Dr. Stephanie Gaston, a Toronto native, has been a chiropractic patient since she was five years old. Unlike many chiropractors who had some childhood experience where chiropractic care saved them from a debilitating injury or some chronic condition, chiropractic was introduced to Dr. Stephanie as a normal part of life. Her mother, a very progressive woman, simply saw the value of preventive healthcare and began taking her children for monthly maintenance checkups and adjustments.
“Chiropractic has always been a part of my life,” says Dr. Stephanie. As a teen exploring her options for a career, becoming a chiropractor seemed a natural way to mesh the views she’d developed regarding health with her love for math and science.
“As a chiropractor, I work with the body – not against it,” says Dr. Stephanie. “I enjoy working with people who are seeking health, being a part of true health care instead of sick care.”
Dr. Stephanie attended the University of Western Ontario from 1987 – 1990 and earned a degree in Biology. She then moved on to study at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, graduating in 1994 as a Doctor of Chiropractic.
Initially she moved to Vancouver, where she purchased a small practice and successfully built it into a high-volume one over a period of seven years. “While on maternity leave after giving birth to my first child, I decided I wanted to come home to Toronto.” She sold her Vancouver practice in 2001, returned to Toronto, and has been practicing here at Urban Health Group ever since.
“I continue to be motivated by a desire to help people,” explains Dr. Stephanie. “I’ve been here 20 years now and I feel like I have known my patients that long – as if I get to come to work each day and visit with old friends all day.”
Even in this big city, Dr. Stephanie brings a local, neighborly feel to her practice. She gets to know patients, is connected throughout the local community, and maintains a comfy inviting space that makes patients feel welcome.
Dr. Stephanie Gaston, a Toronto native, has been a chiropractic patient since she was five years ...
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Urvashi loves sharing her enthusiasm for healthy living and fitness. With a passion to educate and inspire her clients, Urvashi’s goal is to make lasting changes in her patients’ lives and empower them to achieve their goals. Her focus is to uncover the origin of the problem, address the issue and attain the highest level of function possible. She believes in providing her patients with the confidence to take ownership in their recovery.
Urvashi graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Indraprastha University in India. She has a keen understanding biomechanics and the physical demands required to achieve performance excellence. With years of clinical experience, knowledge and a high degree of cultural sensitivity, Urvashi is experienced in treating orthopedic, soft tissue and sports injuries with a focus in treating clients suffering from whiplash and other injuries due to motor vehicle accidents. Urvashi also enjoys working with high functioning clients dealing with deficits from Stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple sclerosis, or other neurological conditions.
Urvashi believes that rehabilitation is a team effort and prides herself in taking the time with her patients to ensure they fully understand the injury and treatment plan. To achieve the best outcome, she uses an individualized treatment approach that incorporates education, manual therapy, soft tissue release, taping, dry needling, shockwave therapy and specific exercise prescription.
Urvashi loves sharing her enthusiasm for healthy living and fitness. With a passion to educate an...
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Salvatore Spatafora, B. Arch, RMT, VCSB
I see with my hands
Hear with my skin
Smell with my brain
And touch with my heart.
Page Patterson
Salvatore unofficially began to care for people as a young Architect. He completed a Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 1998. Improving the lives of people, he designed interior spaces, custom furniture and industrial design objects for a decade. At midlife, Salvatore received a dream that changed everything. He answered the call and returned to school as an adult. In 2009, he received a Diploma in Massage Therapy from Kikkawa College. Artful hands transitioned into therapeutic hands and at last, design found its maturity in the Architecture of the body.
Salvatore officially began to care for people as a Registered Massage Therapist. In good standing with the CMTO for 12+ years, his professional practice holds the possibility of change as holy ground for clients to traverse in their own way. Guided by the wisdom of the body, he co-creates a sacred container to meet clients exactly where they need to be met. Compassionate and open-hearted his therapeutic approach to wellness balances technical discernment with intuitive perception. In this way, Salvatore listens to the inherent intelligence of the body when unwinding soft tissue restrictions.
He utilizes a number of modalities and techniques to provide deep relief and emotional well-being for his clients, namely Craniosacral therapy, Myofascial Release, Medical Qi Gong, Suikodo, Spinal Mobilizations, Deep Tissue Therapy and Trigger Point Therapy.
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Specializing in a Visionary approach to Craniosacral Therapy, Salvatore was awarded a Diploma in Visionary Craniosacral Bodywork, in 2015, by the internationally recognized Osteopath, Hugh Milne. The rigorous, multi-level training established an in-depth understanding of the Craniosacral System and consciously prepared Salvatore to value both technical knowledge and intuitive mastery. The teaching mantra was simple, Open the Heart, Clear the Mind, Free the Body.
