Why did you become an acupuncturist?
After months of back pain with no relief from various Western treatments, I saw a flier from a nearby acupuncture clinic. I decided to give it a try, hoping for relief from my pain, and got so much more out of it. The experience transformed my life and I became so fascinated with the process that I enrolled in acupuncture college—at the age of 60!—to find out more. This has become my passion. I am thrilled to be able to introduce new patients to the healing powers of Chinese medicine.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
For me, acupuncture is about nurturing the community. I treat my patients in a peaceful group setting, and I welcome all who come to my door. My sliding scale fees allow me to treat a wide variety of people who normally would not have expected to be able to afford acupuncture. By removing the barrier of cost, I am able to provide healing for any who desire it.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
It makes my heart happy to look out into my clinic and see a room full of peaceful, sleeping people! Patients are so appreciative, and often pleasantly surprised at acupuncture’s effectiveness. My work inspires me to be a better person, and I am so grateful to be able to help others.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
There are two major misconceptions that I hear. The first is that it hurts. There might be a sense of heaviness or mild achiness around the needles, but it rarely causes pain. In truth, most people sleep right through a treatment! The second misconception is that acupuncture is only affordable for people with high-paying jobs, or a lot of disposable income. But acupuncture does not need to be expensive in order to be effective. The community acupuncture model makes acupuncture accessible to the entire community.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I integrate the concepts and practices of Chinese medicine into my everyday life. I receive regular acupuncture treatments and massage therapy. I also meditate and practice qigong.

Learn more and get in touch
desertwindsacupuncture.com
info@desertwindsacupuncture.com
(505) 554-1381
Facebook

Visit
6911 Taylor Ranch Drive, NW C-8, Albuquerque, NM 87120

The post Albuquerque, NM: Jane Townsend appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
For many great reasons, I decided to become an acupuncturist and make these studies a huge part of my life. But the main reason was that I wanted to help people understand their bodies better. Our bodies have amazing abilities, and it important to understand how yours functions to the best of its ability.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I have studied both Western psychology as well as Chinese medicine. This knowledge gives me a different approach to acupuncture than many other practitioners.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
It is such an amazing feeling to see the process of healing. There is no way to not enjoy your work when you feel that you are constantly helping people.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
I constantly hear that acupuncture only works as a placebo. This truly is a misconception, and many facts and studies can prove that. Acupuncture works on many different levels, including physical, mental, and biological.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
There are many ways to stay healthy, but personally, I have dedicated a lot of time to the study and practice of martial arts. I also enjoy spending time creating exercise programs that focus on health and maintenance for your body.

Learn more and get in touch
oloacupuncture.com

Visit
119 West 23rd Street, New York, New York 10011

The post New York, NY: Matthew Yee appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I saw how effective acupuncture and herbal medicine were while working in wellness centers through college. Many people who came through the doors had tried everything Western medicine had to offer but were still in pain or having uncomfortable side effects from medication. Acupuncture and herbs were able to help such a wide variety of issues naturally and had lasting effects. I wanted to be able to offer people the same kind of relief I saw during that time.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I have the privilege of working at a busy community clinic and was able to administer 2,000 treatments in my first year there. Because of the varied nature of the symptoms of each patient and the amazing team of acupuncturists at the clinic, I have gained priceless experience and treatment tools for even the very hard cases. Working as a teaching assistant at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine has kept me close to the academic side of Chinese medicine, helping me to continually develop a deeper understanding for the medicine.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Seeing patients’ responses to the treatment. First timers are usually surprised by how painless the needles are, how long they slept for during treatment, and how relaxed they feel after.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That practitioners insist on patients following strict lifestyle changes or only using one modality to heal. I like to tell patients to do what works! Everyone is different and is at various stages of the healing process. Acupuncture is assisting the body’s own incredible ability to heal itself and is a great adjunctive treatment. You don’t have to stop or start doing anything other than coming in for your appointment. The healthy changes usually start to happen on their own as patients become more in tune with their bodies.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Finding fun ways to exercise! Practicing yoga, eating whole foods, and getting lots of relaxation.

