--- title: "Muscle Is Medicine" entity: "funnel" canonical_url: "https://www.drshivaune.com/muscle-is-medicine" markdown_url: "https://www.drshivaune.com/llms/funnel/muscle-is-medicine" lastmod: "2026-09-10T06:30:13.099Z" --- # Muscle Is Medicine ## Entry: Muscle is medicine (Recent) (Copy) SMALL GROUP STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAMS IN EAST TORONTO, COVERED BY YOUR NATUROPATHIC HEALTH INSURANCE Register Now ### Beaches Location - Bomb Fitness 862 Kingston Road, Toronto Book a Free Discovery Call ### Leslieville Location - UNDA Movement 1333 Queen St East, Toronto Book a Free Discovery Call ## Now Enrolling for Fall 2026 10 Week In-Person Group Sessions Week of September 21st through November 23rd ## Beaches Location LEARN TO LIFT Tuesdays 6:30 PM Fridays 11 AM GET STRONGER Tuesdays 7:30 PM Fridays 12 PM ## Leslieville Location LEARN TO LIFT Mondays 9:30 AM Wednesdays 7 PM Fridays 6 AM Friday 7:30 AM Fridays 1 PM ## Already a Member? Sign in to access your evidence-based resources on training, nutrition, recovery, hormones, and more—for a stronger, healthier midlife and beyond. Register Now ## Join the community to stay in the loop! Join the wait list for first access to enrolment, promotions, discounts, resources and more! ## Explore Programs ### Learn To Lift is a 10-week, in-person, small group beginner program for women who want to learn to lift weights safely Learn More ### Get Stronger is a 10-week, in-person, small group training program for women who are ready take their lifting to the next level Learn More ### Learn To Lift - Teen Edition is a 6-week, in-person, small group, safe and empowering space for teen girls to learn workout basics for lifelong strength Learn More ## How does the fee structure work? because programs can be covered by extended health insurance, and all participants need to be active patients, the pricing varies depending on a few factors: Weekly group sessions and assessment/reassessment fees are typically covered by extended health insurance under Naturopathic Medicine Registration fees can be submitted to health spending accounts, if available. ## Meet Your Coaches ## Dr. Shivaune Wright, ND - Beaches Location Dr. Shivaune is a Naturopathic Doctor with over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. Her journey started in high performance athletics as a teen doing competitive sprint canoe and kayak racing, and competitive swimming, cross training for which included weight lifting beginning at age 13. After completing her undergrad degree in Kinesiology and Phys Ed, she spent almost a decade as a Personal Trainer, which included working with everyone from competitive athletes, weekend warriors to seniors. In her clinical practice, Dr. Shivaune recognized the need to address why many women gravitate towards cardio machines while avoiding the weight racks. This insight led to the creation of the Muscle Is Medicine program series. ## Dr. Janice Wu, ND - Leslieville Location Dr. Janice is a Naturopathic Doctor and performance coach with over 25 years of experience in strength and conditioning. Her journey began with a degree in Kinesiology, where a focus on physiology sparked a lifelong fascination with how the body adapts, heals, and grows stronger. For more than two decades, she has worked as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, coaching athletes of all ages — from teens and weekend warriors to elite international competitors. Her passion has always been helping individuals push beyond perceived limits and build strength and resilience that carries into every aspect of life. Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Janice expanded her expertise into naturopathic medicine, with a clinical focus on women’s hormonal health and perimenopause. By integrating her background in kinesiology, decades of performance coaching, and naturopathic training, she brings a strategic and compassionate approach to helping women restore energy, rebuild strength, and navigate midlife with confidence. ## Step: Learn To Lift Teen # Learn to Lift ### TEEN EDITION ### A 4-week, bi-weekly in-person small-group program designed to create a safe, empowering environment where teen girls learn workout basics, develop strength, and build confidence that lasts a lifetime. Register Now ### Building Strong, Confident Girls — Inside and Outside the Gym Strength training early in life sets girls up for better bone health, confidence, and physical independence for years to come. Yet many teens avoid the weight room because it feels intimidating, confusing, or embarrassing . Learn To Lift for Teens provides a safe, supportive environment where girls learn proper technique, build strength, and gain confidence — without pressure or gym culture overwhelm. They leave knowing what to do, how to do it safely, and believing they belong in strength training for life . Not only is this program ideal for the non-athlete but is also an ideal off-season program for teen athletes looking to build resilience and support performance. ### Why Strength Training Matters for Teen Girls Strength training during adolescence is one of the most powerful investments in a girl’s long-term health . Up to 90% of peak bone mass is built by the late teen years, making this a critical window for improving bone density and reducing future fracture and osteoporosis risk. Beyond bone health, resistance training supports healthy body composition, joint stability, coordination, and injury prevention, while also improving confidence and self-efficacy . Research consistently shows that properly supervised strength training is safe and beneficial for teens, and can lower injury risk in sports while supporting mental well-being. When girls learn to lift with proper technique in a supportive environment, they don’t just get stronger — they develop the skills, confidence, and independence to care for their bodies for life. ### Program Details February 11th - March 13th, 2026 Wednesdays and Fridays at 3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Bomb Fitness at 862 Kingston Road Register Now ### Program FAQs ### Tell me about the Program Fees and Insurance Information Portions of this program may be eligible for extended health benefit reimbursement under naturopathic medicine. For this reason, each participant must be an active patient of Dr. Shivaune for the duration of the program. Please review the full fee structure carefully before registering. 