CLIENT TRANSFORMATIONS
Highlighting Restorers on their way to physical freedom and adventure.
Anne’s Transformation
Anne, a Restorer and Triathlete, underwent a medical procedure and then proceeded to irritate a hamstring tendon quite badly.
Together over the span of three weeks we were able to get her back to a level that allowed her to complete a triathlon safely.
“What makes me the most proud is that Anne was ready to just not do it if her body told her not to. During the week prior we created a strong dialogue with her body and on the day of the race she got the green light to go for it” - Anne’s Coach.
Anne’s story shows us how resilient the human body can be in situations where there is adversity to overcome. With the proper training and tailored programs, we can learn to find harmony in our bodies, and bring vitality back into our movement.
Mohammed’s Transformation
When Mohammed first came to Restore Human at 35, he felt like his body was aging faster than it should. Diagnosed with early osteoarthritis and a pistol grip deformity in his right hip, he also struggled with limited ankle mobility and poor coordination, especially during step-ups.
Motivated by the desire to see how strong he could become, Mohammed focused on building a strong, sustainable foundation. His training centered around general strength and nature adventure movements like heavy sandbag get-ups and step-ups.
Over eight months of weekly training, Mohammed made impressive gains. He doubled his step-up reps from 25 to 46 with a 50 lb backpack, extended his push-up eccentric from 30 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds, and improved his chin-up eccentric to 1 minute and 10 seconds with an added 10 lb sandbag.
Most importantly, Mohammed’s mindset shifted. He began to weave movement into his daily life, from multi-day hikes to early morning paddleboarding, making it a core part of who he is.
Deborah’s Transformation
Deborah, 77, has been skiing for over 20 years and is an avid hiker, cyclist, and stand-up paddleboarder with a condo in Whistler. After tearing her MCL in 2018 and overextending her right knee in 2019, she noticed lingering weakness and decided to commit to serious strength training. Given her age, our focus was on resistance training to preserve and improve muscle mass, alongside sport-specific work for skiing and hiking. With her lifelong dedication to staying active and a strong mind-body connection, Deborah quickly adapted to weightlifting.
We also integrated active stretching and self-muscle-release techniques to address the built-up tension in her legs from years of skiing. Deborah has been with Restore Human for four years now, and each season she remains strong. Skiing still brings her immense joy, and she continues with yoga while keeping up with her grandkids, nieces, and nephews.
Deborah’s muscles now perform better than they did five years ago. Equipped with proper technique and training principles, she’s confidently doing exercises that once seemed too risky for her knees. Deborah is a shining example of how to age well!
Leslie’s Transformation
Leslie has been training with Coach Gabo for the past two years. She first came in to get support with her right knee which she had planned to get surgery in.
It has now been about a year since her surgery and her body is moving incredibly well. More notably, she’s been able to go on adventures with her kids which involved long bouts of walking.
Investing in her physical health has allowed Leslie to share these special moments with her family, and continue to do so in the years to come.
Nick’s Transformation
As a busy Naturopathic Doctor, Nick spends much of his time sitting—whether working with clients at the clinic, digitally from his desk, or commuting. Over the years, this led to issues like transient hamstring pain, low back aches, and tightness in his calves and feet. Despite these challenges, Nick remained active, playing soccer with his kids, baseball with a local team, lifting weights, and running occasionally. However, after recurring hamstring injuries and a low back spasm during heavy squats in late 2022, he realized he needed to deepen his training.
We started Nick’s program with Self Organization and Motor Control exercises for his spine and legs, focusing on proper alignment and smooth reps in weightlifting to avoid overloading his back and hamstrings. Thanks to his diligence with Mobility exercises, we quickly progressed to Strength Training and Running Technique.
Now, two years into training with Restore Human, Nick feels more resilient than ever. His weightlifting numbers have increased, but more importantly, his movement quality and tissue health have significantly improved. He’s also refined his running technique and plays sports more efficiently, leading to a lower heart rate and reduced muscle soreness during training.
Despite living outside Vancouver, Nick continues his training through Remote Coaching four days a week. As a busy 44-year-old family man and doctor, Nick is truly thriving.
