prevents us from completing the activities we love.
At Healthy Back we know back pain impacts your everyday activities and prevents you from living your life to the fullest. It can make you give up the things you love and limit your work and recreation.
Fortunately, we also know that one of the most effective ways to reduce back pain is by doing the right type of exercise. Exercises to improve mobility, strength and fitness have been proven time and time again to reduce back pain.
We also understand that finding the right exercise for you can be confusing, as an online search will give you hundreds of possible exercises. This is why we have developed the Healthy Back program, so that you can make decisions on your exercise with the confidence that they will help you!
The Healthy Back Program is a virtual exercise program which is designed to help you reduce your back pain and to get more active. In this program, you will complete 20-30 minute classes to enhance your low back strength, increase flexibility and reduce pain. You can complete these classes anytime and anywhere. Choose whatever works best for your schedule.
Each class follows a consistent routine which includes these key elements:
Each new exercise class video consists of a progression of exercises to help you build your strength, coordination and stamina.
Comment from
past student
“Great tips, modifications, and challenges given”
You will also have access to technique and resource videos to support the faster pace of the exercise class. These resource videos go into more depth on each exercise in the class. You can use them to prepare for the demands of the full class or to go into more depth if you have specific questions on one of the exercises in a class.
With the progressive nature of these classes, the program is designed to support you throughout your entire low back pain recovery journey, from the initial pain, through the recovery stage and to help you make the transition to post-injury fitness.
Learn which exercises will help you reduce your back pain
Learn how to improve your fitness safely
Understand how to do the exercises right
Learn strategies to keep your back pain under control
Learn additional self-management strategies for low back pain care
Improve your back’s mobility and strength
Increase your ability to engage in work and recreational activities
Increase your confidence in your management of your low back condition
All this to help you to live life to the fullest
John Gray R. Kin.
As a Registered Kinesiologist, John uses both conventional and motor learning based exercise to help you recover from a wide spectrum of impairments – from degenerative joint diseases and neurological conditions to orthopaedic surgery and cancer. His approach helps you to regain mobility and function, while managing pain, to return to the activities you enjoy doing the most. John works with all ages and abilities.
John holds both a master’s degree in Biomechanics from Queen’s University and an Honours Bachelor degree of Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto. Before returning to his professional practice, John pursued a PhD degree in Spine Biomechanics under the supervision of Dr. Stuart McGill, where he was responsible for the operation of the Spine Biomechanics laboratory, published research on spine stability and contributed to projects studying the biomechanics of low back pain.
During his 25+ year career, John has trained with internationally-renowned experts in England, the United States, Australia and Asia. He is a Registered Kinesiologist in Ontario and holds certifications in Strength and Conditioning as well as Wellspring’s CancerSmart rehabilitation certification for health professionals. John has been a frequent presenter at national and international conferences, and is published in several highly respected scientific journals in Kinesiology and Physical Therapy. He has recently co-authored a chapter in “The Functional Training Handbook” on the biomechanical considerations for injury prevention and performance improvement in Weightlifting.
John has been the Sports Conditioning Consultant to the University of Toronto Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team, FIVB world-tour women’s beach volleyball athletes, and has assisted Archery Canada’s Team 2020 in realising their goals toward podium performances. He has previously been both a competitor and coach in Olympic Weightlifting. He has helped athletes achieve personal bests from recreational to Olympic levels of competition.
In addition to being the primary Healthy Back Instructor, John is available for individualized appointments at the Orthopaedic Therapy Clinic, or can provide virtual appointments online across Canada. For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us at [email protected] , or phone us at 416-925-4687.
Aniela Amio, Pilates, Yoga and Movement Instructor
Aniela completed her yoga certification at The Yoga Sanctuary in 2011, adding courses in meditation, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga shortly after. She then went on to become certified in Mat Pilates with Body Harmonics in 2013, Reformer Pilates with The Mindful Movement Centre and Leslie Parker. She is currently working towards her Comprehensive Pilates Diploma with Body Harmonics (2019) with a special focus on spinal health and injury recovery, as well as pre and post-natal care.
Aniela empowers people of all ages and abilities by teaching them how to move and care for their own bodies. She hopes her students find joy, safety and strength in their sessions which translates into better quality and functional movement in their daily lives. She is interested in and continues to expand her studies with workshops on the mind body connection, chronic pain, scoliosis, fascia, pre and postnatal health and recovery as well as working with the aging population. Aniela has had the opportunity to work with professional athletes, dancers, chronic pain suffers and those recovering from spinal injuries and surgeries.
Recently she has added the following courses and certifications to her education.
When Aniela isn’t teaching or taking courses you can find her in the park with her dog, travelling, or in a plant store deciding which plant baby to add to her home.