Active Life Rehab +
We are all about your health.
Active Life Rehab + Team
Our goal is to help people become active again after an injury or from discomfort or pain, by providing excellence in patient-centered, research based care. We provide one-on-one private treatment in a secure setting so you feel confident and safe in our care.
The clinic provides assistance with additional approaches by many ALR “Plus” programs from Athlete Specific to Dizziness and Balance. ALR+ extends their passion of care to our environment, as we take daily green initiatives/approaches to reduce our impact while we care for our community.
ALR+ Principal Therapists
Marianna Varpalotai
Speciality: Certified Athletic Therapist, Kinesiologist
& Certified ImPACT Athletic Trainer
Education: Masters Degree in Athletic Therapy
Marianna Varpalotai is a Certified Athletic Therapist since 1991. Marianna has a Bachelors of Physical and Health Education and a Bachelors of Health Sciences from Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario. Her interest in sports injuries began as an athlete at Queen’s University where she was a member of both the varsity women’s soccer and hockey teams. She continued her education with a Master’s Degree in Athletic Therapy at Indiana State University in Terra Haute, 1989. Marianna has provided sports injury care for all levels of athletes from the recreational to professional. One of the highlights was being a member of the medical team for the Canadian team at the Athens Paralympics in 2004. Marianna has a special interest in concussions and individuals who have sustained a concussion. This has motivated her to continually enhance her training to better care for these individuals. Marianna was most recently the Head Athletic Therapist at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario for 13 years. She was also the Athletic Therapist at Brock University (St. Catharines, Ontario) and Loyalist College (Belleville, Ontario).
Elizabeth Brugman
Speciality: Registered Physiotherapist
Education: Masters of Science in Physiotherapy
Elizabeth Brugman has been a Registered Physiotherapist since 2011. Elizabeth first obtained her Bachelors of Health Science (Honours) Degree from Brock University, (St.Catharines, ON). She had a strong interest and focus in exercise science, physiology and nutrition.This sparked her interest in pursuing Physiotherapy. Elizabeth obtained her Masters of Science in Physiotherapy from Queen’s University (Kingston, ON), in 2010. Currently she is completing her Sports Physiotherapy Levels and has assisted multiple community sports teams, as well the Pan-Am games in Canada. Elizabeth has developed a special interest in Vestibular (Vertigo) Rehabilitation, obtaining top certification recognized internationally. Together, these interests lead her desire to enhance her training in concussion management and treatment of individuals who have sustained a concussion. Vestibular and Ocular Motor systems assessment and treatment is a valuable aspect in the treatment of post-concussion signs and symptoms. She values increasing concussion education and awareness to the public and her patients. Elizabeth is partner and co-owner of Active Life Rehab + and Niagara Concussion Management, where she currently provides physiotherapy, concussion management, vestibular and ocular therapy and other rehabilitation services.
ActiveLife+ Team
Karen Millar
Registered Massage Therapist
Registered Kinesiologist
Karen Millar is a Certified Athletic Therapist and Registered Massage Therapist.
She completed high school in Georgetown and earned diplomas in Fitness at George Brown College, Sport Injury Management at Sheridan College, and Massage at the school of Occupational Health & Technology, with a degree in Community Health at Brock University. Millar has furthered her education by completing her Certified Strength and Conditioning, Pilates Matwork Certification, Reconditioning Level 1, and Lower Body Mobilizations with Movement. Millar led fitness classes at Brock University and was also the university’s first Pilates instructor. She currently teaches Practical Athletic Training and Taping & Wrapping Courses offered by Brock Recreation and is providing services at Brock Sports Medicine as well as at Active Life Rehab+.
Caleb Lavoie
Certified Athletic Therapist &
Registered Massage Therapist
Education: Degree in Athletic Therapy and Diploma in Massage Therapy Caleb Lavoie became a Certified Athletic Therapist in 2023 and a Registered Massage Therapist in 2024. Caleb has a Bachelor of Health Sciences from Sheridan College in Brampton, Ontario. He worked with basketball, hockey, football, baseball, rugby, and lacrosse athletes ranging from high school to American college athletes while attending Sheridan College. Through these experiences, Caleb has learned how to modify taping techniques and exercises to meet the demands of their sport. His Diploma in Massage Therapy was acquired at the Ontario College of Health and Technology (OCHT) in Stoney Creek, Ontario. He was exposed to manually treating patients of varying populations, including pregnant and neurological patients while attending OCHT. This opportunity involved 350 hours of treatment in the school clinic, allowing Caleb to enhance his massage skills. Caleb provides sideline sports injury management for the Niagara Wasps Rugby Club in the summer and to Niagara High School Football in the fall.
Active Life Rehab+ Massage
The trained therapist provides hands-on-techniques. The body is able to achieve multiple benefits from increased flexibility, reduced tension and headaches to improved healing and pain relief, especially when coupled in the rehabilitation phases.
Our bodies respond to massage therapy and benefit from massage under a variety of circumstances from post injury to regular recovery, during and after a stressful event, for regular recovery assistance from daily rigour of life, work and play.