About Hale & Hart
Hale & Hart is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Mississauga, Haudenosaunee and Wendake-Nionwentsïo peoples.
Recognize the saying, "to be hale and hearty"? Hale comes from "whole" or "safe" in Old English, while hearty means vibrant health! Hart is a portmanteau derived from my maiden name, Hartog.
Health looks and feels different for everyone. It is not about conforming to wellness or beauty standards. It's not ableist, oppressive or judgmental. Exploring your bodymind should be a safe, and even playful, experience. Your mood, sensations and pain levels may fluctuate - even daily - but that is ok! As long as you can regain your balance, when you choose to, whether or not Mercury is in retrograde.
Have you been through physical, emotional or sexual trauma, and had little success with traditional therapies and medication? Here, the focus is on building holistic health, by reconnecting your mind and body with the Earth. We work with herbs, diet, flower essences, storytelling and lifestyle adjustments so you can reintegrate parts of yourself you've lost touch with. I want to make sure you are always seen, heard, and valued when it comes to your health. Consider this a haven to feel safe and express your unique version of health.
About Aleksa (she/they)
Community Herbalist, FE Practitioner, Wannabe Flower
I grew up in a holistic household, taking lots of vitamins, doing cleanses and visiting wellness practitioners for as long as I remember. Thanks Mom! She got me into meditation and yoga at 16 which was a blessing, although I thought it was the bane of my existence being dragged to yet another chiro apt!
In 2017 I fell pretty ill from tick-borne infections. It was living hell feeling like I was being slammed into by a bus daily. It kept me housebound for long stretches and I was forced to make survival a full time job. I then put my detective cap on and started working with herbs daily to heal my illness. And guess what: it paid off! Recently I went into full remission thanks to herbs, Rife, IVs, acupuncture and other supportive therapies.
Not sure if you can relate, but I am a bit of an oxymoron. See, I went to b-school before my health crisis, and graduated with a BBA in Social Entrepreneurship. I've snuggled happily into the title of a Community Herbalist after graduating from Wild Rose College of Natural Healing. Recently I completed a six-month Experiential Herbalism for Practitioners program with my herbal mentor, RH Tamara Segal. My other herbal inspirations are Rosemary Gladstar, Matthew Wood, and my Baba.
I am also certified as a Bach Flower Essence Practitioner, Master Gardener in Training, and a Corporate Meditation Facilitator with Isha Foundation. My past corporate clients include Salesforce, Scotiabank, Loblaws, NIH and the Government of Canada.
When I have a moment, I go nuts making herbal products *look of glee*. Stay on the lookout for bewitching stories, enchanting offers and herbal product drops. Let my newsletter keep you in the loop!
"My conversation with Aleksa cracked open a part of me that I was trying to hide from my conscious for a long time. It felt so good to bring some light to this part of me, and made me realize that it’s time to free these emotions."
-Beckie, Holistic Nutritionist, Ontario
"Hey Aleksa!"
Where are you from?
Tkaronto/Toronto.
What are your fave foods?
Gnocchi. And olives. And kimchi. Imagine that together...!
Preferred plants?
Nasturtiums...and yarrow. Safeguards my accident-prone body!
Something interesting about you?
I lived with a witchy widowed madam while attending a Canadian high school in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
How do you spend free time?
I do yoga, qigong, meditate and contemplate my existence for probably a few hrs a day...You'll also find me in the garden or in the woods foraging. I read. I crochet and longboard but not together. I also think up lots of ideas, some which see the sun and most which burn out.
Who would you want to be stuck in an elevator with?
Probably Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th century German mystic, poetess, musician and physician.
What is your Bach constitutional type?
My personality types are part Oak and Water Violet.
Are you a romantic?
A bashful yet out-of-the-closet romantic -- after all, I did marry a British poet!
What's your middle name?
Marijana. Not marijuana as a police officer once pronounced it when he read my I.D.!
What are your big three?
I am a Capricorn Sun, Virgo Moon and Libra Rising!
Any fur babies?
Harold, my Norfolk Terrier; Rafa, the Havanese; and Luna the Tabby Cat. You'll see them on the gram when they are too cute or silly.
Tell us a secret.
I read the dictionary while housebound because I only had the bandwidth for bite-sized information (and I'm a nerd).
What's the weather forecast?
Don't even go there!
