My Story

Hello! My name is Aleksey Grytsaienko, and I am glad to share my story. I come from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. ​ My journey into physiotherapy began after an injury I sustained while playing for my university football team. It was then that I first realized how deeply movement defines the quality of our lives. ​ A special place in my professional growth belongs to my mentor — Serhii Dovhel. At first, he was my treating therapist, later my course instructor, and over time became much more than just a mentor. Serhii helped me transform my personal recovery experience into a profession that became my life’s work. For me, he remains an example of genuine care and humanity on which I continue to build my practice. ​ In 2016, I traveled to Thailand to immerse myself in the Eastern approach to healing. In Chiang Mai, I studied at an affiliated school where traditions are passed down from generation to generation. The teachers moved so naturally and gracefully that it seemed as if they were working in a state of “flow.” Their mastery and approaches impressed me with both depth and simplicity. I also gained invaluable hands-on experience: working with elderly people in a senior home (the oldest person I worked with was 89 years old) and with children living with autism and cerebral palsy in a care home. Working with seniors taught me respect for the fragility of the body, while with children it required patience and finding a special “key” first to their heart, and only then to their mind. This experience deeply shaped my understanding of what it truly means to care for another person. ​ From 2017 to 2019, I had intense and fulfilling years of practice in Ukraine. I worked with a professional football team, combining travel across the country with shifts in medical clinics as a rehabilitation specialist. It was then that I realized one important truth: only through a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with doctors and other healthcare professionals, can truly outstanding results be achieved. ​ In 2019, due to economic instability, I emigrated to Prague, Czech Republic. This beautiful city became my new home. Despite difficulties in diploma recognition, I continued to practice, develop, and strengthen my professional vision. ​ In 2023, I had the opportunity to gain practice in Vancouver, Canada, and participate in a government program for recognizing international professional experience. I became a volunteer in the rehabilitation department of one of the largest healthcare organizations — Fraser Health Authority, British Columbia. Assisting experienced physiotherapists in the hospital, I gradually earned their trust and in some cases was allowed to work with patients independently. This stage gave me a valuable understanding of the Western clinical approach, based on precise diagnostics, functional testing, and evidence-based practice widely respected in Canada and the United States. ​ After some time, I realized the licensing process was taking too long, and I eventually returned to Prague — the very city where my chapter of “life abroad” first began. ​ Each of these stages added new shades to my professional outlook and to my personal growth. Over time, I understood: strength is not in choosing one school of thought over another, but in combining them. ​ My path has united Eastern traditions, European structure, and Canadian clinical practice. Today, I use this universal model to help people not only recover from injuries but also regain confidence, harmony, and joy in movement.   Special gratitude goes to everyone who has influenced and continues to influence my journey.