About Christine Matheson-Toronto Naturopathic Doctor, Arvigo® Practitioner, Yoga Instructor
“I truly wanted the best medicine for myself, my family and patients and even pioneered being one of the first naturopathic doctors in Canada to work in a hospital setting because I believe in an integrative approach to health that offers a holistic insight into the root cause of illness and safely individualizes the best of all therapies for each unique person.
I transformed my own health with what I have learned and share my discoveries with every new patient.”
With Belly Love, Christine
Christine's Professional Bio
Christine Matheson is an experienced licensed naturopathic doctor, Arvigo®Practitioner and certified Kundalini yoga instructor who has been treating patients in Toronto since 2001 and has extensive knowledge in the area of women’s pelvic, digestive, abdominal, gynaecological and fertility health as well as mindful stress management and children’s health. As one of the few naturopathic doctors in Toronto and Ontario offering the Arvigo ®Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy (ATMAT), she is proud to have created the Belly Be Well™ Program for women that implements the highly effective combination of ATMAT with naturopathic care for pelvic, gynecological, digestive and fertility benefits. She is respected for her pioneering role in the field as one of the first naturopathic doctor’s in Canada to work in a hospital setting as a member of an integrative medical team of doctors and specialists at the former, Women's Pelvic Health Centre at Women's College Hospital in Toronto (2002-2004).
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While it was open, this truly innovative clinic offered a distinctive blend of conventional and natural therapies for women suffering from all sources of pelvic pain. Through working with this dynamic multidisciplinary team, Christine gained unique clinical experience and insight about treating a range of pelvic health issues. This opportunity confirmed her belief in the efficacy and benefit of an integrative medical model which has helped to define her balanced approach as a naturopathic doctor.
Christine ran and operated her own private family medicine clinic with a particular focus on women’s health on St.Clair Avenue West in Toronto from 2001-2009. Then she was happy to be invited join the team at Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health www.MahayaForestHill.com from 2010-2017 and then now enjoyed seeing patients at Vital Physiotherapy and Wellness www.vitalphysiotherapy.com until 2020 when she joined the team at Dupont Naturopathic Family Centre. In addition, it was an honour for her to have been asked to work at Medcan, Canada’s leading corporate wellness clinic www.medcan.com, where she managed patients and supported the growth of the integrative medicine program from 2014-2015.
While genuinely trying to practice what she preaches, Christine aims to support others to discover the lifestyle changes that inspire a healthier life. It is her thorough and gentle approach that has earned her a devoted and trusting patient following. Christine emphasizes disease prevention and the intricate connection between the body, mind and spirit with her patients. Honouring the true naturopathic tradition, Christine focuses on treating the underlying causes of illness and tailoring the treatment to the individual. She does so while incorporating a full spectrum of western and eastern-influenced natural therapies including nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure, hydrotherapy and especially lifestyle counselling.
Christine is also passionate about being one of only a few practitioners in Toronto who is able to provide women with the healing benefits of the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®(ATMAT) www.arvigotherapy.com. Through a unique non-invasive external massage, ATMAT gently aligns the muscles and ligaments of the abdominal ameliorating circulation and lymphatic flow to the region which improves the functionality of the abdominal and pelvic organs. Learn more about Christine’s BELLY BE WELL™ Program which thoughtfully combines a tailored naturopathic treatment with ATMAT.
Her scope of practice covers a thorough listing of common health concerns. Recognized particularly for her specific clinical experience in women’s health, pelvic health, gynecology, digestive health, urology, pre and post natal care and children’s health. Christine is also committed to her special interest and success in addressing stress management, optimizing immunity and raising awareness to the environmental links to health. As a mother of two children, Christine sincerely appreciates the efficiency and benefits of a model of health care that supports the wellness of the entire family. She is therefore dedicated to simultaneously addressing the health care needs of parents and their children in a manner that provides convenient family health care.
As a certified yoga instructor since 1995, Christine can feature healing yoga techniques into treatment strategies for patients. She has developed and taught specialized yoga programs, including classes for women’s pelvic health and people living with cancer at Wellspring, a cancer support agency in Toronto. Christine also created the innovative idea of AromaYoga classes which thoughtfully incorporates aromatherapy with yoga and taught these classes for several years at the Lotus Yoga Centre in Toronto.
