Some rehab stories start in a doctor’s office. Banny’s started on the ski slopes.

A family doctor by trade, Banny is no stranger to being on his feet all day — but it’s what he does off the clock that keeps him moving: skiing, tennis, and keeping up with his two young boys. Last April, on a Spring ski day in Whistler, that active life hit a snag, and he tore some ligaments and cartilage in his knee. Surgery followed that November, and with it, the start of a rehab journey Banny is still writing the ending to — one training session at a time with Aidan at Elevate.

Now, nearly a year and a half later, Banny is back in the gym pushing heavier weights, ditching the brace, and inching closer to the hill, the tennis court, and his active dad life. We sat down with Banny to talk about what recovery has actually looked like, and what it takes to trust the process (and your trainer) when you’re used to going it alone.

• Can you tell us a little about your ACL injury, and what the early stages of recovery were like for you? I was having a brilliant ski day in Whistler in April last year. We did Spanky’s Ladder for the first time and spent some time on the glacier. Epic day! Then, on the last run under the Jersey Cream Chair, I hit a patch of rough snow and my left knee buckled on me. I managed to ski down the hill, a story for another day. Anyhow, I ended up tearing my ACL, MCL and part of my meniscus. Eventually I had surgery in November and started the rehab journey with my physio and Aidan at Elevate. Aidan and I had been working together for a few months before my injury, so luckily I had a head start.

• When did you start training at Elevate as part of your rehab, and what were you hoping to achieve when you started? Within a couple of months of the injury, I was able to start exercising with a brace. Although I have been able to ditch the brace this summer. I have focused on increasing my leg strength, particularly after the surgery. I am hoping to get back to 100% and get back on that hill! I am probably 85-90% there thanks to Aidan and his rigorous training schedule. We go about twice a week, and I am supplementing with some yoga and cardio. Almost ready to test the knee on a tennis court with my 12 and 8 yr old boys. They are active little monkeys.

• How has your training evolved as your knee has gotten stronger, and what exercises or activities have made you realize how far you’ve come?
My exercises have gotten more complicated. I can do things like Spanish squats, and Bulgarian Split squats. Not sure if you have tried those, but Bulgaria must have some strong-legged people. Those are brutal. We incorporate 4 to 6 leg exercises every session. My goal was to make my body stronger than I was before the injury. It’s a work in progress.

• What role has working with your trainer Aidan at Elevate played in your recovery, and what would you say to someone considering personal training to help them return to strength and activity after an injury?
Aidan has been amazing in helping me recover. I was never someone who worked with a personal trainer. I have been in the gym in some capacity since I was 16, 17 years old. But I ended up in Elevate with a package my wife bought me. I was skeptical at first because I like working out alone.

But I now realize how important it is to work with someone. Aidan helps keep me on track, puts together tailored workouts that I can adjust anytime, and he pushes me to work out harder and to push more weight than I normally would. Accountability is a major player. You can’t fake a workout when your trainer is expecting things from you. I also really like the staff at Elevate. Chris is baseball crazy like me, and Wes can cut a rug like no one else. I would recommend Elevate to anyone wanting to take that next step in their fitness plan. And to all my fellow trainees, I see you working hard! Keep it up!