Our Victoria Rehabilitation Coordinators, Pilates Instructors, Athletic Therapists and Kinesiologists

Penny Salmas

Clinic Owner
Registered Physical Therapist
Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapist (FCAMPT)
Certified Gunn IMS Practitioner
Special Interest in Physiotherapy for Dancers
Special Interest in Pilates for Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
Schroth 3D Scoliosis Physiotherapy Certified
Shockwave Certification(ISMST)
Real Time Ultrasound
Pilates Studio Owner/Instructor

Penny has incorporated all the services and disciplines she feels are most beneficial to the full recovery of most patients under one roof.

She has over 29 years of physiotherapy experience, all of which have been in private practice. Penny has obtained her Diploma of Advanced Orthopedic Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy (FCAMPT) making her a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapists. Penny has a Physical Therapy degree from the University of Calgary and a Physiotherapy degree from the University of Alberta. Penny is an active member of the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia(PABC) and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). FCAMPT Physiotherapists’ knowledge and skills enable them to treat complex pathology and movement disorders of both the spine and extremities, which can cause both acute and chronic pain and disability.

Penny incorporates the use of Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) into her treatment of many different types of injuries. She is the first physiotherapist to practice IMS in Victoria and has been thrilled with the results. Penny has a keen interest in treating foot and ankle problems, dance, golf, gymnastics, skating, and soccer injuries. Penny has a special interst in treating Victoria adolescents and adults with scoloiosis using evidence based Schroth exercise guidelines.

She is always up for a challenge!

Victoria Physiotherapist Penny Salmas
Chloe Fitzgibbon

Chloe Fitzgibbon

Pilates & Rehabilitation Coordinator

BSc in Kinesiology

Chloe has been working at the clinic on-and-off since 2016, and has recently joined us again after graduating from the Kinesiology program at the University of Calgary. She has always had a passion for helping others, specifically in moving their body and creating healthy lifestyles. In the past, Chloe worked as a Hydrotherapy assistant at the Gordon Head location, admin at the Cook Street location, and at the Physio and Pilates desks at the Shelbourne location. She is working towards getting her MSc PT in Alberta this fall.

Jenna Miller

Pilates & Rehabilitation Coordinator
BSc in Microbiology

Jenna has come to us as a recent graduate from the University of Victoria with a Bachelors of Science and major in Microbiology. After being raised in Victoria, Jenna has developed a passion for being outside and by the ocean. Soccer and hiking have consistently remained as her favourite hobbies. Jenna’s love for athletics even prompted her to take three years of pilates at our very own clinic! 

Jenna Miller Pilates and Rehabilitation Coordinator

Kelsey Kowalchuk

Clinical Pilates Instructor
Rehabilitation & Pilates Coordinator
Practicing Kinesiologist
Certified Physiotherapy Assistant

Kelsey graduated from the University of Victoria in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. In 2019, she worked as a Kinesiologist at a neurological physiotherapy clinic, which gave her valuable insight into the intricacies of the nervous system and how to adapt exercises to facilitate proper movement. Kelsey believes that movement is a key component to living a healthy lifestyle and anybody can incorporate exercise into their life with the right guidance

Chris Csak

STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor
Certified Physiotherapist Assistant
Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified Fitness & Health Promotion Diploma
Certified Fitness Consultant (CSEP) & Personal Trainer
Independent Contractor

Chris started in the fitness industry in 1998 , working in a community centre helping kids get into shape. It was here that he decided that this was the profession for him. After completing a diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion, he started work as a personal trainer in Toronto, Canada. For close to 10 years he helped people achieve their goals while constantly improving his own knowledge base through countless workshops and seminars. In 2002 he began expanding his repertoire by teaching group exercise classes. He started accumulating certifications and began teaching everything from indoor cycling to Pilates. He also spent his free time volunteering as a hockey coach and training with the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2007 he decided to change his scenery, and accepted a job offer working aboard The World as The Senior Fitness Instructor. In March of 2011 he resigned from the World after four fantastic years and returned to Toronto to continue in the Industry that he loves, personal training and leading group exercise classes. In December of 2016, he moved to Victoria where he lives and works presently. Continuing in wellness, more recently his focus is directed at Yoga, Pilates and smart sustainable exercise.

Certified Pilates Instructor and Physiotherapy Assistant Chris Csak
clinical pilates chris csak

Lisa Hostman

Certified Pilates Mat & Reformer Instructor
Certified Physiotherapist Assistant
Special Interest in Scoliosis
Special Interest in Chronic Pain

 We are pleased to welcome experienced Pilates Instructor Lisa Hostman to our team! Lisa has been teaching since 2007 after retiring from a professional dance career. Lisa specialises in both Scoliosis Rehabilitation as well as back pain; she aims to help clients fully understand and take ownership of what they’re doing physically in order to create lasting change. Years of studying how and why the body gets ‘stuck’ has provided her with a keen eye for rehabilitation. Whether they come from rehab or athletic backgrounds, clients will attest that working with Lisa is both physically challenging and very rewarding; she offers consistent, progressive feedback in a supportive and fun environment. Lisa completed her Pilates based Scoliosis specialization programs with Suzanne Martin (DPT) and Schroth Method inspired Karena Thek-Lineback. Having also had personal experience with what it’s like to live with a functional spinal curvature, Lisa is passionate about providing her clients with both physical strategies and a deeper anatomical understanding of their own Scoliosis. In this way they can better manage how it shows up in their everyday lives. Lisa will be teaching at our studio on Tuesdays and Saturdays, offering both private sessions and group classes. 