1. Registration Fee $99 + HST* (one-time fee, per semester) 2. Active Patient Requirement All participants must be active patients of Dr. Shivaune. New patients are required to complete a pre-program assessment: $195 (HST-exempt, insurance eligible) Existing patients who have not had a visit with Dr. Shivaune in the past 6 months or more will require a reassessment: $165 (HST-exempt, insurance eligible) 3. Group Lifting Sessions Each group lifting session attended is billed at $55 per session (HST-exempt, insurance eligible) *The registration fee may be eligible for reimbursement through a health spending account, depending on your plan. Register Now ### Tell me about the Pre-Program Assessment Pre-program assessments are comprehensive, women’s-health-focused naturopathic visits with Dr. Shivaune, a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. These visits may include discussion and support around: • Sleep • Nutrition • Menstrual health • Mental health • Digestion Where appropriate, recommendations may be made for blood work, supplements, and/or lifestyle changes. A written treatment summary will be provided and can be reviewed by parents or guardians prior to moving forward. Pre-program assessments are completed in-office at The Nook, located at 902 Kingston Road, and must be completed before the program start date. Blood tests and supplements may be recommended during the assessment or throughout the program based on individual needs. These services may involve additional costs; however, there is no obligation to purchase them in order to continue participating in the program. #### Where do the group sessions take place? Group training sessions will take place at Bomb Fitness at 862 Kingston Road. #### What happens if I have to miss a session? In order to gain maximum benefit from the program, it is highly recommended that you attend each group session. Since the space in the program is reserved for you, if you’re not able to attend a particular session, it is requested that you provide a minimum of 24-hours’ notice to avoid being charged a missed session fee equal to the session cost, ($55 plus HST). #### I have an active injury, can I still participate in the program? Since we are working in a group, we are not able to accommodate major injuries. If your injury is minor and you’ve been cleared to participate in modified physical activity you may participate. If you’re still unsure, please schedule a free 15 minute discovery call. Book a discovery call ### Meet Your Coach ## Dr Shivaune Wright Dr. Shivaune is a Naturopathic Doctor with over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. Her journey started in high performance athletics as a teen doing competitive sprint canoe and kayak racing and swimming, cross training for which included weight lifting beginning at age 13. After completing her undergrad degree in Kinesiology and Phys Ed, she spent almost a decade as a Personal Trainer, and included working with everyone from competitive tennis athletes, weekend warriors to seniors. Alongside her clinical practice, Dr Shivaune knew she needed to bridge the gap between the reasons why women stick to the cardio machine and avoid the weight racks, hence the program series - Muscle Is Medicine - was born. Join Waitlist ## Step: Muscle Is Medicine Checkout ### Registration for Fall 2026 is open for enrolment! 10-week Learn To Lift & Get Stronger programs in Beaches & Leslieville run from the week of September 21st through November 23rd, 2026 Beaches LEARN TO LIFT Tuesdays 6:30 PM CLASS FULL New Class Added - Wednesdays 4:30 PM Fridays 11 AM GET STRONGER Tuesdays 7:30 PM Fridays 12 PM Leslieville LEARN TO LIFT Mondays 1 PM Wednesdays 7 PM Fridays 6 AM Friday 7:30 AM Fridays 1 PM By making this purchase you agree to the following terms and conditions You agree to the weekly group session fee ($65 for Beaches | $75 for Leslieville - no tax, insurance eligible) You will do your very best to attend each group session; will inform us ahead of time if you will be absent for a group session; and agree that any cancellations within 24 hrs of a session will incur a missed session fee ($65 for Beaches | $75 for Leslieville) Agree to establish/maintain your Doctor/Patient relationship with your location coach, Dr. Shivaune or Dr. Janice If you are a new patient : New patients are required to book a pre-program assessment ($195 no tax) or a comprehensive adult intake ($295) If you are a returning patient: You agree to maintain your Doctor/Patient relationship with your coach by engaging in at least one 1-on-1 visit within the last 6 months of program start date, fees according to her clinic fee schedule, or a pre-program reassessment. #### Ali Learn To Lift Athlete Learn to lift has given me a whole new perspective on how to stay healthy and strong in my 40s & beyond. Highly recommend it! #### Lauren Learn To Lift Athlete Shivaune is a patient, knowledgeable lifting instructor. She meets you where you are at and encourages you to go bigger! The podcasts were an added bonus that I played on repeat. ## Step: Muscle Is Medicine Checkout Teen # Muscle is Medicine ### Learn To Lift - TEEN EDITION ### Registration Fee - Winter Semester 2026 Join the 4-week bi-weekly weight lifting program with Dr. Shivaune Wright, ND at Bomb Fitness. The program will run biweekly for 4 weeks from February 11th - March 13th on Wednesdays and Fridays 3:45-4:30pm All sessions take place at Bomb Fitness 862 Kingston Road By making this purchase you agree to the following terms and conditions You agree to the weekly group session fee of $55 (no tax, insurance eligible) You will do your very best to attend each group session; will inform us ahead of time if you will be absent for a group session; and agree that any cancellations within 24 hrs of a session will incur a $55 missed session fee. Agree to establish/maintain your Doctor/Patient relationship with Dr. Shivaune If you are a new patient : New patients are required to book a pre-program assessment ($195 no tax) If you are a returning patient: You agree to maintain your Doctor/Patient relationship with Dr. Shivaune by engaging in at least one 1-on-1 visit within the last 6 months of program start date, fees according to her clinic fee schedule, or a pre-program reassessment.