Acupuncture is Therapy

July 29, 2010

By: Abe Rummage L.Ac • 704-483-5441 •  www.AcuCareClinic.com

One of the difficult things I encounter as an acupuncturist is only getting one chance to “cure” my patients. No matter how much I tell them that acupuncture requires a course of treatment to realize its full benefits, people will come to me with the idea that they’re going to get one treatment and see if acupuncture works. Often times they’ll come out of the treatment room feeling much better but when they leave they’ll say “Yeah, it’s probably 50% better but I can still feel it. Oh well, I guess it just doesn’t work for me.”

Acupuncture is therapy, not a pill
Do you go to the gym, get in a good hard work out and then step on the scale and think “I haven’t lost any weight, this must not be working.” Do you get in your car, set out for grandma’s house, drive a few miles and ask “Why aren’t we there yet?” Of course not! Acupuncture should be seen the same way. Acupuncture treatments build over time to strengthen the body, remove blockages and balance energy.

Well then, how much therapy do I need?
How long have you had the problem? As a general rule, the longer you’ve suffered with a condition the longer it can take to correct it. This doesn’t mean that you won’t begin to feel relief after the first treatment or two, you probably will, but older problems can take longer to completely resolve.

What if I have a ruptured disk, a torn ligament or degenerative arthritis? Acupuncture can’t “heal” that can it?
Technically, no. No matter what treatment you use, traditional or alternative, your body is the one that does all the healing. All any form of medicine can do is simply help the body do what it already does naturally. Acupuncture can, however, reduce inflammation, swelling and pain as well as encourage the proper blood and energy flow to an area so that healing can happen as efficiently and completely as possible in the shortest amount of time. And that brings us back to our original idea: Acupuncture is therapy. Healing takes time but with a good course of acupuncture incredible things happen very quickly.

Would you like to know more about what you’ve read here?  Please call, check out our web site or come visit us at the Bindu for Community Acupuncture on Thursday afternoons.

Abe Rummage L.Ac • 704-483-5441 •  www.AcuCareClinic.com

Immersion and Teacher Training

July 22, 2010

Two Paths to Enhance your Yoga Life

It’s happening right here at the Bindu.
It all begins this September.

The Anusara Immersion (Click here)

We invite you to deepen your yoga practice on every level by learning the universal principles of alignment in a broad range of yoga poses, studying the history of yoga, yoga philosophy, energy anatomy, breathing techniques, meditation, and much more. This immersion will happen once a month on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Meet great new friends and experience a complete transformation of your own practice.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

If all the weekends don’t work for you or you would like to taste what the Immersion is all about, sign up for Part 1 only (an excellent overview…you’ll be happy you did!)

Yoga Teacher Training (Click here)

Starting in September 2010, the Anusara Immersion is the first piece of the complete teacher training. After successful completion of the Immersion, we teach you a clear, systematic, heart-oriented way to teach yoga to others.

Kelley Gardner (thebindu.com), Stacey Millner-Collins (cityyogasc.com) and Sarah Faircloth (sangati.net) will host immersions in each of their studios starting in September. And each teacher will guest teach for the others’ immersions throughout the trainings. For the final Teacher Training portion, all three of these inspiring teachers will co-teach together at the Bindu.

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“What a fantastic weekend. I am already counting the days until March. The knowledge and energy that the 3 of you have is unbelievable. I just want to stand next to you and hope that some of it will just enter my brain.” – Betsey W.

Grief and Chronic Pain

July 22, 2010

By: Marty Kestin, Ensoma Body Works, www.EnsomaBodyWorks.com

As a rehab specialist I have had many clients struggle to make the necessary changes in their lives to address underlying causes of pain. For example – John has a bulging disc in his lower back and he agrees that it was caused by poor posture at work and not exercising enough.

John starts off great with weekly treatments and is doing postural exercises every morning for the long day ahead. After a month he begins telling himself he has no time for the am routine every day. Soon his back begins to hurt more and he questions the effectiveness of our work.

Why?  John began to rationalize (excuse) why he could not continue his daily postural care. What John does not realize is that this rationalizing is actually “bargaining,” a step in the grieving process.  He is not acknowledging the loss (his healthy back) in his life and is subsequently sabotaging his progress unconsciously.

I was a social worker and worked with people grieving and realized a few years ago that many of my massage clients with chronic pain or a life changing injury would benefit from consciously looking at their situation from a grief perspective.

The most well known grief model is by Elizabeth Kubler Ross.  Her model involved the person working through 4 emotions / energies:

• Anger
• Denial
• Depression
• Bargaining

Once having done so, they come to the 5th emotion / energy of acceptance. The first 4 steps need to be dealt with if there is to be acceptance and the ceasing of unconscious sabotage.

If you or someone you know has had a serious loss or injury and are not well adjusted years later maybe doing some grief work is in order?

Call or email Marty today to get more information about grief work: mkestin@ensomabodyworks.com • 704.335.8115

“Does acupuncture work well with….?”

July 19, 2010

By: Abe Rummage L.Ac, www.AcuCareClinic.com

A lot of the questions I get asked start this way. A large majority of the patients I see have already sought help for the problem they are presenting me with and are already on some sort of medication or in some sort of therapy. Below are some of the most common questions about combining acupuncture with other treatments.

Can I get acupuncture if I am already on a medication for my problem?
Yes. Acupuncture works very well along side traditional pharmaceutical treatment. It is important that I know what medications a patient is on so I may take them into consideration when formulating their treatment.

Will acupuncture interfere with my treatments from a Physical or Massage Therapist?
No. In most situations it is even ideal to receive acupuncture along with manual therapies like massage and physical therapy. Receiving treatment on multiple levels will most often greatly enhance one another’s effects.

How does acupuncture affect my Yoga or Tai Chi practice?
It will affect the practice of both, in a very powerful and synergistic way. I wish all of my patients pursued some sort of mind-body exercise. Disciplines like Yoga and Tai Chi very powerfully supplement and encourage the flow of the bodies’ vital energies. When practiced regularly the developed student will need less and less intervention of any kind to maintain optimal health.

Can I get acupuncture and Chiropractic care at the same time?
Yes. Just as with massage and physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic can provide tremendous results when properly coordinated.

Can I get acupuncture if I am pregnant?
Absolutely! While there are some points that are avoided when treating pregnant women it can still be a tremendous help with things like morning sickness, back pain, swelling, heartburn and many of the other discomforts associated with pregnancy.

These are just some of the most common questions surrounding acupuncture and how it combines with other therapies and conditions. If you have any questions please call us, visit our web site or come to Community Acupuncture at the Bindu on Thursday afternoons.

Abe Rummage L.Ac • 704-483-5441 • www.AcuCareClinic.com

Why I like Anusara Yoga

July 8, 2010

By: Marty Kestin, Ensoma Body Works, ensomabodyworks.com

Most health and fitness professionals would agree that better posture and physical alignment results in less pain and improved health. In my private neuromuscular practice I improve clients’ posture with a unique postural program.  When I am asked by a client what they should do to maintain their posture and alignment once we are done I usually say “continue what you have learned and try Anusara Yoga”
Why?  A few reasons:

• The postural program I use is purely physical and a great place to start for people with pain and orthopaedic issues. Yoga however is a body / mind practice that will take the person to another level of health once the immediate pain and issue is alleviated.
• Any exercise is good exercise as long as it does not hurt you. But are you improving posture and alignment in the process? Yoga not only will improve posture but fosters self awareness and induces the relaxation response which is very important in today’s stressful society.
• The needs of the body and mind are nourished in many yoga styles but Anusara Yoga has an elegant set of alignment principles and a methodology of instruction that releases the natural form of the body and elevates the spirit.

What is this natural form?
Think of the most graceful moving person you have ever seen: She walks smoothly, stands erect, has little to no pain and her body does what is asked of it without discomfort.

Most joint problems and pain begin when the body does not get enough sufficient and functional movement leading to muscle dysfunction and joint misalignment. Anusara Yoga corrects these misalignments and dysfunctions and so much more. As we know ill health (even orthopaedic problems) have more than just a physical cause and Anusara Yoga will help heal and align you physically, emotionally, energetically and spiritually.

If you are reading this Blog chances are you already practice Anusara Yoga. Why not bring a friend with you next time you are at the Bindu? They just might like it as much as you!

Marty Kestin, 704.335.811, mkestin@ensomabodyworks.com, ensomabodyworks.com

Acupuncture for Sports Injuries

July 6, 2010

By: Abe Rummage, L.Ac., LMBT at AcuCare Clinic,  www.AcuCareClinic.com

When considering a visit to an acupuncturist, many of us think of Chinese Medicine for treating problems such as low back pain, migraines and allergies. While acupuncture has proven very effective for these ailments, did you know that it’s also very successful in the treatment of sports injuries?

Acupuncture and injury in ancient times

Photo c/o: RodrigoFavera

Much of the development of Chinese medicine took place in Taoist temples. Monks who studied acupuncture and herbs and those who studied martial arts lived together and regularly trained together as well. This cross training gave birth to a rich tradition of using acupuncture and herbs to treat traumatic and sports injuries. Over the centuries this tradition was honed into an extremely effective set of treatment skills and injury remedies.

Ancient cures for modern times
Many of today’s licensed and certified acupuncturists know the ancient skills for rapid and effective treatment of acute and chronic sports injuries. Keep in mind that broken bones, open wounds, head trauma and other critical injuries should always be treated first by your doctor. But for lesser injures like sprains, strains and bruises, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be very helpful in reducing pain and inflammation as well as dramatically reducing healing time

Acupuncture for amateurs and pros alike
Many professional, semi-pro and college-level teams today know the benefits of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and employ acupuncturists to exclusively treat the athletes, helping them get back in the game – and in some cases even increasing their performance.

Click here for more about sports injuries and acupuncture article from healthy.net.

If you have any questions about how acupuncture, herbs and therapeutic massage can help acute and chronic sports injuries – or any other conditions – please give us a call.

Abe Rummage, L.Ac., LMBT at AcuCare Clinic, 704-483-5441, www.AcuCareClinic.com

Student Interview – Sally Phillips

July 1, 2010

Congratulations Sandy Warren for winning our Spread the Word contest! You’ve won a month of free yoga! We look forward to seeing you in July!

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Student Interview with Sally Phillips

What brought you to the Bindu?
Kelley – Kelley was my first – and continues to be – my most influential teacher.  She has been a beacon of balance, joy and serenity since the first time we met more than 12 years ago.  After not being able to practice together regularly for the last five years, being under her tutelage again at The Bindu is truly a gift.

What keeps you coming?
Kelley and Sari and Shelly and everyone at The Bindu.   Each connection, whether it’s with the teachers or other students, is unique, warm and authentic.

What do you get out of your practice?
In a word, sanity.  I, just like everyone I know, lead a life that is overflowing with to-do lists, appointments and responsibilities.  Yoga helps me cope, mentally and physically, giving me the ability and strength to stay balanced and keep things in perspective.  The practice also helps me re-frame the busyness into individual opportunities to do good instead of having to manage a long list of chores.  All of this comes from the flexibility of mind and body gained through a regular practice.

Tell us about a challenging pose that you are growing to love:
I’m an inversion junkie, so I love playing around with poses like pincamayūrāsana, forearm balance or scorpion.  I’m working on trying to use my side body to gain length instead of relying on my shoulders to do the work of holding me up.

What does Open to Grace mean to you?
I believe that grace is all around us but we lose the connection as we become adults. Children naturally marvel at a beautiful moon, or the sound of birds chirping.  As adults, those marvels often escape our notice in our haste.  Opening to Grace is that level of mindfulness that lets us connect to the beauty that is around and within us.  With practice, not only are we able reconnect with the inner child, but imbue that recognition with maturity, wisdom and perspective that makes Opening to Grace transformational.