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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Amirali Rahnamoon Manual Osteopath

    Amirali Rahnamoon is a Manual Osteopath who uses his extensive background as a strength and conditioning coach with seventeen years of experience to inform his therapeutic approach. He has placed first in Natural Bodybuilding with Fame, 2006, and he employs that same dedication, strength and passion to his treatments.

  • Angela Nuhn
    Angela Nuhn
  • 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.

  • Dr. Tim Rindlisbacher Sports Medicine Physician
    Medical Director

    Ultimately, Dr. Tim’s professional goals are not just to keep high level athletes “in the game” but also to promote healthy active lifestyles for everyone. He believes strongly that family physicians should be the centre of patient care so physician referrals are preferred.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Angelica Morjaria Yoga Instructor
    Practicing an all around conscious lifestyle through daily movement, a nutritious diet, connection through community, creative arts, dance, and meditation.