Learn more and get in touch
oloacupuncture.com

Visit
119 West 23rd Street, New York, New York 10011

The post New York, NY: Jane Terrana appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I was exposed to healing arts as a young girl when my mother, a shiatsu practitioner, taught me about meridian theory, and how to massage certain points to feel better. After graduating from Douglass College at Rutgers University, I had a formative experience working with Tibetan refugees in northern India. Seeing first hand how effective regular access to acupuncture could be, I decided to formally study acupuncture and Chinese herbology upon my return to the states.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
What distinguishes me from all other practitioners is my hands-on experience and training in another country which gave me the opportunity to see how needed the practice of acupuncture is. I have the opportunity to provide community medicine that is affordable and accessible.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I enjoy most about my job is being able to witness patients’ healing processes and see them become empowered around their wellness. I truly believe healing comes from within.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That the needles are huge! Often people expect a syringe, when actually acupuncture needles are practically hair thin, solid, and quite flexible.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Eating well-balanced meals that are in sync with the season, staying active, and receiving regular acupuncture of course!

Learn more and get in touch
oloacupuncture.com
yuka@oloacupuncture.com
(212) 595-3432

Visit
119 West 23rd Street, New York, New York 10011

The post New York, NY: Yuka Hagiwara appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
In the 4th grade, at the age of 10, I began to meditate. Not because I came from some long line of healers, but because I had been waking up in the middle of the night in agony. My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Wolfe, was mean as a nest of hornets, and I was having nervous stomach pain. I was lucky that the ER doc told me I needed to learn to relax, instead of throwing a bunch of Ritalin or Prozac at me. So, I began exploring ways to relax.

I was into martial arts with my friend Jim, and had learned how to use my mind to overcome pain while fighting. I was a big science nerd, and I began to read about meditation and visualization exercises and bio feedback. Out of that, I began practicing a simple form of meditation. No gurus, no “grass hopper,”—just a simple from of mental and physical relaxation. It worked. I overcame my fears of Mrs. Wolfe, quieted my nervous stomach, and learned that the mind and the body are connected in ways we have just now begun to understand.

Out of that, my interest in Chinese philosophy and ways of life were born. It also didn’t hurt that my grandfather, who had been stationed in China, had brought lots of Chinese artwork back from WWII. It was always there as a backdrop during my visits to his house. Funny how staring at a big Buddha for 18 years can make you wonder about the world!

After that early exposure to meditation and the power of the mind over the body, I began using sports as a sort of moving meditation. My favorites were basketball and volleyball because of the steady action and movement. Later, I became an avid cyclist.

My father’s mother taught me that you could eat things out of your yard, and that some plants were medicinal. My father’s father taught me about vitamins and standing on your head. He said it clears the brain and helps you live a long time, which evidently worked. Or maybe he lived a long time in spite of it! My mother taught me that eating right and getting rest were the most important things to good health. My dad taught me how to hit golf balls, be nice to people, and do the hard work in life, first.

Later in life, I worked for Greenpeace, and was surrounded by people who were into all kinds of alternative healing work. That exposure to new ideas, and to the problems our planet faces, changed my life. After that, I began looking for a new career, one that would allow me to help other people and provide solutions to problems, and that would be a life-long learning and growth process. This is something I can do until I am very old.

After much soul searching, I discovered acupuncture. I explored many therapies, including chiropractic, massage, allopathic medicine, etc., but acupuncture seemed to be the very best fit for how I viewed health. Acupuncture took into consideration all of who a person is, and all the influences on their life, including diet, exercise, parents’ health, job and relationship stresses, sleep, and on and on. It is also profoundly effective, well established (3,000 year history) and extremely safe.