Maddy’s Transformation
Maddy came to Restore Human to fine-tune her body for running and keep up with her two young boys at the beach. Although she had completed many races, she often didn’t feel strong during or after the finish. As someone who is quite hypermobile, Maddy wanted guidance on preventing injury and reducing the aches and pains that come with being overly flexible. Having never incorporated strength training before, it was time to get stronger!
We started with a running assessment to identify areas for improvement, uncovering movement compensations and functional asymmetries that could lead to future issues. Our focus was on building strength in her upper and lower legs, with a special emphasis on unilateral foot strength to address differences in foot positioning while running. By prioritizing strength training and improving run-gait symmetry, we worked to reduce the risk of sport-related injuries.
Now, Maddy’s whole body is much stronger, and she feels more balanced from left to right when she runs. She’s gearing up for another half marathon, confident that this race will feel stronger than before. Maddy is a super mom!
Nikolay’s Transformation
As a busy professional, Nikolay has limited time each week for exercise. When he trains, he makes the most of it by pushing himself through a comprehensive routine that includes pushups, ring rows, squats, get-ups, step-ups, and hops.
While there are ideal guidelines for how much we should move, the act of moving itself is what truly matters. There's always room for improvement, but any time spent engaging with our bodies is time well spent.
Steven’s Transformation
Steven has been training with Coach Kesh to slowly build up to an unassisted muscle up. On top of that, he recently got a personal best lift of 260 lbs for the hex bar deadlift!
Here you can see him taking the 60 lb sandbag for a spin on the SB Get Ups.
Jazzy’s Transformation
Jazzy came to Restore Human with a full ACL tear and partial MCL tear on her left knee. When she started training, she couldn’t squat or lunge without experiencing significant pain.
After four months of dedicated work she is now able to perform all of the movements showed above with little discomfort. What’s even more notable is that she now feels empowered in her ability to continue strengthening that knee beyond the capacity it had when she first got injured.
Jazzy can now go back to playing her beloved sport, cricket, feeling stronger and more resilient than ever before.
Begonia’s Transformation
Begonia has been training with Coach Hayley to improve her general strength and adventure skills.
Here we can see her working on her pulling strength with the rope climb and the hang, and working on her balance and twisting function with the canoe twists and balance beam bag lifts.
Rach’s Transformation
As a professional Ironman athlete, Rach trains intensely, but peak performance demands that every aspect of their training is meticulously covered. From mobility and joint resilience to optimizing recovery, everything must be in place. When Rach began training with us, they struggled with deadlifting, which often set back their progress, and their strength and mobility routines weren’t fully aligned with the biomechanics needed for their sport.
We focused on building Rach’s foundation from the ground up, working on joint articulations, physical literacy, and mobility, along with functional symmetry, athletic strength, and maximal strength. We tailored different phases of training to match their race and endurance schedule.
Rach has significantly improved everything from lat engagement while swimming to run mechanics and power, all while avoiding strength training-related injuries. As a seasoned athlete in a demanding sport, Rach has navigated the highs and lows with grace, strength, and resilience. We’re excited to see how they continue to grow in Ironman and their new passion for endurance gravel bike riding.
Paulo’s Transformation
Paulo, an ex-semi pro volleyball player, came to Restore Human with a solid foundation of physical literacy but needed help improving his overall strength, conditioning, and agility. Knowing he wasn’t a fan of traditional weightlifting, Coach Jana designed a routine that complemented his movement style, focusing on building leg strength and reducing back pain to help him return to the volleyball court.
Training cautiously and progressively, Paulo aimed to rebuild his strength without aggravating underlying issues. His efforts paid off—his strength and mobility improved significantly, and his pain decreased. Now, Paulo is back to playing volleyball recreationally, hitting the mountain bike trails on the North Shore, and keeping up with his young son.
Hal’s Transformation
Hal has been training with Coach Jana at Restore Human for quite some time, initially coming in to manage his training as cardiovascular vulnerabilities began to emerge. His mindful approach to training, combined with years of experience, has put him in a physically resilient place where he confidently trusts his body on adventures.