As an accomplished public speaker with expertise on a broad range of health topics, Christine is frequently asked to present as a natural health expert to the public, to other medical professionals, corporations and mothers groups. As an energetic and thoughtful speaker she has been well received at the popular Women’s Health Matters Forum and Expo, Havergal College, Wellspring and has made guest appearances on the Rogers television program ‘Medical Intelligence’ as well as appearing on TVO. Christine is often asked to contribute to the media such as The Toronto Star, Canadian magazines Chatelaine and Flare and shares her knowledge in articles for professional health journals.
After graduating with honours from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor of arts in Women's Studies, Christine excelled at the top of her class at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto).
As a naturopathic student, Christine was the original founder of the college's annual ‘Women's Health Awareness Week’. Upon graduation she was the recipient of the Swiss Herbal Remedies Bursary in recognition of "excellence in the promotion of women's health" and the prestigious President's Award for "professional courage and vision" from the Clinic Faculty.
Dr. Christine Matheson is proud to be a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
COMPLIMENTS and PRAISE
Although naturopathic doctors in Ontario are not permitted to share testimonials from patients and it is important to note that individual results can vary greatly, I am so touched by the kind words I hear from patients that I simply wanted to share paraphrased examples of just a few. (Click the arrow below on the right to see more)
PATIENT FEEDBACK
I have had the pleasure of working with over 2000 patients. I deeply appreciate their feedback which has included that I create a welcoming tone from the moment I meet you.
It is often a relief to many that my philosophy is to create a judgement-free zone where progress is key not perfectionism. As a woman and a mom myself, I can empathize with the stress of trying to juggle many elements in your life. My focus is always on meeting each person wherever they are in their health journey and helping them move simply yet powerfully in a better direction. By partnering with you, we work together to connect the dots in your health by revealing the root causes of your concerns. I am particularly known for my supportive approach that prioritizes your emotional and mental health while effectively addressing your physical symptoms.
I am on your side. I can relate.
I am recognized for using both my intellect and intuition to tap into what strategies will suit you best. I am known for being accessible to patients and aim to build a trusting rapport. I am often thanked for my warm genuine care, positive approach to problem solving and generous sharing of helpful resources/referrals.
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What is the MATHESON METHOD?
I have taken years to develop the Matheson Method or what I simply like to call my Inside Outside Method.
Let me explain.
I am a seeker and an explorer. Over years of fine tuning my naturopathic practice and seeing patterns of what helps me and my patients achieve the best outcomes I had a discovery.
I was trained as a naturopathic doctor to heal people from the “inside out” by altering what they put in their bodies through food, herbs and supplements and could improve their body’s inner terrain and help them function more optimally.
But something was missing for me until I heard about the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy ®. This was an external abdominal massage technique that was working from the “outside in” to remove tension patterns in the muscles and tissues while improving alignment of the abdominal organs.
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I noticed something almost magical started happening when I blended the power of my individualized naturopathic plans with Maya abdominal massage techniques and sent patients home to massage their bellies. What was astounding is that patients had much more accelerated and profound results not just to their abdominal or pelvic health but in their overall health and vitality.I now believe that when you thoughtfully combine therapies that both change you from the inside out and from the outside in, then there is an alchemy or a sweet spot that is experienced when these two therapeutic pathways meet allowing for more rapid and complete health benefits. That is why I have coined it the Matheson Method or the Inside Outside Method to ensure I practice it as my signature method in all the personalized treatment plans I create for my patients.
MY OWN HEALTH STORY
As often is the case, much of the path I have taken is because of my own health struggles and my search for answers. As a young child growing up in Toronto, Canada I started having difficulties with sensitive digestion and as a teen my menstrual cycle was irregular. I was diagnosed while in high school with Irritable Bowel Syndrome but not given great guidance on how my nutritional choices could help. Luckily my mother guided me with her vast and passionate knowledge about nutrition and my father travelled to Hong Kong regularly for business and brought home fascinating stories about an eastern medicine perspective. This opened my eyes to a whole new and holistic approach to health. Then in my early 20’s while studying Women’s Studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, this empowered me with a feminist perspective on women's health. I proceeded to take the step of care taking my health by seeing a naturopathic doctor who radically improved my digestive and menstrual health. In fact so much so, that I did my final Women's Studies thesis papers on the history and benefits of natural medicine in women’s health which was only a few years before I was thrilled to be accepted at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
MY Early Start with BELLY MASSAGE
While I was struggling with my own digestive woes I yearned to have ways to make myself feel better and would sometimes intuitively place my hands on my belly as a solution. I taught myself to find those spots where I held tension and tried to gently massage them away. Two pivotal events validated my belief that healing abdominal massage was powerful.