It turned out that my wife’s college roommate’s mother was an acupuncturist. I went to visit her and she was radiant, happy, and very wise. I knew I wanted those qualities in my life. Then I met the faculty and students at the Tai Sophia Institute in Columbia, MD, and that sealed the deal! I studied at Tai Sophia (then it was the Traditional Acupuncture Institute) for three and a half years, earned a master’s degree, and started my first practice. All together, with the clinical portion of my studies, I have been practicing for over 14 years.

I searched for many months for the right office space, and found a beautiful space on the second floor of a chiropractor’s building. The best part is that the office is just up the block from my house, which means I can walk to work!

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I think what sets me apart is my confidence and compassion for others. I really understand what it’s like to be in pain, and I’ve been healed, and helped others to heal and recover, so I know what it takes to pull through.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I most enjoy the surprise and delight patients experience when they find out that a few little needles can make them feel so much better. I also really like when people tell me that acupuncture has changed their lives.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
I think that the biggest misconception about acupuncture is that it’s only good for pain. Acupuncture is so great for wellbeing in general, and especially for anxiety, menstrual and infertility issues, digestive issues and so much more!

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I get a lot of exercise, eat whole foods that are in season as much as possible, and I get acupuncture, bodywork and chiropractic. I race bicycles, swim, lift weights, and take hikes as often as I can. I also do yoga and meditate.

What drew you to community acupuncture?
I like the fact that people can afford to come in often enough to really get good results. I also really like that people are so thankful that they can afford it. I also love the pace!

Learn more and get in touch
acupuncturerox.com
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
acupuncturerox@gmail.com
(267) 417-0147

Visit
445 Lyceum Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128

The post Philadelphia, PA: David Schiman appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I was living in Hong Kong in 1996, and a couple of acupuncture visits got me out of some serious pain. That caught my interest and led to a career change. I practiced privately until 2009, when I learned about the community acupuncture model. I restructured my practice and never looked back! Brenna Lewis and I opened Toronto Community Acupuncture (ToCA) in 2011 to serve Toronto’s east end.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
At Toronto Community Acupuncture (ToCA) we treat in a group setting. We try to make it easy for people to take care of themselves with acupuncture. We charge affordable rates, and we take online bookings and accept walk-ins whenever possible. People can stay as long as they like for their treatments because we have plenty of comfortable recliners.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love the community acupuncture model because I get to see and treat a lot of people from many backgrounds, with a wide variety of complaints. I love working in a space where people arrive to take care of themselves and take a break from their busy lives. It is so rare in our society that we stop and take time to be still, and there’s nothing quite like being around that kind of peacefulness whenever you go to work!

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
Sadly, most people considering acupuncture assume that they won’t be able to afford it. We are glad to provide accessible treatments, because in most cases, acupuncture needs to be received regularly to make an impact on your health. For an acute problem, a few sessions might be enough, but for chronic health issues, regular treatment can make all the difference to one’s quality of life. People are not going to do that unless they can afford it.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Daily walks in Toronto’s ravines with my dog, stretching, and regular meditation. Quality time with my family. I try to have fun and see the world through my kids’ eyes. And regular acupuncture, one of the perks of my job!

What do you love about acupuncture?
I love that acupuncture can do so much with so little, and it really just reminds your body how to heal itself. It’s inexpensive to administer and, no matter what you are getting treated for, it’s calming and helps you to digest and sleep better. It helps us to manage stress, and who doesn’t need that?

Learn more and get in touch
tocacu.ca
info@communityacupuncturetoronto.ca
(416) 405-8222
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Visit
Toronto Community Acupuncture (ToCA): 27 Davies Avenue, main floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4M 2A9, Canada

The post Toronto, ON: Naomi Frank appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I felt acupuncture’s effectiveness when I first had it in 1978! Long story. Though I am from Minneapolis, I was living in San Francisco and had a specific health concern at the time. I am honored to say that I received acupuncture from Naboru Muramoto, a Japanese practitioner and the author of Healing Ourselves. I had great success with those treatments and that was the beginning of my interest in acupuncture. I later moved to Chicago to study at the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine and graduated in January 1988.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
After 23 years of private acupuncture practice (I also provided acupuncture to county addictions programs), I connected with the community acupuncture movement and opened Abundant-Chi Community Acupuncture in December 2010. This distinguishes me as a provider of NADA (the ear acupuncture protocol of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association), with experience in providing both private and community acupuncture services. I’ve done it all! Seriously, I treat all sorts of conditions.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love introducing patients to Chinese medicine and acupuncture. It really is a new way of looking at our wellness. It is so much about self-care and self-awareness. Call me to find out more!