Chantelle Shah-Poulin

Certified Mat and  Reformer Pilates Instructor
Certified Physiotherapist Assistant
Yoga Instructor

Chantelle Shah-Poulin is a woman of Vancouver Island, born and raised, spending the majority of her years here in Victoria since 1990. In 2005 she sustained injuries from two car accidents both within close proximity to one another and these were the incidents that led her to discover Pilates. She started her road to recovery at Shelbourne Physio and began rehabilitation treatment along with Reformer Pilates classes. She soon realised the true benefits of the Pilates exercises and the breathing techniques and how they improved her overall quality of life by aiding in the healing of her body, building strength and speeding up recovery. This experience was the foundation of her teaching career as her interest and passion for movement had only just blossomed. Curious to try other movement practices she added a Yoga practice to her Pilates routine. In 2010 she became a Yoga instructor and continued advanced studies in Costa Rica acquiring RYT-500 accreditation. Chantelle has come full circle in her teaching career with becoming a Barre instructor, Health and Fitness coach and certified Pilates Mat and Reformer instructor. Chantelle is a professional multidisciplinary movement teacher. For over a decade now she has been immersed in trainings and has over 3000hrs teaching experience. Her love for the practice of Pilates shines through in her teachings as her classes are fun, creatively sequenced and balanced. In a class with Chantelle you can expect clear coaching with a focus on safety and functional movement. Chantelle really provides the care and attention that you want in an instructor.

Robyn Elliott

We are pleased to welcome experienced Physiotherapist and Clinical Pilates Instructor Robyn Elliott to our Victoria Physiotherapy Team! Robyn has always had a great love for being active especially in our beautiful outdoors and this, along with a fascination for the human body, fueled her to complete her Masters in Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia in 2013. She spent 5 years practicing in private clinics in Vancouver as well as providing community care in and around the mainland and acted as a clinical director for the Special Olympics of BC. Robyn strives to foster meaningful connections with her clients and empower them with the tools to return to the activities they love and daily tasks or goals they wish to achieve. She is very motivated to provide individualized treatment that may include acupuncture, Intramuscular Stimulation, specific exercise, soft tissue and joint mobilization techniques and more. She has recently discovered her love for Pilates as a rehabilitation technique and is pursuing further certification in Clinical Pilates. Robyn has spent many years in the pool teaching swimming lessons, aquafit, osteofit, leadership courses and participating in the Uvic Triathlon club. She has also competed in rowing, danced for many years, practices yoga, pilates and meditation. She enjoys rock climbing, skiing, hiking and trekking and occasionally you will find her trying her hand at surfing. Her many diverse activities have given her a greater appreciation for the incredible capacity of the human body and the importance of injury prevention and appropriate rehabilitation to stay healthy and active in the long term.
 

What is Clinical Pilates?

Clinical PIlates is Pilates that has withstood the rigourous selection criteria of evidence-based practice. It is a safe way to facilitate core muscles and it is designed to help you recover from injuries and prevent further musculoskeletal problems, as well as enhance your posture and movement patterns.

Tegan Johnson

Practising Kinesiologist
Certified Athletic Therapist (CATA)
Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Certified
ICBC Approved Kinesiology Provider

Tegan was born and raised on beautiful Vancouver Island, where she attended Camosun College for a Bachelor degree in Athlete and Exercise Therapy (BAET). Through her many placements within that degree, she has worked with collegiate athletes at both Camosun and the University of Victoria in both the field and clinical settings, and has extensive field experience with sports such as rugby, basketball, field hockey, soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. Tegan also has experience as a competitive athlete, having competed in showjumping equestrian events on the island and the mainland for many years, as well as recreationally as a soccer player in the community. She has previous experience as a beginner level coach in both soccer and horseback riding, and is now a co-manager of her soccer team. Upon graduation in June 2020, she obtained her Practising Kinesiologist certification through the British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists. She has also taken courses such as FMS Level 1, a Functional Movement Screening tool used to evaluate movement patterns, and achieved her Movement and Performance Therapy Specialist credential through RehabU. She attained her certification as an Athletic Therapist in March 2021 and began treating at the clinic. Tegan has a special interest in concussion management and has taken courses such as What the Neck? Cervical Considerations for Concussions, CATT Concussion Awareness Training Tool and Concussion prevention, management and treatment from University Laval. Tegan is a lifelong learner and is constantly looking for new courses to further her knowledge in the field. Tegan is looking forward to helping every person connect with movement in any capacity. She is located at the main Shelbourne Physiotherapy Clinic and offers Athletic therapy or Kinesiology treatments for private and ICBC patients.

Laurence Muir

Practising Kinesiologist (BCAK)
Clinical Osteoporosis Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer 
Functional Movement Systems 
Kinetic Link Training Certified
Languages: English & Spanish

Laurence has over seven years of clinical experience as a Kinesiologist and Personal Trainer and is a Kinesiology instructor at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. He works with a variety of populations, ranging from young athletes to seniors wanting to stay fit and maintain independence. He has extensive training in physical assessment, active rehabilitation, pain management, and strength and conditioning. Laurence takes an enthusiastic, symptom-management approach, valuing education and sustainable habit building.

Freesia Dorval

Pilates and Rehabilitation Coordinator

After moving from the Okanagan to Victoria in 2009 Freesia quickly fell in love with the island and all the outdoor activities it offers like hiking and camping. In 2011 she was in 2 car accidents several months apart and she wasn’t sure she could be as active as she once was. After dealing with chronic pain for years after, Freesia finally found physiotherapy helped her recover and got a job working in administration in the industry. She loves being surrounded by people who value taking care of their health and wellness and is excited for this new chapter.

Freesia Shelbourne Studio