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In my early 20’s I saw a talented medical herbalist, Chanchal Cabrebra, and she was the first person who ever touched my belly in a healing way instead of in a diagnostic fashion. Shortly thereafter I had the great honour of being a student of a first nations elder, Celu Amberston, author of Blessings of the Blood. She not only taught me about how your menstrual cycle can become your superpower but also used healing belly massage rituals in her classes for women. Prior to learning about the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy ® (ATMAT), I researched general abdominal massage techniques and suggested them to my patients. But when I heard about ATMAT it was like I had found a tribe of people who were experts in something I had only just started to grasp. Becoming an Arvigo Practitioner was a real triumph for me after years of naturally knowing belly massage was helpful but wanting a more comprehensive technique to follow as I knew it would make a difference in my life and the lives of my patients. I still practice ATMAT almost daily and credit it for having helped me have 2 healthy births, vital digestive function and easy periods. I am so proud to be one of the only ND’s in Ontario and Canada offering Arvigo® Therapy.
I created and used this photo of my belly for a Women’s Studies project on the power of menstruation in 1992
Fun Facts About Me
I quite embarrassingly but appropriately adore making and drinking endless healthy smoothie recipes
My initials are “C.A.M” which quite coincidentally is also the acronym for ‘Complimentary and Alternative Medicine’ which is the field of medicine I am in
I took a summer during university to work in an orphanage in Bolivia, South America
I am a true fan of Joni Mitchell, Meryl Streep, Grey’s Anatomy, Oprah’s Super Soul TV and an Australian show I discovered on Netflix called Offspring
I can count on one hand the number of times I have tried coffee
I taught a private yoga class to the celebrity rock star Courtney Love while she was touring in Toronto
I love to sing and have been asked to sing at several weddings including my own
Almost every bare belly photo on my website (except the kids tummies of course) are of my belly! Because I wanted my website to feel genuine and real.
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Don't make feeling better an option; make it your big dream. Don't make self-care an option; make it your commitment. Don't make becoming who you want to be—and loving who you are—goals for the future; start right now.
-Dr. Aviva Romm, MD
MY LOVE for YOGA
I was an early adopter of yoga and came to it sooner than my peers around 1992 which is long before it was as trendy or mainstream as it is now. While studying at the University of British Columbia in beautiful Vancouver, Canada I noticed yoga centres in my neighbourhood. I had always been athletic and unusually flexible so I first tried Kundalini yoga from a fitness angle. Very soon into the process I felt the benefits of mental clarity and an inner stillness that I cherished.
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I knew this was connecting me to the guide inside of me and was such a self-healing tool. Before I knew it I was encouraged to consider the teacher training and became a certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor. I taught yoga steadily for 12 years from introductory classes, to pre-natal classes, to teaching cast of actors before they went on stage, to cancer patients and an unforgettable private yoga class for a celebrity rock star! I was the innovator of ‘AROMA YOGA’ classes which I offered at the Lotus Yoga Centre in Toronto and where I incorporated the thoughtful and creative use of aromatherapy throughout each class. Now I love being able to share yoga postures, meditations and breathing techniques therapeutically as part of a personalized treatment plan for my patients.
A PASSIONATE WELLNESS SPEAKER and WRITER
I am a passionate educator and for over 20 years have enjoyed being asked to speak as a natural medicine expert to a wide range of audiences such as other medical professionals, corporations, medical students and mothers groups. Other examples include being well received at the Women’s Health Matters Forum, Havergal College, Wellspring and guest appearances on the Rogers television program ‘Medical Intelligence’ on TVO.
I also love to write educational articles and have contributed to the media such as The Toronto Star, Canadian magazines Chatelaine and Flare and local Toronto magazines including Village Living.
Interested in having Christine contribute to your event or media?
“What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful.”
- Brené Brown, author of Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