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
After 25 years of providing acupuncture treatment, I still think the biggest misconception is that acupuncture is painful. Ha! Almost everyone falls asleep! Our center is quiet and relaxing.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I practice mindfulness meditation and Tai Chi. I am actually a cancer survivor and use Chinese medicine practices and concepts in my day-to-day life. Herbs, foods, self-care, acupressure and movement are all components of Traditional Chinese Medicine for maintaining balance and wellbeing.

Learn more and get in touch
abundant-chi.com
info@abundant-chi.com
(507) 990-3299

Visit
604 2nd Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902

The post Rochester, MN: Deah Kinion appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
In my experience, life leads you along certain paths for a reason. I truly believe that the way I fell into my passion for acupuncture is proof of this. I grew up in Northern Ontario roaming through forests and swimming in cool waters with no knowledge of acupuncture. It wasn’t until I moved to South Korea to teach ESL and began suffering from constant migraines that I was introduced to acupuncture by a concerned co-worker. She suggested going to see her acupuncturist and I hesitantly agreed. After only a few treatments, my migraines subsided and my passion for acupuncture was ignited. I returned to Canada to begin my studies in acupuncture and never looked back.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
For me acupuncture is about creating community. This is why I chose to open a community style acupuncture clinic. I really wanted to make acupuncture available to everyone and create a space where people want to gather and heal together. In practice, I prefer to use Five Element style acupuncture because it addresses all levels of the patient including the physical, emotional, and spiritual. As a practitioner, my journey continues and every day I am furthering my studies in other healing modalities including Reiki, Acutonics, and the teachings of the Medicine Buddha.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
What can I say…I love my job! I wake up in the morning and I am actually excited to go to work. I am just so grateful to have found a profession that inspires me to be a better person on a daily basis and to be able to help others at the same time.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
Acupuncture mainly treats pain. There are so many conditions that acupuncture can treat, from digestive issues to insomnia to menstrual irregularities. Many patients are unaware of this. It is always interesting when a patient comes in for some type of pain problem but with further discussion other health issues are brought up that can also be treated with acupuncture. I love seeing patients’ eyes light up when they ask, “Acupuncture can help me with that too?”

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I enjoy going for rides on my retro bike (makes me feel like a kid again!) and furthering my not-so-good flexibility in yoga as my main forms of physical health. As for my mental health, I try to partake in daily meditation and pour myself into my passion for photography and vintage cameras.

Learn more and get in touch
gatheredrootsacupuncture.com
gatheredrootsacupuncture@gmail.com
(604) 521-6639
Facebook
Twitter

Visit
328 Columbia Street, New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 1A6, Canada

The post New Westminster, BC: Fiona Lampman appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
In many ways I feel like this field chose me. Growing up macrobiotic and practicing yoga as a child with my grandmother, I had been exposed to alternative health all my life. Over the years, in dealing with my own pain and struggles, I found Traditional Chinese Medicine to truly heal my emotional pain as well as the bodily manifestations that came along with it. In amazement from my own healing, I have completely embraced this form of medicine and ever since have wanted to share it with others.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I’m curious and I always look deep as to why an individual is experiencing the symptoms that they are. My goal is to help someone become deeply connected with their authentic self. I want to peel away the layers of negative self talk and doubt they may embody, so that they can blossom into the free, expansive, and happy person that they are. I believe we need to nourish ourselves in many different ways. Taking time to rest and relax, engaging in activities that fill you with a passion and a zest for life, and truly connecting with others in your life.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love connecting with others—this is one of the reasons I chose to open a community health clinic. I love being able to share our stories together and for my patients to know that I’m here to support them. In addition, I feel it is such a gift to be a part of their healing path. I have had the great fortune to have been supported by some amazing practitioners throughout my life. Now that I’m a practitioner, I can honestly say it is equally as rewarding of an experience to be on the other end.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That acupuncture only treats pain. Acupuncture treats so much more with wonderful results. Stress, over thinking, worrying, sleeplessness, digestion, and low energy are just some of the things that I find TCM can help with. Prevention of illness is another big one. We’re here to help you stay healthy!

