1969: Born in Plymouth Massachusetts, USA.
1970 – 1978: Early Childhood in Nova Scotia, Canada. We grew up on a Homestead, with no electricity and no running water. Our home overlooked the ocean; the incredible natural beauty we witnessed daily began a lifelong reverence and love of Nature. Growing huge gardens, raising animals and taking care of the land, we knew where our food came from. Bringing home the fresh bounty of the sea, our father, a fisherman, at the time, provided for our family. We learned the real costs of the food we were eating. Due to our mother’s commitment to healthful eating and our parent’s dedication to us, we started our lives with extra wellness in the health savings bank. Thank you M and P!
1978 – 1987: Second part of Childhood, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. What a gorgeous place to be a young person exploring the natural world. Riding bicycles, hiking, skiing and riding horses, in the wilderness, were par for the course, of the High-Country lifestyle. During this period of life, I had the good fortune to begin to travel the world. I was fortunate, to live, for a year, in France, with my amazing Healthcare Professional Aunt. Next, I spent time traveling, with a group, through Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Mexico, etc. As a teenager, it was an absolutely Life transforming experience to see, in person, how people from around the world live.
1987 – 1992: Attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. I immersed myself in the inspiring world of Art. During this period of study, I was invited to do a foreign exchange study for a year at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Initially, focusing on Ceramics Sculpture, I began seeking a more direct manner of conveying ideas through Art. Thus, I started my exploration of performance Art. I was so inspired by the idea that everything in Life is Art. It started to occur to me that if everything in life is art, then our ultimate Art piece is our Body. What determines how our body shows up in the world is a combination of what we put in our bodies and the environment we put our body into? These realizations led to an exploration and love of Health and Science. I started reading everything I could get my hands on regarding Health, Nutrition, Herbs, etc.
1992: Graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
1992 – 1995: Worked in Antarctica, interacting with the more adventurous people from many different walks of life (from the Elmer Fudd Hat wearing Wyoming Men, to Punk Rockers from San Francisco, to the Kiwi’s and the Aussies. This was a time for exploring life inside and out. During the 70 degree below zero weather in Antarctica, I delved into books. When released from “the ice” into beautiful New Zealand; we traveled extensively, worked on an Organic Farm in Akaroa, New Zealand…a magical, artistic land.
1995 – 1996: Worked in Johnston Atoll among people from many different cultural backgrounds. During my stay on Johnston Atoll, I learned to scuba dive (a great passion), a brief stint on a windsurfer…and loads of fun sea kayaking around the atoll. Deep into the nightshift, I began asking those important Life Questions. What do I really want to do with my life? What do I want to contribute to my community…to the Global community?
1996-1999: Back to the University of Colorado, Boulder to complete the pre-requisites for Naturopathic School. I had been out of school for years and when I had studied Art I had deftly avoided math and science classes. As I began studying Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, etc, I felt like a couch potato trying to climb Mount Everest. It was time to focus and deliver. It is amazing what you can achieve when you put yourself to the test. On a more romantic note, I fell in love with the study of plants. What a phenomenal, intricate, rich world.
1999: Graduated with Bachelor of Environmental, Population and Organism Biology, from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
2000-2005: Migrated to Seattle to make my dream of becoming a Naturopathic Doctor come true. Even as I started my studies, my overarching desire was to teach people to make better choices for themselves, their lives and their bodies…so they could live Healthy, Happy, Inspiring Lives!
I met, fell in love with and married Lonnie, the man of my dreams. We travelled around the world together (our honeymoon, before the wedding…as I started clinic rotations…the day after we got married). We explored together through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland and England. It is a magical thing to travel the world with the one you love.
2005: Graduated as a Naturopathic Doctor from Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington.
2005-2009: While seeing patients, in the clinic, I came to realize that as we age…we tend to advance toward the edge of what I now call “The Cliff of Health.” As we approach the cliff-edge, symptoms appear. When the symptoms appear, people have a choice…go in to the Doctor and find out what is going on…or carry on with what you are doing…and hope for a different result (Einstein’s definition of Insanity). When the symptoms appear…or the blood-work shows signs disease, people can make new choices and build new habits that move them away from the edge of the cliff…into Health.
2009: The birth of our Glorious Son Cole.
2010-2012: I continue in my desire to assist people in making better choices, for their lives and their bodies. Choices that help people avoid falling off the cliff…for as long as possible. I spent much time researching Nutrition and the importance of achieving one’s optimal weight…as the nation faces an epidemic of Overweight and Obesity. Eventually, putting together a successful weight-loss plan and tailoring it to each person’s lifestyle and needs.
2012-2014: We moved to Beautiful Wenatchee, WA, an incredible haven of Magnificent Nature and Warm and Kind-Hearted people. We feel very blessed to have found such a wonderful Home here. I am honored to be working with the illustrious Dr. Allegra Hart, at the Naturae Naturopathic Clinic. I have found my calling. Creating a safe space for patients to heal is my honor and my passion.
Blessings to one and all! Dr. Lara
Naturae Naturopathic Clinic
1417 Maiden Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801
509-663-5048.
