Dr. Lauren Russell, Naturopathic Doctor

04/15/2026

03/23/2026

Motivation is not the goal. Showing up is.
You don’t wait to feel motivated to go to work. Some mornings you really don’t want to be there but you go anyway, because it’s a commitment you made.

Moving your body can work the same way.

The motivation isn’t always going to be there. That’s reality. And waiting for it to show up before you head out means a lot of skipped workouts that have nothing to do with how much you care.

Put it in your calendar like an appointment. Show up anyway. Let your body tell you what it needs once you’re there.

That’s the whole thing✨

02/05/2026

Just a heads up 🤍

Appointment fees will be increasing slightly as of April 1 (approximately $15 per appointment).

Updated pricing is already visible in the appointment descriptions when booking online, even though current fees still apply until April 1, so there are no surprises.

Thank you for being here and for continuing to trust me with your care. It truly means a lot

01/14/2026

Life update: things got a whole lot sweeter over here 🤍

Francis is officially home, and I’m soaking up the next couple weeks off for puppy snuggles, potty training, and learning how someone this small can bring this much joy. It feels really special to let you into a little slice of real life here — this chapter already feels very sweet.

See you soon in clinic. Slightly sleepier and totally smitten 🐾

01/06/2026

posting isn’t my favourite.
overthinking it is.
being a little more honest about that this year.

so… here we go ✨

12/23/2025

Two things I’m absolutely sure of:
✨ Eggnog from Hearth is the best. If you’re an eggnog person, this one’s a must.
✨ And second — I’m officially off until January 5th.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this little community and trusting me with your care. Supporting you through the laughs, the tears, and all the in-between moments is something I truly don’t take for granted.

Now it’s time for a few weeks of cozy mornings, slow days, and maybe a little extra nog. Wishing you a gentle, restful end to the year. See you in 2026 ✨

12/02/2025

Friendly reminder (to you and me):
your health routine does not need to show up with a perfect Christmas bow on top. 🎀

December is A LOT.
So here’s your permission slip:
✨ consistent-ish is enough
✨ it doesn’t have to look aesthetic
✨ you can return to basics anytime
✨ being gentle with yourself is a form of health

If you’re aiming to feel your best, pick one small thing you can repeat.

Team consistent-ish. Always.

10/21/2025

PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) is a severe form of PMS that affects a smaller number of people who menstruate — about 1–6%.
It’s recognized as a depressive disorder in the DSM-5.

🌀 How it’s different from PMS
Symptoms appear in the week before your period, ease a few days after bleeding starts, and are minimal or gone the following week.

To diagnose PMDD, 5 or more symptoms must be present — including at least one mood-related symptom:
• Mood swings
• Irritability or anger
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Anxiety

Other possible symptoms:
• Low motivation or fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Appetite or sleep changes
• Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
• Physical symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, joint pain)

PMDD can have a real impact on daily life & relationships. It’s not just a rough week but a real and often misunderstood condition.
If this sounds familiar, support is available & it can make a real difference.

09/09/2025

This summer I finally sat down with the stack of non-fiction books I’d been putting off all year. Each one made me think a little harder about healing, and what it means to show up not just as a practitioner, but also as a partner, daughter, sister, friend, and community member. I really enjoyed them all.

With fall settling in, I’m happily curling back up with some fiction ✨✨✨

09/02/2025

I did a thing!
I finished the Intuitive Eating counselling program! ✨

Here’s why → because I’m not a fan of diet culture or weight stigma.

Intuitive eating is the vibe because it’s a return to trust — with your body, your hunger, your fullness, and self-compassion.

All those rules about eat this, not that, only at this time, only this amount? They mostly just disconnect us from our bodies and create stress + guilt around food.

Intuitive eating flips that ⬇️
〰️ Eating when you’re hungry, stopping when you’re satisfied
〰️ Letting go of “good” vs. “bad” food labels
〰️ Allowing joy, satisfaction + flexibility
〰️ Noticing how food feels in your body, not just how it looks on a plate
〰️ Making space for food that fuels & feels good

It’s just the vibe. ✨

08/21/2025

Hustle culture has never been my thing.

I’ve resisted the whole “post 3 times a day, hack the algorithm” advice. Not because I don’t care about reaching people (I do), but because I care just as much about showing up in a way that feels good for my nervous system.

Social media can be overwhelming. It’s fast, it’s noisy, and it can pull me out of the present so easily. But it can also be a space for connection, community, and healing… and for me, a way to build my practice in a way that actually feels authentic.

So this is me, finding my way back here. Slowly, intentionally, and in a way that feels more human than performative (you know??)

❤️ Lauren

01/17/2025

〰️ Fertility & Acupuncture 〰️
Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture uses fine needles at specific points on the body to encourage healing and balance.

〰️ How Can It Support Fertility?
1️⃣ Improves circulation to reproductive organs
2️⃣ Regulates hormones
3️⃣ Supports ovulation
4️⃣ Promotes healthy egg and s***m
5️⃣ Enhances IVF success
6️⃣ Reduces stress and anxiety

〰️ Does it work?
Here’s my honest answer: research is mixed! Some studies show no significant impact, while others suggest acupuncture may reduce anxiety during IVF, improve pregnancy rates, and even boost live birth rates.

Curious? Let’s chat at your next appointment!