When Hal started training, he was recovering from serious abdominal surgery. Although strong and fit for much of his life, he had been resting for three months and felt fragile. We focused on rebuilding his core strength, managing pressure, improving hip and shoulder mobility, and enhancing overall strength and muscular endurance.
The result? Hal's Human 5 scores have increased across all categories. He’s now strong and capable, ready to take on the many life adventures he has planned, from local cycling trips to journeys across Europe.
Chris’s Transformation
Chris has been training with Coach Kesh for over a year, focusing on improving his mobility, joint health, and strength—essential for his love of long-distance trail cycling and heavy lifting. When he first started, Chris could manage 5 reps of the 80 lb sandbag canoe press.
Initially, Chris sought to improve general mobility and restore healthy knee function due to arthritic tissue in his knees. We focused on building a foundation of healthy joint function, followed by developing a wide array of athletic qualities. Now, Chris is lifting heavy loads, jumping, cross-country skiing, cycling, and moving with confidence!
Charlyn’s Transformation
Charlyn started training with a noticeable limp after a serious foot and ankle injury left her in discomfort, even during everyday activities like walking her dog, Roger. Despite this setback, her love for movement, yoga, and outdoor adventures kept her motivated. She came to Restore Human with a positive attitude, aiming to regain strength and balance, starting with building strong, healthy feet.
We focused on foot health practices she could do at home, combined with intense resistance training at the studio. Our initial goal was to restore “normal walking” without a limp and achieve balance on both feet. From there, we built up her overall work capacity and leg endurance.
Now, Charlyn’s program has shifted towards building muscle mass and moving more gracefully throughout the day. Her newfound strength in her legs, core, and back allows her to enjoy yoga and join in on group fitness classes with her friends.
Jess’s Transformation
Jess, an avid hockey goalie and acro yoga enthusiast, came to Restore Human with the goal of building a solid foundation of strength for both of her passions. We focused on strengthening her lower body and improving scapular stability, essential for her performance in both disciplines. Specifically, we worked on wide squat stances typical for hockey goalies, incorporating reactive drills like fast-paced bean bag throws from that position. We also loaded her upper body and core to match the demands of being a base in acro yoga, where she needs significant strength and stability to support another person.
Throughout her training, Jess has significantly enhanced both her hockey and acro yoga skills. She later shared that she was basing flyers nearly twice her weight at an acro fest and, on the ice, found herself staying in a flow state longer, leading to more successful saves than ever before.
Tatjana’s Transformation
Tatjana began training with Coach Katie to recover from an ankle and neck injury that was keeping her from running with her dogs. Our focus has been on building a solid foundation of strength, mobility, and agility, with an emphasis on preparing her lower body for all kinds of walks and adventures with her dogs. Additionally, Tatjana has set her sights on achieving her first pull-up, so we've been steadily working toward that goal.
Thanks to her dedication, Tatjana has maintained full-body mobility and health, ready for any outdoor adventure she desires—dogs included! She’s now able to do a lightly assisted pull-up, and we continue to build her strength as she progresses toward her goal.
Meghan’s Transformation
Megan started training with Coach Gabo to address a shoulder vulnerability that was preventing her from feeling safe while climbing. After a couple of months of focused work, her shoulder pain has essentially disappeared, and she’s even started incorporating climbing into her training sessions at the studio.
With her shoulder no longer a concern, Megan is now shifting her focus toward building lower body power and endurance, preparing herself for even more challenging climbs ahead.
Paul’s Transformation
Paul tore his Achilles tendon about four months ago, but having already been training regularly with Coach Bailey, he trusted that he could continue his rehab journey with her.
Fast forward, and Paul can now not only load his ankle but also confidently put direct weight on it in a variety of ways, marking significant progress in his recovery.
Harsh’s Transformation
From the start, Harsh’s goal has been to deepen his connection with his body. With Coach Bailey’s guidance, he’s not only achieved that but has gone beyond, truly thriving in his physical journey.
Every time he comes in, he does so with excitement, ready to work hard and have fun, truly embodying the Restorer energy.