Registered Physiotherapists
Kevin Villifana
Registered Physiotherapist
Acupuncture Practitioner
Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Kevin has always had an intrinsic understanding of the importance of fitness and training from his competitive days in soccer and volleyball to the present, enjoying recreational sports such as soccer, hockey, tennis, squash, basketball and ultimate frisbee. Kevin was exposed to the benefits of Physiotherapy when a devastating injury prevented him from enjoying his passion for sports. As a patient he sought out Physiotherapy for the first time and shortly after, he was restored to full function with no limitations allowing him to return to his beloved sports. It was this experience that motivated Kevin to pursue his Masters degree in Physiotherapy.
Kevin began his journey by acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology at York University. This allowed him to understand the science behind human movement which is crucial for the specific training and conditioning of his clients. Kevin then went on to complete his Master of Science degree in Physiotherapy at Queen's University. His completion of courses in Athletic Therapy and Athletic Injuries, courses from the Advanced Physical Therapy Education Institute, and experience in 5 orthopedic settings has providing him with the tools to affectively treat and restore full function to his clients.
Furthermore, he intends to attain his ART® certification in the near future. Kevin has a strong foundation in managing acute and chronic low back and neck pain, various sport injuries, muscle strains, ligament sprains, repetitive strain and rotator cuff injuries, functional rehabilitation; in addition to a variety of other musculoskeletal impairments resulting from everyday and/or recreational activities. In order to treat these conditions he can provide joint mobilizations to improve movement, spinal manipulations, specific manual stretching, therapeutic taping, soft tissue and myofascial release/massage and specific exercises to rehabilitate and prevent injuries.
Kevin has always appreciated the complexity and immense physical capabilities of a single human being. Thus, he trains and treats every client as a unique individual with specific goals which optimizes their results. This is why he has dedicated his life to studying the human body, and why he is motivated to continually advance his professional expertise. Kevin believes that with guided education, treatment and training, every client can benefit from a little push in the right direction to achieve their full potential. His charismatic and motivated personality combined with his extensive knowledge base provide him with the right tools to be an excellent member of the SHAPE team.
Registered Physiotherapist
Pilates Specialist
Kanchan's cosmopolitan upbringing and work experience spanning across a myriad of cultures have inspired her to develop a unique and personal perspective to healing.
Academically, her journey began at McGill University where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy. After working in a First Nations Mohawk community hospital for a year, she pursued a Masters in Physiotherapy at Queens University.
Her move to Mumbai was fueled by the city's indomitable spirit as she navigated through a huge range of medical complexities that come with working in a heavily populated South East Asian city.
She gained invaluable experience in the cardiopulmonary field while providing care to patients who had undergone CABG and valve replacements/repair surgeries. She also served as a core team member of the DBC Spine Rehabilitation program introduced for the first time in India. The pilot study brought her in contact with triathletes, marathoners and weekend warriors who had either undergone failed spine surgery or opted for non-surgical interventions to combat their neck and/or back symptoms. Her approach to treatment involved a combination of manual therapy with neurodynamics, integration of the DBC spine protocol and active rehabilitation which yielded highly successful outcomes.
Her travels led her to Dubai where she joined the healthcare team at the Osteopathic Health Centre. She completed the STOTT PILATES® Intensive Mat-Plus™ and Intensive Reformer courses to incorporate the idea of 'intelligent' exercise in rehabilitation. Additionally, she obtained certifications in Spinal Manual Therapy and Peripheral Manual Therapy from Manual Concepts (Australia) to keep abreast with evidence-based care and hone her manual therapy skills.
Working closely with Osteopaths helped her realize the importance of restoring the relationships between different systems of the body to enable it to regenerate itself. Her curiosity to gain a better understanding of the core concepts of Osteopathy led her to enrol at the Canadian College of Osteopathy. Her goal is to integrate osteopathic principles and techniques with her previous physiotherapy training to help restore a complete sense of well-being and vitality.
Kanchan believes that a person's state of health can be visualized in layers. Very often, the site of one's symptoms differs from the location of the actual cause. By employing a comprehensive approach, she hopes to get to the root of the 'problem' and facilitate the healing process.
