Acupuncture Treatment and Personal Training
Acupuncture Sessions
The insertion of very thin needles into the meridian systems of the body. Needles will tonify or move qi and blood to create the proper energetic flows, connect the mind and body and restore balance.
Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes. Also, be prepared to remove clothing (provided you are comfortable with doing so)
Have a snack and some water an hour before your session.
You will be asked a series of questions regarding bodily functions. These are in-depth questions to help access the nature of any imbalance that may be present.
You will have your pulse taken and your tongue examined. You may have parts of your body palpated to feel for tension, sensitivity, and temperature.
Everyone has a different experience but in general, there is minimal pain upon insertion of the needle. Some say they feel nothing and others say it feels like a mosquito bite.
Many people feel a warm or heavy, distending sensation at the needle. This is qi being activated.
Most people feel very relaxed during and after the treatment. Some people fall asleep on the table. Some feel very energized during and following the treatment.
How does modern science explains acupuncture?
Acupuncture stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins
Acupuncture stimulates the release of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are responsible for sending impulses to the brain
Acupuncture has been shown to influence the autonomic nervous system
Acupuncture helps to stimulate circulation
Acupuncture because of the aloe effects restores the body's natural balance and stimulates the body’s natural healing process, while helping to initiate physical and emotional wellness.
Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses small glass cups or bamboo jars as suction devices that are placed on the skin to disperse and break up stagnation and congestion by drawing congested blood, energy, or other humors to the surface.
—“Where there’s stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain.”
Pain results from the congestion, stagnation, and blockage of qi or vital energy, vital fluids, lymph, phlegm, and blood. If pain is the essence of disease, then suffering is a result of obstructed or irregular flow in the body. Chinese cupping is, therefore, a method of breaking up the blockage to restore the body’s natural flow of energy.
The practitioner creates suction in the cups by a small flame that creates a vacuum or by a pump. Once the suction has occurred, the cups can be gently moved across the skin. The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes.
This treatment is valuable for the lungs and can clear congestion from a common cold or help to control a person’s asthma. In fact, respiratory conditions are one of the most common maladies that cupping is used to relieve.
Cupping removes toxins and improves blood flow through the veins and arteries. Especially useful for athletes is cupping’s potential to relieve muscle spasms.
Cupping also affects the digestive system. A few benefits include an improved metabolism, relief from constipation, a healthy appetite, and stronger digestion.
Cupping can have some mild side effects.
Bruising should be expected, but skin should return to looking normal within 10 days. Other potential side effects include mild discomfort, skin infection, or in rare cases, burns. However, a trained health professional will apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent an infection.
Tui na, or tuina, is a therapeutic form of massage that has been used in China for more than 5,000 years. It has been gaining international attention for its safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions.
— This complementary and alternative Chinese medicine modality makes use of rhythmic compression techniques along different energy channels of the body to establish a harmonious flow of qi throughout the body and bringing it back to balance. By applying pressure to meridians, acupoints, and groups of muscles and nerves, tui na removes blockages and works deeply with the positive energy of the body.
The best part of the therapy is that it relaxes as well as energizes the person. The main benefit of tui na massage is that it focuses on the specific problem, whether it is acute or chronic pain associated with the joints, muscles, or skeletal system. This technique is very beneficial in reducing the pain in the neck, shoulders, hips, back, arms, thighs, legs, and ankle disorders. It is a very effective therapy for arthritis, pain, sciatica, and muscle spasms. Other benefits of this massage therapy include relieving stress-related disorders like insomnia, constipation, headaches, and other disorders related to the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems.
“Gua sha,” which directly translates to “scraping” in Chinese, is an ancient healing practice in which a practitioner takes a flat tool and, using a generous amount of pressure, pulls it across the skin to increase blood flow.
—It was originally intended to break up the stagnation of qi and promote internal healing. Gua sha is now used to help drain the lymphatic system, ease muscle tension, and help with symptoms of chronic pain, many of which are tied to inflammation.
Smoke or smokeless moxa is used to heat regions of the body that are cold. This will break the stasis in the meridians by activating and calling Yang energy to the areas. Used for issues of cold that affect digestion, menses, ED, and pain
Moving meditation. Breathing coincides with specific movements meant to activate and clear the meridians of the body
Personal Training Sessions
Weight training
Movements using body weight, kettle bells, dumbbells, barbells and exercise bands
Flexibility and balance
Movements based on yoga, Pilates, Capoeira Angola, and qi gong.
Endurance
High, low, and moderate-intensity interval training with combinations of weights, balance, and flexibility movements
Pain Management, Injury Rehabilitation
It can be a slow and trying process. People recovering from injuries or managing chronic pain will often choose to use their personal trainer to help them with the rehabilitation process.
As a trainer, I have worked with many doctors and physical therapists. Once the doctor gives the ok, many clients would take the prescriptions from the doctor or PT, bring it to me, and we would follow the movements prescribed.
The bonus was we could also still do a full workout.
Because of this, I have had significant experience and clientele with injuries, surgeries, and chronic pain regarding literally every joint in the body.
As an acupuncturist, I have taken that knowledge and combined it with the meridian systems of Chinese medicine. Using these theories and the modalities of Acupuncture, Gua Sha, Tui Na, and Cupping, along with the rehab prescriptions, has a profound effect on the rehab process.
Not only can we use a movement-based rehabilitation but with acupuncture we can release those muscles, reduce inflammation, and reduce pain immediately following the session. We can also address the emotional components of the injury, pain, and the recovery process and this is paramount to the process of healing.
The combination of these two modalities can increase the efficacy and time frame of the rehabilitation process.
Combination treatments
Just looking for a good workout and acupuncture? We can do that too. It’s great to move the body and get the qi and blood flowing. We can see areas of restriction, imbalance, and armoring.
The intake is done during the workout, so once finished, we get you on the table and work on the things discussed and observed.
It is very relaxing and acupuncture can help with the recovery process.