As I looked through my website to make updates, I realized that some of you might not know that I am also an Acupuncturist. I mean, why would you? I don’t have one single blog post on here about acupuncture! Everything on my website has been about my group exercise program, 30 Minutes of Everything®. I’ve had a stand alone website (prescriptivehealth.com) for my acupuncture practice for the past 10 years, but I recently combined the two. Hence, this introduction of acupuncture.
Now, I don’t want you to think that I’m new to this whole acupuncture business. I’ve been at this for about 15 years – actively practicing and always learning. I just haven’t promoted it much. No good reason to be honest. Since I combined my two websites into one, I thought it would be a good idea to tell you about the other side of me. The calm, peaceful side of me. Haha.
Why and how did I choose acupuncture? Kinda seems strange after getting my Doctorate in Exercise Physiology, right? You’re right, but hold on. I have a story to tell you! So yes, I graduated with my Doctorate in Exercise Science and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Big woop! Haha, I was fortunate to get a degree in a field I love and a career and lifestyle that I will always love – exercise. What I didn’t like so much were the two choices that seemed to follow a Doctorate degree – research or teaching. I tried both and didn’t like either. I had great benefits and a retirement plan, but it was 100% not for me – not long term. I shared my feelings with a friend from Graduate School (Scott Stevenson). You can credit him for lighting a fire under me about acupuncture. He introduced me to the thought, I did some research (of course!), and less than a year later I was leaving my research job and going back to school for acupuncture.
I sold my house in Atlanta and moved to Boston to start over and again . . . go back to school. Three and a half years later, I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Acupuncture. Here’s the funny thing – I had never had acupuncture before going to school. The only needles stuck into me were to draw blood. There’s nothing therapeutic about that! I went to school as a believer in the healing art of Acupuncture, not as a grateful patient. A part of studying Gerontology was looking at different cultures as they age. Asian culture typically lives longer than we Americans do and with less chronic conditions. They were doing something that has been working for centuries!
Traditional Chinese Medicine is what I call preventative and responsive medicine. This is what I have always wanted – to keep people healthy and help them when they’re not. My two interests were serving my purpose! I’ve always had a lot of cross-over care between exercise clients and acupuncture patients. That shouldn’t surprise you. You need and want a trusting relationship with the individual you are trusting your health with – whether it be exercise or acupuncture. For me, this has always worked very well – for my patients too!
I blend both worlds (Eastern and Western) to keep my clients healthy and strong. If you’ve never had acupuncture, maybe you want to give it a try? Ooh, I forgot to tell you something! I practice Japanese Acupuncture. There are several different types of acupuncture and I can honestly say that my favorite to give and receive is Japanese! It involves communication between patient and practitioner, as well as abdominal diagnosis. I won’t look at your tongue so please keep it in your mouth. I’ll just want to poke around on your belly to figure out which energy meridian is out of balance. Anyhow, Japanese (my favorite) acupuncture is powerful and subtle at the same time. Ok, I’m done now. Interested? Call or text me.