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
How I treat my patients is also how I treat myself. I believe it’s so important to give myself the time and space to nourish myself. Yes, sometimes life gets out of hand, but I always come back to this. I love to dance and practice yoga as often as possible. I also love to eat delicious foods that make me feel great. I regularly give myself ample time to sleep each night (between 8 and 9 hours). And I always treat myself each week to indulge in something fun.

Learn more and get in touch
gatheredrootsacupuncture.com
gatheredrootsacupuncture@gmail.com
(604) 521-6639
Facebook
Twitter

Visit
328 Columbia Street, New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 1A6, Canada

The post New Westminster, BC: Tara Akuna appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.

Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I was only able to afford acupuncture because I found Alberta Street Acupuncture in Portland, OR, which offered sliding scale services. They helped me with a number of chronic health conditions in a way that pharmaceutical drugs couldn’t. I also worked as a counselor at a detox program where NADA ear acupuncture was used on a daily basis for recovering alcoholics and heroin addicts—many with severe psychiatric conditions, some who lived on the streets. I saw how it helped them calm down, get through detox and stay engaged with recovery. These experiences radically transformed how I understood community health. I wanted to learn how to make acupuncture more accessible to everyday people, and how to facilitate the growth of community-based clinics.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
For me acupuncture is a community-building tool. Understood as such, this puts less emphasis on myself or my charisma. I’m not a guru, not going to pose as the be all and end all of your medical care. My outreach and my ability to facilitate changes in people is highly limited if I’m the only one providing acupuncture within a given community. Anything that is dependent solely on me will not be sustainable. My role therefore is not only to provide treatments, but also to get local health workers trained, and to help others establish clinics that are community-based.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
In a community clinic, it’s exciting to see diverse people of different backgrounds share a space. Several of my colleagues have started up clinics within Catholic churches, open to the public regardless of creed, for people who’ve never had access to acupuncture nor would have ever sought out or been able to afford an acupuncturist. I recently visited one of these churches, where a group of Mormons in the neighborhood started coming, and subsequently invited them to come offer a clinic in the nearby Mormon temple. Stories like this remind me that acupuncture isn’t just for well off liberals and new age folks. Acupuncture is, as has been traditionally in China, for the poor and the rich, the worker and the unemployed, the conservative and the liberal, the atheist as well as the born-again Christian. Acupuncture is for everyone. I love seeing this happen.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That acupuncture is only for people who have disposable income or who are liberal. There’s a growing number of community acupuncture and public health clinics that offer affordable services. Some addictions and mental health programs offer ear acupuncture as an adjunct to standard treatment, many of which operate in very conservative and rural areas of the U.S. These types of clinics will continue to make acupuncture accessible to people who would probably never seek out an acupuncturist. If you can’t afford any of the acupuncturists in your town, ask them to offer affordable sliding scale or community acupuncture treatments. They need to hear from you.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Being involved in my community while always finding time and space for solitude and nature. Have to pray. Every day.

Learn more and get in touch
crossroadsacupuncture.com
crossroadscommunityacupuncture@gmail.com
(575) 312-6569
Facebook

Visit
Greenworks Community Enterprise Center: 125 N. Main St., Las Cruces, NM 88001

The post Las Cruces, NM: Ryan Bemis appeared first on AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory.