Getting To Know Dr. Nikita Sander: Naturopathic Dr.

We sat down with Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Nikita Sander, on her first day in the studio. She will be covering Dr. Shannon Vander Doelen's practice whilst she's on maternity. 
Dr. Sander shared with us her passion for her field, how she came to be a Naturopath, and some sage health advice she'd like us all to adhere to.

Why Did You Become A Naturopathic Doctor?
The first career my 4-year-old self ever set her mind on was to become a doctor, but I occasionally flip flopped between a brain surgeon and a veterinarian! Ha! Over the years, my passion for humanity and helping others grew, which eventually led me to pursuing Nursing in my undergrad.

However, while on my journey to fulfilling my dream of becoming a doctor, my mother fell acutely ill. After feeling defeated by the medical system, as a last resort she turned to Naturopathic Medicine, which at that point, I had never heard of! As a registered nurse with training in conventional medicine only, I was a major skeptic! Yet, I watched Naturopathic medicine completely transform her life and I was simply left in awe. It was at that point when I truly understood my true calling. It took me almost 2 years after this point, to finally make the decision to pursue Naturopathy, and once I did, I never looked back!

What Do You Love the Most About Your Work?
In my field of work, I have the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life, which is incredibly humbling. I am given the opportunity to empower the people I work with to transform their health and regain control of their wellness journey. It is incredibly gratifying to witness and be a part of someone’s personal growth and path to optimal wellbeing.

Sometimes the most complicated health problems have the simplest solutions and I absolutely love helping my clients to uncover these.

If You Weren't A Naturopathic Doctor, What Would You Be?​
I love medicine, I love animals and I love photography. So if I was not a ND, I would be an exotic animal veterinarian AND/OR a national geographic photographer.

What Message do You Hope Clients Will Take Away From Their Time Spent With You?
I love taking the “mystery ” and “challenge” out of achieving wellness. When working with me, I want my clients to learn that health can be made simple.

This Being a New Year and All, What Health Goals Would You Encourage Your Clients to Pursue?
These aren’t in particular order, but there are many!

1. Set goals and intentions! Write them down and frequently revisit them!
2. Make time for you!
3. Prioritize health and prioritize self-care.
4. Reduce screen-time! It will help improve mood and sleep
5. Do more things that make you happy! Do things that you’ve always dreamed of doing.
6. Drink more water.
7. Vegetables are necessary, so eat them!
8. Get active! Find an activity you enjoy doing and do it often!
   

What's Your Number One Tip For Mamas and Mamas-to-be?
Don’t forget to take care of you! You cannot pour from an empty cup! The journey to motherhood can be exciting, overwhelming, joyous and scary all at the same time. Losing sight of your own health, wellness and personal goals can be very easy to do as a mama. So remember you need some TLC (tender, loving care) too!