HigherGround is a sport and medicine facility located in downtown Toronto, offering a comprehensive blend of fitness and medical services designed to promote health and wellness. Beyond fitness, HigherGround integrates medical services, such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and sports medicine, to help individuals recover from injuries or manage chronic conditions. Their team includes licensed specialists who focus on movement as a form of medicine, offering treatments for musculoskeletal issues, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. The center is known for its holistic approach, combining fitness and health care in a way that supports long-term physical and mental well-being.
Come experience our cutting-edge 40,000 sq ft facility, featuring everything you need for a comprehensive workout. From a dedicated training area with top-tier equipment, including a wide range of bikes, steppers, and treadmills, to a full free-weight zone, we’ve got it all. Plus, enjoy a variety of classes happening every hour, catering to all fitness levels. Conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from the College and Yonge Subway Station in College Park, the same building as IKEA, we also offer parking for those driving. We believe we have the finest facility in the GTA—come see for yourself!
Misson
Higher Ground’s mission is to Re-invent and Re-imagine Health Care in Canada. At Higher Ground- MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE. Higher Ground represents the idea that health care is not something for hospitals and the sick- Health care is something we all do to make ourselves better. It’s about taking care of ourselves. It’s about the process of becoming better, whether that be to recover from an injury or illness or to achieve a personal best, or maybe it’s just to simply create a day with a little more peace.
We believe that our Space is a better place- a Higher Ground, and its purpose is to help you get better. We are here to help you find your OWN HIGHER GROUND.
Steve Lachelt
Owner, HigherGround Health Centre
Monthly Pre-Paid Memberships
Our best value. Includes unlimited full access memberships without any monthly fee. One payment. Unlimited access to all facilities and classes. Excludes courses.
Choose your membership and then pick one of our 4 great locations around downtown Toronto. Each has its own special vibe to work hard in. If you like bootcamps, personal training, other great classes or just get out there and run on our treadmills… its all here for you!
Come by and meet some great people that want you to be your best!
1 MONTH MEMBERSHIP
12 MONTH MEMBERSHIP
3 MONTH MEMBERSHIP
$99.50
+ HST
$913.50
+ HST
$268.90
+ HST
Monthly Payment Membership
The Standard All Inclusive Membership
This is the Membership for those who want to really use all of what our membership can do for them. It’s not glamorous but it’s what we think you’ll need to be the healthiest you can be.
Includes:
Unlimited visits
Freezes 1-3 months at a time (you can stop paying!)
All Club and Location Access
All classes including Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Fit4Fight, Hitfit, Spin, and more
Bike storage *where applicable
A Complimentary Start-up Training session/Assessment with a Fitness Specialist
A Complimentary Consult with a Clinician for a Health Screening.
With Classes
12 Month Plan
$74.50/month
Month to Month
$94.50/month
How it Began:
Higher Ground was an overnight success 22 years in the making.
Born out of an MBA course in the year 2000, “Higher Ground” is what Ranil Kumara and Steve Lachelt called the business plan they wrote as a class assignment. The idea was simple but bold: to smash the imaginary boundary between fitness and health and create Canada’s first “Health Club”. This Club would welcome all to a better place to be healthy and active. It would be a healthy place for people with injuries to recover and become better, and it would introduce medicine and rehab to those interested in fitness and performance. Essentially, Higher Ground would be the marriage of a sports medicine clinic and a fitness centre, but the result of this marriage would be a different and better way for people to think about their health care and their physical and mental potential.
At the conclusion of the course, Steve said to Ranil that he wanted to make this vision a reality. Little did either of them know it would take 22 years to come alive!
Following the course, Steve went hunting for a venue and someone who could lead the Sports Medicine part of Higher Ground. In 2001, he met Dr Tim Rindlisbacher, who shared his vision of better health care through movement. Soon, Tim introduced Steve and Ranil to Marcel De Rous and Mark Cho, and the founding pillars of Higher Ground had formed. Since then, others have joined and shared the vision of Movement as Medicine. More than anything else, it is the people that have always made Higher Ground special.
After 22 years of waiting Higher Ground was officially born on May 1st 2022 on the 4th floor of the Aura Tower at College Park. Good things come to those who wait!
Our Team
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James Park Fitness/Boxing SpecialistWith over 15 years of boxing and golf experience, he has worked for numerous gyms and boutiques during his 15 years of coaching experience. He lives by example for his clients who are seeking a fit and healthy lifestyle.
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Paul Joseph Glancey Chiropractor
Paul is originally from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and received a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education from Cape Breton University. He then moved to Toronto to complete his Chiropractic studies at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. After graduating from the Doctor of Chiropractic program, Paul received a Strength & Conditioning Specialist Certification from the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
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Nicole Lam Fitness Specialist
Passionate about transforming lives through a holistic understanding of health and fitness with a unique blend of expertise. She brings a wealth of experience, both as a previous semi-professional soccer player and work with a variety of healthcare professionals in the rehabilitation setting.
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Jason Kong Fitness Specialist
He is very versatile in his training methods, but has a love for structural balance, body recomposition and strength training. Jason has worked with a wide variety of clients, from athletes and weekend warriors to individuals who have never played a sport or new to training.
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Shannon Williams Traditional Chinese Medicine
Inspired by her father, a successful hypnotherapist and Reiki Master, Shannon has been practicing many forms of holistic and natural medicines for over 15 years.
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Angelica Morjaria Yoga InstructorPracticing an all around conscious lifestyle through daily movement, a nutritious diet, connection through community, creative arts, dance, and meditation.
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Tony Tam Fitness Specialist
Whether 1 on 1 or in a group class environment, Tony Promotes a fun and safe way to becoming a fitter you by providing simple instruction and ongoing support.
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Michael Xu Physiotherapist Resident
Michael completed his Master of Physical Therapy at the University of Western Ontario and Bachelor of Kinesiology at Wilfrid Laurier University. His treatments focus on restoring and enhancing physical function through personalized treatments that consider the whole person.
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Ryan Fu Personal Trainer
He’s Fluent in Mandarin
He’s a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and has a Kinesiology Degree from York University
He has 2+ Years Experience helping others achieve their goals
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Brooke Stelmach Physiotherapist
Brooke has over 11 years of experience working as a registered physiotherapist. She has previously worked in the financial district for nine years and has also worked in the Durham region and the Yonge and Eglinton area as a full-time physiotherapist.
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Sarah Bangs Fitness Specialist
Sarah is incredibly passionate about both strength training and running. She loves to help women become stronger, take on new strength training goals or running challenges.
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Christina Karababas Registered Massage Therapist
Christina uses many techniques such as fascial work, deep tissue massage, and joint mobilizations to help her patients improve general movement quality and decrease pain.
