Is this approach right for you?
If pain or recurring injuries are holding you back, I am here to help. My approach is aimed at active individuals and athletes who are passionate about their sport, but frustrated by discomfort, imbalances or limitations that seem to have no clear solution.
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Have you tried therapies, quick fixes or generic programs that don't address the root of the problem?
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Are you an athlete looking to free yourself from pain, prevent future injuries and reach your full potential?
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Are you a professional facing postural problems or stress-related pain, and looking for a sustainable approach?
Working with me means committing to a proven integrative method that not only treats symptoms but offers long-term solutions.
My Personal Journey: From Pain to Performance
Pain and injury can feel like insurmountable barriers, especially when the solutions you’re offered only scratch the surface. I know this because I’ve been there. After suffering multiple ACL injuries—each threatening to take away the activities I love—I experienced firsthand how conventional treatments often fall short of addressing the deeper issue of the problem.
My first ACL and Meniscus injuries were treated using traditional approaches: surgery as quickly as possible, followed by months of physiotherapy. It worked, but the process was long, and I found myself questioning if there was a better way. Then, during my third ACL injury in Switzerland, everything changed. The COVID lockdown canceled all my planned surgeries and physical therapy sessions, leaving me to rely on my own knowledge, determination, and exploration of more holistic methods.
Besides the conventional strength training,,my recovery plan included:
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Breathwork to reduce inflammation.
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Cold water therapy and KAATSU training to stimulate healing and rebuild strength.
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Guided mental exercises, inspired by Dr. Joe Dispenza, to stay focused, reduce stress, and support the recovery process.
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Nutritional optimization to eliminate inflammation-causing foods and support tissue healing.
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Stress management through better sleep, light therapy, and sauna.
Not even three months later, after tearing my ACL and medial cruciate ligament, detaching with it a piece of the femur bone, I descended over 1,000 vertical meters without pain or swelling. My surgeon, Dr. Olivier Siegrist—renowned in Switzerland for his expertise in orthopedic knee surgeries—was astonished. He even called his team to observe my case, showcasing how the body, when supported as a symbiotic unity, can achieve extraordinary results. I never needed surgery, and to this day, that knee is stronger than ever.
This experience didn’t just heal my body—but transformed my understanding of health and recovery.
It proved to me that by addressing the deeper connections between movement, lifestyle, and mindset, we can achieve far more than conventional methods allow.
My Approach
The CHEK system: A Transformative Path to Healing and Performance
The CHEK (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) approach is a powerful, integrative system that views the body as a comprehensive framework. It focuses on uncovering the true origin of pain, dysfunction, and imbalances, rather than merely addressing symptoms. This approach combines cutting-edge science with an understanding of how lifestyle, movement, and mental well-being are deeply interconnected.
Key principles of the CHEK methodology include
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Holistic Integration: Addressing posture, movement patterns, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and mental well-being as interconnected factors that impact health and performance.
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Individualized Programs: Through detailed assessments, including postural and biomechanical analyses, every program is tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals.
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Exercise Kinesiology: Rooted in understanding how the body moves, this approach ensures every exercise restores function, prevents injury, and supports overall vitality.
This extensive system has helped countless athletes and individuals return to pain-free movement, regain strength, and achieve their full potential.
The core of the CHEK Approach: IMS and HLC
Integrated Movement Science: Rebuilding Strength and Function
IMS focuses on the physical aspect of the CHEK methodology, identifying and correcting imbalances in posture
and movement patterns to restore the body’s optimal Function and Strength.
Key elements of IMS include:
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Postural Assessment: Evaluating alignment to uncover distortions or imbalances that lead to pain or hinder performance.
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Biomechanical Analysis: Studying how the body moves during activities to pinpoint dysfunctional patterns that strain joints and muscles.
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Exercise Kinesiology: Designing exercise plans that restore flexibility, mobility, stability and strength while preventing further injury.
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Performance Optimization: Helping clients not only recover but also achieve peak physical performance through targeted training and advanced program design principles.
Holistic Lifestyle Coaching (HLC): Supporting the System of Systems
HLC addresses the lifestyle factors. Rooted in the 6 Foundational Principles (Nutrition, Hydration, Sleep, Breathing, Thoughts, and Movement) and Paul Chek’s 4 Doctors—Dr. Quiet (Rest), Dr. Diet (Nourishment), Dr. Happiness (Passion), and Dr. Movement (Exercise)—HLC creates daily habits that align health with personal goals.
By treating the body as a synergistic system, HLC addresses the broader factors that impact health and ensures that results are not only effective but also sustainable.
About Me
Hi, I’m Stijn Debaveye, a movement and performance coach trained at the world-renowned CHEK Institute and based in Valais, Switzerland. My mission is simple yet transformative: to help active individuals and athletes overcome pain, prevent recurring injuries, and thrive in the activities they love most.
Like many of my clients, I’ve experienced the frustration of being held back by pain. As a passionate surfer, climber, split- and snowboarder, I’ve faced recurring shoulder injuries from surfing and multiple knee injuries (ACL, MCL, Meniscus tears) from skiing and snowboarding. These setbacks didn’t just challenge me physically and mentally—they inspired a relentless pursuit to understand the body and its ability to heal.
My journey towards discovery and growth began with a simple question: What thrives pain and faulty movement patterns, why do recurring injuries happen and how can we address them for lasting recovery? Determined to find answers, I pursued formal training at the Physical Coaching Academy in Belgium, where I completed the NASM personal trainer course under their experienced personal trainers. Wanting to go deeper, I studied Assess and Correct, a program focused on advanced assessment methods and corrective plans. These 15- to 20-minute corrective strategies became a cornerstone for helping clients address imbalances before diving into training sessions.
But it wasn’t until I started my training at the CHEK Institute, that I found a truly transformative approach. Their philosophy—that the body is a connected system of systems—taught me how to uncover the root causes of pain, stress, imbalances, and limitations. Putting my studies into practice, I successfully rehabbed my own injuries, avoided surgeries, lowered my stress and returned to the sports I love stronger than ever.
My own recovery journey included advanced biomechanical assessments, personalized corrective exercises, and holistic practices like cold therapy, nutritional optimization, and stress management. These experiences taught me the power of addressing the body as a whole—a lesson I bring into every client’s journey. Along the way, I learned that true recovery requires more than fixing symptoms—it demands addressing the deeper imbalances that create them.
The reason I do this work is because I know how overwhelming it can feel to lose connection with the activities that bring you joy. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to guide others through their own transformations. By combining personal experience with world-class training, I offer personalized coaching plans that target the root causes of pain, helping my clients move freely, recover fully, and perform at their best.
Whether you’re looking to overcome a specific injury, prevent recurring pain, lower stress or unlock new levels of strength and mobility, I’m here to help you achieve sustainable results. Together, we’ll not only address your challenges but also rediscover the joy of living and moving without limitations.
