Federal Non-Profit Corporation · CNCA

Sarcopenia is preventable.
The evidence has been
clear for decades.

Jasclair Wellness Institute is a Canadian non-profit advancing healthy aging through public education, research, and free, coach-led strength programs for adults 55–70. A CNCA federal non-profit — Corp. No. 1641314-5. Grant-supported. Informed by McMaster University's muscle and exercise research.

The challenge

Sarcopenia — age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function — is a primary driver of falls, frailty, and loss of independence. It is largely preventable. Yet few older Canadians have access to safe, structured, evidence-based programs.

1 in 5

Canadian adults over 70 are affected by sarcopenia — rising to 1 in 2 by age 80.

50%

Of older Canadians are physically inactive, despite resistance training being the highest-leverage intervention.

2025

Canada crossed the "super-aged" threshold — over 20% of the population is now 65 or older.

Our program

12-week virtual cohorts.

Small-group, coach-led resistance training programs delivered entirely online for adults 55–70 across Canada.

01

Live group sessions

Weekly 60-minute live Zoom sessions with a coach — form guidance, Q&A, resistance training education, and community check-in.

02

Structured training

3 sessions per week using a structured, periodized resistance protocol — delivered via a donated training platform at no cost to participants.

03

Peer community

A private cohort community for peer accountability, shared progress, and connection with others working toward the same goals.

Evidence base

Resistance training is the intervention.

Decades of randomized controlled trial evidence — most authoritatively synthesized by Dr. Stuart Phillips' lab at McMaster University, Canada's world-leading centre for protein and muscle aging research — establish progressive resistance training as the highest-leverage primary prevention for sarcopenia.

Our program protocol is aligned with ACSM guidelines for resistance training in older adults: progressive overload, compound movements, coach-supervised, 2–3 sessions per week.

View our research library →

Protocol snapshot

Frequency2–3 sessions / week
IntensityProgressive, 60–80% 1RM
Session length45–60 minutes
Duration12 weeks per cohort
FormatVirtual, coach-supervised
Cohort size20–25 participants
Cost to participantGrant-supported — no participant fees
PlatformCalyber (donated in-kind)

Year 1 impact

Measurable from day one.

Cohort 1 opens Fall 2026. Year 1 target: 4 cohorts × 25 participants = 100 beneficiaries served across Canada.

Outcome measures

  • Pre/post grip strength or 30-sec chair stand
  • Pre/post sit-to-stand repetitions
  • Self-reported confidence and independence scale
  • Adherence: % of planned sessions completed
  • Retention: % completing all 12 weeks
  • Net Promoter Score

Year 1 capacity

4
Cohorts per year
25
Participants per cohort
100
Beneficiaries served, Year 1

Partnerships

Built with support.

JWI programs are made possible by in-kind technology support, and guided by an advisory board of researchers and health professionals in aging and physical activity.

In-kind technology partner

Calyber Labs

Calyber Labs donates training platform access to JWI program participants at no cost — enabling structured, coach-designed resistance training sessions between live cohort meetings.

This is an in-kind product donation. Calyber Labs is a separate for-profit corporation. JWI does not promote Calyber commercial products, and does not share participant data with Calyber's commercial operations.

Partnership details →
Advisory board

Guided by experts

Researchers, health professionals, and community leaders with expertise in aging, physical activity, and muscle health guide our program design. Advisors are disclosed as each relationship is confirmed.

Our program design is informed by the evidence base of McMaster University's muscle and exercise research program — one of the world's leading centres for aging and resistance training science.

Work with us.

Whether you're a funder, a partner organization, or an older adult looking to join a cohort — we'd like to hear from you.