Enamored with the beauty of this world Salvatore is a life-long learner. Deeply invested in self-care practices that expand his capacity for joy, curiosity of life and body awareness he loves Dream Journaling, Japanese Calligraphy, Tenkoku workshops, daily Medical Qi Gong, walking trails and cooking adventures infused with global spices.
Craniosacral Therapy
This unique healing modality applies a gentle, meditative contact of 5g or less pressure to interrupt the fight or flight cycle and activates the rest and digest response of the nervous system. The self-healing mechanisms of the immune system are called into action to distribute resources to where they are needed and restore natural rhythms of the body. Tissue is either pushed, pulled or held in place with traditional hand contacts made at the pelvis, sacrum, spine and cranium, but any part of the body can be valuable place of stored information. Clients often report a deep sense of relief with an added quality of witnessing their body change as it is changing. Performed without oil, clients are encouraged to attend sessions in loose clothing (t-shirt and shorts).
Some of the conditions treated include: Headaches/Migraines, Pre/Post Pregnancy, Grinding/Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, Sacroiliac Misalignments/Sciatica, Postural Asymmetry, Eye/Vision Problems, Concussion/Whiplash Injuries, Hearing Loss/Tinnitus, Sinusitis, Bell’s Palsy, Fibromyalgia, Depression and Digestive Disorders.
Craniosacral Massage
As the name suggests, this blended treatment combines the best of Craniosacral Therapy with Swedish Massage. Tailored to the needs of the client hand contacts are made along the pelvis, sacrum, spine and/cranium to reduce the muscle tension in a given area. Intended as an introduction to the gentle, meditative touch of Craniosacral Therapy, clients can expect to experience a qualitative change in muscle tone and feel a sense of deep relief.
Salvatore Spatafora, B. Arch, RMT, VCSB
I see with my hands
Hear with my skin
Smell with my br...
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Laura graduated from Sutherland-Chan School and Teaching Clinic in 2003 and has been practicing as a Registered Massage Therapist in Ontario for over 20 years.
Laura has extensive experience in treating people of all ages, gender identities and abilities. She is adept at working with her patients to address a wide variety of acute and chronic health concerns.
Her special interests include therapeutically reducing the effects of emotional stress on the body, assisting her patients in reconnecting with themselves in a holistic way (mind, body and spirit), and alleviating chronic pain.
Laura is intuitive in her treatment approach and her ability to clearly communicate and connect with her patients ensures that each treatment is unique and will directly address each person’s specific primary concerns.
Laura embraces life-long learning and enjoys keeping current with a wide array of television shows and movies. She is an avid reader, loves animals and enjoys being near water and trees whenever possible.
Laura graduated from Sutherland-Chan School and Teaching Clinic in 2003 and has been practicing a...
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Katie completed her Chiropody studies at the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in 2013. Prior to that, she studied Human and Animal Physiology and History at the University of Toronto. Katheryn has a special interest in treating children and biomechanical issues. Katheryn was the first Chiropodist in over 10 years to be granted an observership at the Hospital for Sick Children in the orthopaedics department.
Katie has a passion for the profession and enjoys being able to help her patients to resolve all of their foot-care health issues. She is a member of the HPRAC review committee, working to advance the profession in Ontario, the Program Review Committee at her alma matter, and the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine. Outside of work, Katie enjoys horse riding and Improvising. She is also very involved with the Toronto Irish community, representing them as the 50th Toronto Rose of Tralee.
Katie completed her Chiropody studies at the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in 20...
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Dr. Christina Mallinos was first introduced to chiropractic at a young age. Growing up a competitive gymnast, Dr. Christina chose chiropractic care as a safe and natural way to support proper function throughout her development, and manage her injuries. In receiving regular adjustments, Dr. Christina noticed a substantial improvement in her chronic headaches, which sparked her early interest in manual therapy, wellness, neurology and anatomy.
Dr. Christina Mallinos graduated from York University with an honors degree in Kinesiology. She then went on to attend the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, where she completed her Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and graduated with clinic honors. In addition, Dr. Christina has attained a certificate from the University of McMaster’s Contemporary Medical Acupuncture program and enjoys incorporating acupuncture in her treatments when appropriate.
Dr. Christina is motivated by a strong desire to help people master their bodies, so that they can accomplish all that they wish to in life. She is committed to providing honest, efficient and effective care, and engaging patients to become active participants in their treatment plan. Though she has helped many patients overcome pain and injuries, she believes that chiropractic care is best utilized regularly, to optimize wellness and prevent symptoms of pain. Whatever your health goals are, Dr. Christina looks forward to working with you to achieve them.
Dr. Christina Mallinos was first introduced to chiropractic at a young age. Growing up a competit...
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