Winter Yoga and Acupuncture classes!

The fall series of yoga classes were all well attended or sold out! We are doing several more this winter. No experience needed. Come relax with us! Reach out with questions!

Friday January 6th 6:15-8:15pm at Yoga Moves, Stoneham w/ Lori Lambert-Osburn

http://www.eyogamoves.com/workshops.html

Sunday February 5th 4:45-6:15pm at Burlington Rec Dept w/ Joan Trubiano

http://www.burlington.org/RecProgramGuides/Winter%202017.pdf

Sunday February 12th at Ahhh Sweet Balance, Wakefield 4:00-6:00pm w/ Kate Curtis

http://www.ahhhsweetbalance.com/page/upcoming-events

Sunday February 26th 2:00-4:00pm at One Powered Yoga, Reading w/ Karen Cullen

http://www.onepoweredyoga.com/workshops-events/

 

 

Gift Baskets, Yoga/Acupuncture classes and More!

December is here and with Christmas and the holidays please know that I am here to help reduce your stress. Just a few things to to note:

– Most insurances run the calendar year. If you’ve met your deductible and want to get in a couple more times before the end of the year let me know!

– Most flex spending accounts expire the end of the year so if you have dollars to use, schedule and appt to use it up before it’s lost! I’ll be working a full schedule the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve for those with time off who would like to get in.

pic

– I have some lovely gift baskets available for purchase ($100 each). Each one includes a card for a treatment along with some other goodies like Arnicare, Tiger Balm, a pain patch, massage oil, room spray, soap, lip balm, tea and snacks. A perfect gift for someone in your life who has everything already and doesn’t need more stuff. Give the gift of health! Inquire with me and come pick one up. Supplies are limited.

– I’m doing 2 more yoga/acupuncture combo classes in the next month. Click on the links below to check out details and sign up. Hope to see some of you there. They are always enjoyed by everyone and no better time to take a little extra care of yourself!! No experience needed. Come breathe, move and relax.

Friday 12/09/16 at One Powered Yoga in Reading w/ Karen Cullen 7:15pm

http://www.onepoweredyoga.com/workshops-events/

Friday 01/06/17 at Yoga Moves in Stoneham w/ Lori Lambert-Osburn 6:30pm
https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=7886

As always, I want to thank you for being wonderful patients and for your referrals. I hope everyone enjoys this holiday season and has a healthy, happy 2017 as well!

Take care,

Jay

Yoga and Acupuncture classes this fall – 5 locations!

Please sign up for one of the yoga/acupuncture events this Fall/Winter! Everyone enjoys them so much. Great way to unwind after a long week or a busy weekend. Great “Mom’s Night Out” too – come with a friend! Two self care opportunities in one!

 

Friday 9/30/16 –  7:15-9:30 at One Powered Yoga, Reading w/ Karen Cullen

http://www.onepoweredyoga.com/workshops-events/

Sunday 10/02/16 – 4:45-6:00 at Burlington Rec Dept w/ Joan Trubiano

http://www.burlington.org/Fall%202016.pdf

Sunday 10/09/16 – 4:00-6:00 at Ahhh Sweet Balance, Wakefield w/ Kate Curtis

http://www.ahhhsweetbalance.com/workshops-om/

Friday 10/21/16 – 7:30-9:15 at Centre Yoga, Lynnfield w/ Karen Cullen

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=33084

Friday 11/04/16 – 7:00-8:45 at Yoga Moves, Stoneham w/ Joan Trubiano

http://www.eyogamoves.com/workshops.html

Friday 12/09/16 – 7:15-9:15 at One Powered Yoga, Reading w/ Karen Cullen

http://www.onepoweredyoga.com/workshops-events/

Try Cupping This Fall

cupping pic AK

For many people, September is a time for change. Back to school, the seasons are changing and you may want set a health goal or try something new to help you feel better. Something new you could try is an aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine known as cupping. On the heels of the Olympics in Rio, we saw just how many athletes, including Gold medal winner Michael Phelps, are using this ancient therapy to improve performance and feel better. Better health is something everyone wants – why not try this amazing technique. It can provide numerous health benefits which I will discuss here.

One way to think about cupping is like an inverse massage. Rather than applying pressure to muscles and fascia, the suction (created by pumps or flame) uses pressure to pull the skin, tissue and muscles upward. I will often combine cupping and acupuncture is the same treatment, but it can also be done alone or with TuiNa (Chinese Massage).

Cupping was developed many thousands of years ago. Evidence of cupping exists in many different cultures including ancient Chinese, Native American, Greek and Egyptian societies. Although some of the techniques have changed and some of the tools have been modernized the theory behind it remains unchanged. Hippocrates, the “Father of Modern Medicine”, is said to have used cupping and it is mentioned in his guide to clinical treatment.

Cupping involves placing glass, bamboo or plastic cups on the skin and creating a vacuum by suctioning out the air. I use sterile glass cups in my office that are each crafted with a valve that at suction pump attaches to. The underlying tissue is sucked into the cup and can look quite bizarre to someone who has never seen it done. The purpose of cupping is to enhance circulation, relieve pain and removes toxins that linger in your body’s tissue. It can also help with respiratory complaints, especially when done over the lungs.

A tight, pulling sensation is often reported in the area that is cupped. It should not be painful. Some people find the treatments relaxing, comforting and soothing. The cups may be moved around (sliding cups) over some lubricant or left in place (stationary cups). The can stay in place a very short amount of time (quick cups) or up to 10 minutes. Each treatment is unique to your circumstances on that day. Areas that can be cupped include the back, traps, between the scapulae, lumbar area, hamstrings, calves and even the soles the feet (good for plantar fasciitis). Cupping over the abdomen can also be beneficialfor constipation.

Cups generally do leave a mark. The skin temporarily turns red, purple or or blue especially if there is a lot of tension or stagnation under the area or if an energetic blockage that needs to be addressed. The marks are rarely painful. Once the marks have gone away it is safe to repeat the treatment until the problem has resolved.

Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow all are faithful fans of cupping. Athletes use cupping as a secret weapon. Many Olympic swimmers use cupping to retain that competitive edge and to restore muscles to optimum firing capability after a particularly grueling training session. Cupping is not just for swimmers though – ballet dancers, tennis players, baseball players, runners, and many other types of athletes have all turned to cupping to relieve stiffness and help address different issues and injuries.

Cupping helps stimulate the flow of fresh blood, lymph and Qi to the affected area and throughout the body. If often works well on patients who have recently come down with a cold, or what we in the acupuncture world might call a “Wind Cold Invasion”. This type of treatment needs to be done right at the first onset of symptoms to be beneficial. Remember to always keep the area covered after treatment. So, if you have something big planned and you can’t afford to be getting sick, give me a call and we can do some cupping that day to see if we can curb the cold before it develops.

It should be noted that cupping should be done only by qualified and licensed professionals. This is not something to try at home with a random kitchen glass! It could result in serious injury so please always call a professional if you are interested in cupping.

Summer Acupuncture Yoga Class!

The last yoga and acupuncture combo class w/ Joan at Yoga Moves was a huge success (SOLD OUT!!). Everyone loved the music, the meditations, the acupuncture and the crystals.

 

Stretch and Release

 

Friday August 19, 2016 from 6pm-7:30pm at Yoga Moves, Stoneham w/ Joan Trubiano.

Sign up here.

For more info on the classes, see the Stretch and Release page of this website.

2 more Yoga/Acupuncture classes on the books – SIGN UP TODAY!!

The last yoga and acupuncture combo class was a huge success (SOLD OUT!!) and we are doing more.

Events are:

Sunday June 5, 2016 from 4pm-6pm at Ahhh Sweet Balance, Wakefield w/ Kate Curtis.

Sign up here.

Friday June 10, 2016 from 6pm-7:30pm at Yoga Moves, Stoneham w/ Joan Trubiano.

Sign up here.

For more info on the classes, see the Stretch and Release page of this website.

Special Thanks!

A big thank you goes out to all of the people that showed up to the Healthy Melrose wellness fair on Saturday. Great turn out and had some great talks with some people that were interested in hearing about acupuncture and Chinese medicine. More and more people are figuring out that a natural approach to health is optimal. Everyone had great questions. If anyone needs additional answers or would like to chat further please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Thank you to my friend and wellness partner Holly Fitzgerald from Fitzgerald Physical Therapy in Malden and Woburn for telling me about the event!!!

 

healthy melrose

Health Fair Thanks

health fair

A huge thank you to all who stopped by my table at the 2016 Health Fair at the Stoneham Middle School. It was a pleasure speaking to all of you and I enjoyed letting you know a little bit about what I do as an acupuncturist and my practice. Also very much enjoyed networking with some of the other vendors at the event and hope to work with you soon. I hope everyone enjoyed the seaweed snacks we gave away (they were all gone!). The raffle was a big hit and  an area woman is the proud winner of the basket which included three free treatments (!) and a bunch of assorted goodies – including hydrosols made by yours truly! I hope to do more of these type of events in the future!! Get in touch if you’d like to continue the conversation or set an appointment. Spring is the best time to get acupuncture as your body is more receptive to healing and change (with the seasons changing now as well).

White Salad

unnamed

Since so many of you loved my last salad post I decided to share another one which has been a huge hit for me over the years at many Spring/Summer events. It was served yesterday at my family’s Easter dinner as a first course. Inspired by a dish I had in a now defunct Ogunquit eatery over ten years ago, this salad is a crisp, healthy, different addition to any menu! Delicious! Enjoy!

White Salad

2 whole endive, chopped

1 bunch napa cabbage, chopped

1 large fennel bulb, sliced very thin with a mandoline

3-4 stalks celery, sliced very thin with a mandoline

1 medium sized daikon radish, sliced very thin with a mandoline

Parmesan cheese, shaved

 

Dressing

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup champagne vinegar

squirt of fresh lemon juice

pinch of herbes de provence

1 tbs. dijon mustard

1 tbs. nutritional yeast

salt and pepper

 

Yoga/Acupuncture Combo Class coming to Wakefield 04/17/16

MB+&+FB+YIN+YOGA+&+ACUPUNCTURE

Very excited to announce the next class! Hope to see many of you there!!  xo Jay

Do you love yoga or acupuncture and want to see how they mix? Have you been doing one and wondering what the other has to offer? The word yoga means union. It’s the joining together of breath, body and mind – mind, body and spirit. This unique class will begin with centering followed by the exploration of the breath through multiple asanas (yoga poses) in an intelligent, gentle therapeutic flow. This program will stretch and soothe every space in the physical body. Class will conclude with an extended savasana (resting pose) and guided meditation. Afterwards a community style acupuncture treatment on your mat is included for each of the participants. Simple treatment options will include a choice of:

• Four Gates Treatment – Helps with calming and quieting the mind, strengthening and nourishing all the muscles and tendons.

• Head Over Heels – Can treat headache or plantar fasciitis.

• Back In Action Treatment – Targeting the spinal column and muscles of the back and neck.

We look forward to guiding you through the vast inner landscape of your being during this relaxing yet refreshing experience.

• Registration is required – Class is limited to 12 participants. 

http://www.ahhhsweetbalance.com/workshops-om/

• Bring or rent a mat $2

• Dress in loose comfortable clothing

• No refunds on workshops

About the instructors:

Kate Curtis has been practicing yoga for ten years, and has been teaching in the Boston area for four years.  She strongly believes that everyone can find peace and health through natural means. Kate’s passion lies in guiding practitioners to feeling strength and comfort in their mind, body, and soul. Infused into her classes are encouragement, humor, loving kindness and an emphasis on the shared human experiences within the group.

Jay Guanci, Lic. Ac. has been practicing acupuncture in Reading since 2007. He holds a Master’s degree in acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture, the country’s oldest college of Oriental Medicine. Jay is trained in both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture, as well as Dr. Tan’s balance style. He is experienced in treating all types of health issues. He’s been practicing yoga regularly for 4 years and is very intrigued by the similarities in these two disciplines.