Deep Fitness Workshop: Toronto May 2026

In their best-selling book Deep Fitness, Philip Shepherd and Andrei Yakovenko introduced a new, science-based, highly effective workout. Called MSTF, short for ‘Mindful Strength Training to Failure’, it offers the most efficient way to increase muscle strength: it takes only half an hour, once or twice a week. 

And why does muscle strength matter? Research has recently revealed that muscle is the foundation of metabolic health. When muscles work, they create messenger molecules that benefit every tissue and every organ in the body – improving vitality, emotional well-being, bone-mineral density, and mental clarity. The strength of your muscles is the ultimate resource for metabolic well-being and health span. The stronger the muscle, and the more intensely it works, the more messenger molecules it creates.

High-intensity strength training is commonly perceived as a form of suffering in which you will your body to push into pain for its own good. MSTF is different. It is an embodied, mindful approach to training, one that can be a source of joy, release and self-discovery. That is what happens when the strength training expertise of Andrei joins the embodied awareness that Philip teaches. 

A special opportunity to experience the marriage of those practices is coming up. Philip will be teaching a two-day Radical Wholeness workshop on Friday/Saturday May 8 - 9. This workshop is designed for anyone interested in moving out of their heads and into the deeper, more present awareness of the body.

Then on Sunday May 10, Philip,  Andrei, and Philip's co-director Allyson Woodrooffe will hold a special two-and-a-half-hour workshop at Andrei's gym (University Ave and Dundas St W) to show you how to bring the mindful embodiment practices of the workshop to strength training, so you can discover for yourself what a difference it makes. This training will be limited to 12 participants. 

Experience with Philip's practices is an asset for this workshop. If you are just looking for an introduction to the Deep Fitness workout, you can book a free introductory session with New Element Training.