Now accepting online clients!
Work with me online from the comfort of your living room.
I started transitioning my clients and business online 1 week after the pandemic hit. Now, 3 months in, I can honestly say that the benefits of online training are undeniable and that I’m fully embracing the move to online, as I’ve seen what it can do for people! I will have much more to say about this in the coming weeks. In the mean time, however, if you've got questions please feel free to send me an email! I'm seeing people change their lives while staying at home and I'm so honored and excited by the possibility of helping more people feel better in their bodies and reduce chronic pain.
Garrett is a relentless student of life and a deep believer in the power of education. He grew up watching his mother suffer from debilitating back pain, and in his teen years began to experience it himself. Frustrated by the lack of resources and education available, Garrett turned all his efforts towards understanding the many facets of health, wellness, and pain, by becoming a professional yoga teacher and personal trainer. His passion is to educate and empower those in pain on how they can find relief and make progress in their wellness journey. He has learned over the years that health and fitness is not a one size fits all and has found success by combining the therapeutic benefits of self-massage and yoga, alongside the personalization and program design of personal training. He is known for his sense of humour, light-hearted yoga classes, and ability to simplify the complex world of health and fitness.
Thank you for sharing your practice with me! Feel free to send me questions or comments anytime. Contact me for quotes and availability at:
forestforthetreesyoga@gmail.com
Thank you for sharing your practice with me! Feel free to send me questions or comments anytime. Contact me for quotes and availability at:
forestforthetreesyoga@gmail.com
What do the people say?
Claire, Ottawa
After 30 years locked at my desk I developed locked shoulders, lower back pain, plantar fasciitis, muscle cramps. In spite of several trips to the physio and chiro, I felt like my body was ceasing up. Washing floors or planting tulip bulbs were becoming very uncomfortable tasks. I was dreading our yearly family ski trip, not knowing if my back was going to hold up. I didn't think going to a gym was for me, let alone having a personal trainer. That's for athletes; to intimidating for me! Through Garrett's lower back pain clinic, I understood that if I didn't start moving, in a better way, the pain was just going to keep piling up. Knowledge is a powerful thing. I am now learning how to move without pain. Using muscles I didn't even know I have, I am now able to execute simple movements that were always a challenge for me: a simple sit up, a push up and so much more. Now I can follow family and friends skiing, snowshoeing, hiking: no pain! Everyday chores, gardening: no pain! Building strength without fear of getting hurt builds a lot of confidence. Garrett is a teacher first and foremost. He is very passionate and extremely knowledgeable about movement and how to build a pain free life. In his own words: he doesn't train athletes; he helps ordinary people move better, feel stronger, lead a healthier life longer. Training online hasn't damper his enthusiasm and his passion is just as contagious but it added a touch of creativity to make up for the lack of gym equipment. Garrett, thanks to you, I know I'll be the physically healthier and stronger 60 year old that I can be! Thank you for teaching me and encouraging me. Lara I recently became a client of Garrett’s due to chronic shoulder and hip pain that I have been pushing through for several years. After the first two sessions not only is my pain almost gone but I have also gained insight into body awareness and been given great tips for the required maintenance to keep it at bay. While I am only at the beginning of a much longer journey, the initial results have been encouraging, and working with Garrett, even through moments of extreme discomfort, has been fun. I highly recommend him if you are looking for someone to assess and rebuild your body/mind to kick your chronic pain to the curb. Derek, Ottawa I have inhibited mobility and a predisposition to injury as a result of numerous major surgeries and biomechanical compensations over the course of my life. I had been wanting to work with someone to help me with these issues for quite a while, as they were adversely affecting my activity level and quality of life, but I was not confident that a personal trainer would be knowledgeable or creative enough to tailor training to my very idiosyncratic (and constantly changing) needs. I decided to try working with Garrett after participating in some of his yoga classes. His knowledge of anatomy, ability to suggest adaptations, calm demeanour and willingness to listen sealed the deal. I can now do movements that I have not been able to do in over 30 years with using muscles I had completely forgotten about! Shoulder mobility is cool! Who knew? Garrett’s attention to subtle movements, underused muscle groups and multi-layered practice of patterns have helped me take the load off injury-prone muscles and ligaments both in the gym and in “real life”. I am convinced that this work – along with the work still to come – will be crucial to helping me to be confidently active as I age. Garrett has a knack for adapting on the fly. If Plan A doesn’t work, his knowledge of anatomy biomechanics and possible uses of exercise equipment allows him to hatch Plans B, C. etc. on the spot. As a result, he can structure a that session makes maximum use of the capabilities that I have the day while sticking to the overall high-level aims of the program. David, Ottawa Garrett is an exceptional personal trainer. He provides a holistic approach to training including working on your specific personal objectives related to strength and mobility. He explains the science and reasoning behind what you’re working on which helps you understand the rationale for your training and sets you up for long term improved health. One area that I particularly appreciate is his calm, patient and encouraging nature. No matter where you’re at with your health, Garrett starts at the level that’s right for you. He is very adept at discovering your health strengths and