"To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease." - A.T. Still
Alejandra Rodriguez, Bsc, BscPT
Registered Physiotherapist
Acupuncture Practitioner, Certified Trigenics Practitioner
Alejandra decided at a very young age that she would like to work in health care. It wasn't until after volunteering in different clinics and hospitals that she realized that helping people recover from injuries would be the most rewarding career for her. Alejandra obtained her bachelor in sciences from the University of Toronto, and after that she obtained her bachelor degree in Physiotherapy from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. After completion of the European physio program, she went on to obtain her physiotherapy license in Canada as well as in the United States.
She has a wide range of experience by working across different sectors from hospitals, rehabilitation centres and private practices. Alejandra has spent several years working at the chronic pain management program at Toronto Western Hospital, where she learned the importance of working with an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals to treat complex conditions and to help patients restore the quality of their life in every single aspect. She has worked closely with several family doctors, specialists, psychologists and multiple health care professionals, in order to help her clients achieve both their health and lifestyle goals
In the private sector, Alejandra has chosen to specialize in the area of orthopedics and has successfully treated many types of complex injuries from car accidents to sports injuries, slip-and-falls, pre and post- surgical conditions and work-related injuries. In the public sector, she currently works at the St. Joseph Health Care Centre, where she specializes in cardiorespiratory conditions and assists patients who have undergone major surgeries or who are in critical conditions, to recover and regain their independence.
As part of her training, Alejandra has completed several certifications including acupuncture, dry needling and Trigenics. These advanced methods of treatment have allowed her to competently maximize her results by providing accurate diagnosis and follow up intervention. As a result, Alejandra has been able to help many of her clients reach their goals of minimizing or eradicating pain, improving their physical tolerances and ensuring a fast and successful recovery.
Alejandra is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and the importance of regular exercise. Her favourite activities include yoga, pilates, cycling and running. She is also currently pursuing her certification in strength and conditioning training.
Sean St. Bernard BA (Specialized Honours Kinesiology & Health Science), BSc Physical Therapy
Registered Physiotherapist
Sean grew up with sports and athletics as a big part of his life. In high school, he was a member of the soccer, volleyball, basketball and track and field teams. With a fierce competitive spirit, injuries were a regular part of his lifestyle. As a result, his first exposure to rehabilitation was as a patient himself. Being a patient was an educational experience and he absorbed his treatment regime like a sponge. The frustration associated with sporting injuries left him with a burning desire to learn about the human body, how to expedite recovery and then to strive towards optimal performance, while being mindful of injury prevention.
After high school, the natural progression was to attain his Kinesiology degree at York University, where Sean was a member of the Sport Therapy Association. There, he was able to study the science behind human movement, gain intimate knowledge of human anatomy and focus on athletic injury courses. It was during this time that Sean also worked as a personal trainer at the North York YMCA, providing valuable experience in designing, modifying and progressing client specific exercise programs. Sean discovered how rewarding it was to maximize individual potential through motivation and guidance. It was very fulfilling to watch people reach levels that they did not even believe possible. He was then accepted into the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, where he completed his Physical Therapy degree in 2003.
Upon graduation, Sean went directly into private practice with a focus on orthopaedic/musculoskeletal issues. He worked for the past 10 years in a busy clinical setting, where he treated people of all ages and afflictions. From common repetitive strain conditions to complex motor vehicle accident related injuries, he has been able to develop effective protocols during this time. Having established himself as a top flight physiotherapist in the community, multiple surgeons directly refer post-op patients on a regular basis. He has formed lasting relationships with surrounding doctors based on their seeing both quality care and results.
Sean continues to compete at a high level, participating in competitive men's soccer and basketball leagues. His past personal experience with injury allows him to have a truly empathetic disposition when it comes to his patients. He knows what they are going through and understands what it will take to get them back. His personable nature helps put patients at ease and reduces the anxiety many people may associate with the rehabilitative process. He brings a wealth of experience to the SHAPE organization and is a valuable member of the team.
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