We are so pleased to announce our newest team member, Nastasia! A registered Naturopathic doctor, she specializes in Facial Acupuncture and takes a holistic approach to health and beauty.

Why did you become a Naturopath?
I had my mind set on practicing medicine since high school. After I graduated from university, I decided to spend a year working at an integrative medicine clinic downtown Toronto. I worked with Naturopaths and Medical Doctors, and started to see how Naturopathic medicine paralleled my thoughts regarding life and health, more than traditional medicine did. I had struggled with 7 years of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in my 20s, and then an inflammatory arthritis in my hands and feet over the past 3 years. Since going through Naturopathic Medical School, I applied what I learned to my own health. I have managed to completely alter my digestion and inflammation in my joints through dietary changes and herbal medicine, which has helped me have a deeper understanding of how my patients struggle with health and decisions around lifestyle changes. Now that I know how much Naturopathic Medicine has to offer, I could never go back. I need to share it with everyone I can!

What are your favourite parts of being a Naturopath?
I have the privilege of meeting a lot of people, and learning about their lives. People share their stories with me, and I am honoured to be a part of their journey towards feeling better. I love when my patients see positive changes, no matter how small or big. It inspires me to continue doing what I love. I wake up excited to go to work, which is really important to me.

Any favourite skincare tips?
I always tell my patients that skin care starts from the inside out. Our skin is a mirror image of what is going on at a deeper level. We need to get to the root of what is going on, and once we improve our health internally, we will start to see it reflected on the skin.

What's your favourite botanical?
This is a tough one! I love so many herbs! But if I had to pick a favourite, it would be Lavender. Lavender, or Lavandula Angustifolia is an herb from the mint family. It has so many uses, including topical to reduce redness, and prevent infections, orally to reduce anxiety and calm the mind, and it can also be used in the form of an essential oil to aid in sleep and relaxation. I love making little bags of it to keep my laundry smelling fresh, and placing a few drops on my pillows to help me sleep at night.

How would you describe your perfect 'day off work'?
It would start with waking up without an alarm clock, and making a delicious breakfast with hot coffee. Then I would go for a walk in High Park and bring a book to read on the grass. I would finish the day with some friends, music, and a little bit of dancing! Whether we just dance at home with the lights off, or out of the house, it doesn’t matter as long as we are feeling the beats and the positive vibes!

What's the best advice you've ever received?
When going through school, I heard this quote “ Your body’s ability to heal is greater than anyone has permitted you to believe” – there is something so powerful about this message. We are told so many things throughout life about what we can and cannot do, how we should and should not feel. When it comes to our ability to heal, we should never allow what we know and do not know about health to influence the vast possibility we have to feel whole, and healthy, and happy. The body is a magical place, and once we open up the pathway to better health, who knows how far we may reach. All you need to do is be open to it.

If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
Banff! I have a serious love affair with Water. I want to see Lake Louise. To be surrounded by nature and mountains, and lake water that is so blue…it would be total paradise for me. I have never camped or traveled alone, and I think that a personal goal of mine is to go exploring Alberta’s beauty on my own this summer.

BOOK YOUR FACIAL ACUPUNCTURE APPOINTMENT HERE

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