weaknesses and builds a long term plan to chip away at the weaknesses over time. In particular, I came to Garrett with exceptionally poor posture and it’s amazing how much he’s been able to do to re-train how my body moves and works. I’ve trained with Garrett for over two years now, and he is a true partner when it comes to personal health and well-being and I am extremely grateful to be working with him. Conny, Ottawa I cannot tell you enough how much I gained from you in my introduction to yoga! I initially came out to yoga only because I was curious and the time on Friday mornings was available. However I stayed because of you – I became totally involved, thrived on your teaching and very quickly found myself anticipating Friday mornings with eagerness and enthusiasm. I have attended other classes – some better, some adequate – but no one is quite like you. Of course every one is a special individual and has something different to offer. Your warmth and compassion in your teaching shines through and is exemplary. I am sure that my recovery from my recent fractured pelvis was helped along in part because I was so eager to get back to my yoga! Many thanks for everything, Garrett. You couldn’t be a kinder, gentler, more caring guy. Marco, Ottawa
My name is Marco Cheung and I am a McMaster University student originally from Toronto, Ontario. A few years ago during a sporting competition, I had the unfortunate experience of suffering spontaneous pneumothorax. It seemed unfortunate at the time but in hindsight, was a significant event to shape who I am today. As a result, my left lung has never achieved the same breathing capacity and flow that I once had - until I made the decision to try something novel, something mind-blowing, and most importantly something with enlightenment attached to the equation of benefits. What did I choose to do? I made the decision to take up yoga under the guidance and instruction of Garrett Plumley. I had the opportunity to stay in the nation’s capital for an internship from January to April 2013. Prior to my arrival to Ottawa, my physician recommended me to engage in exercises that would strengthen my tone and depth in breathing. I finally decided to cave into the recommendations from my doctor (after a year-long struggle of persuasion from him) during my stay in Ottawa, and enrolled in a yoga class instructed by Garrett in January. In late March of 2013 after an annual health check-up, I received some very positive news from my doctor - my lung capacity had increased! With the summer months approaching, I am ecstatic to be able to get back into the routine of engaging in my favourite activities such as kayaking, long-distance cycling, and swimming with full confidence in my breathing and health. Thank you Garrett! Your enthusiasm and down-to-Earth personality made my experience of learning yoga so much more enjoyable and rewarding. I can also walk into my physician’s office now without having to worry about defending myself during annual check-ups. Namaste! Marco Cheung A curious, yet stubborn, learner since ‘91 Sylvie, Ottawa Hi there my name is Sylvie and I took the Summer Intensive YTT 2016 at th Upward Dog Yoga Centre in Ottawa. As a fitness specialist, I found myself gravitating towards yoga for its calming aspect and I wanted to be more knowledgeable so that I may share my practice with others. The YTT program gave me so much more than I expected. There was great support from all students and instructors and as a result my confidence in teaching yoga has definitely bloomed. This program was taught by highly knowledgeable instructors, Elizabeth Whissell and Garrett Plumley and I especially enjoyed learning about the more energetic aspects of yoga. This is a very comprehensive curriculum and the format, delivery, approach was phenomenal. If you are thinking of taking this learning opportunity, I highly recommended it. I have already been teaching yoga since I complete the 200 hrs program and it helped me not only in my teaching but in my own personal practice. |
Olga, Ottawa
Just wanted to let you know that your "subtle" modifications of my yoga practice work like magic - they turn even a fairly benign yoga class into an intense weight-lifting session. I love it, and I have not yet explored it to the full! Jason, Ottawa
Yoga teacher training with Garrett and Liz was an amazing experience. I thought I knew what yoga was until this course. It opened my eyes to many different aspects. It was a great mix of anatomy, theory and practice. More than six months on, I still find myself thinking about things I learned there, during yoga and my daily life. Specifically, it changed my opinion of what a "practice" is. I appreciate different styles of yoga more, including meditation. It also hit the reset button on how I thought various poses were supposed to feel or look. As a result, I have a stronger, safer practice and understand my body even better. And, I learned a lot about teaching - how to structure a practice, how best to speak to a class, how to approach students. There was a good amount of time to practice and start to feel comfortable teaching. On top of learning, I had a ton of fun. Liz and Garrett have amazing personalities. Upward Dog is an amazing studio to do the training at, with a great atmosphere and facilities. It was a rigorous month that took a lot of work, but completely worth it. I cannot imagine a better learning experience. 
Phil, Ottawa
“You know how easy it is for me to recommend Garrett to my friends who are curious about yoga, or who have been practicing for a while but want a change? Very easy. His superb ability to create a friendly yet challenging environment for yogis always makes me want to come back for his next class.” Find Phil @ www.eswat.ca
Dragana, Ottawa
Normally I don't write these, but I had to this time. I just had an amazing class with Garrett Plumley. All of my classes at yogatown are awesome but this is the first time in 10 years that I've been practicing yoga that I actually SMILED mid pose because it just felt that good.... twice!!! His pace of the poses is great, they all flowed really well... I actually wish I taped him so that I can practice that class when I'm out of town!! He was just awesome and the class made me feel like a million bucks!! (even though I had to get out of one of the yin poses due to stiff, achy hips) Keep it up, Garrett! |
