I was recently interviewed by Business Talk Radio to talk about my acupuncture practice and how I became an acupuncturist.

Listen to the full interview here: Business Talk Radio Interview

Here’s a text version of the interview (roughly):

Please give a description of your company and the products/services you offer:

I am a licensed acupuncturist and board certified herbalist practicing out of New York City.  Morningside Acupuncture is comprised of two offices in the Upper West Side and Washington Heights neighborhoods.  

I specialize in treating pain, sports injuries, and stress related disorders. 

My acupuncture practice combines several styles of acupuncture with electroacupuncture, Chinese herbs, cupping, gua sha, and qi gong exercises.

I primarily use acupuncture in my treatments, utilizing a trigger point or dry needling style of acupuncture to release myofascial constriction to relieve acute and chronic pain, and treat sports injuries.  At a deeper level I use traditional acupuncture points with a focus on calming the nervous system to restore the balance between the mind and body. 

Tell us about your background of your business and yourself.

I opened my acupuncture practice last year and recently opened my second location following the COVID-19 pandemic which provided a unique opportunity to expand my business.  I received my masters in acupuncture and oriental medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science in New York and also spent time at Tri-State College of Acupuncture. 

My work with patients is usually focused on releasing the tight fibers in soft tissue to reduce pain and promote normal functioning of the affected area. My main goal for people is to allow them to get back to doing the things they love as quickly as possible without pain.

I also treat many physical symptoms of stress and anxiety which arise from the way our nervous system is affected by stressful or traumatic events.  These symptoms can include things like muscle tightness, chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, digestive issues, sleep issues, and menstrual irregularities. 

Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, I worked in finance for almost 10 years and decided to pursue a different career after my own experiences with acupuncture and Chinese medicine.  I am also an avid soccer player and have been playing for over 30 years.  My practice combines many of my life experiences as an athlete and working in a high stress environment.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business?

Since acupuncture is a hands-on profession, I closed my office in Mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  I reopened my practice during the week of June 15th on a limited basis.  I am taking every precaution to make sure that patients feel safe and protected during their treatments.

It’s been hard for me since I know how much acupuncture can help with pain and physical symptoms related to stress and anxiety.  Many people are facing elevated levels of stress from the events of the past few months and with that comes things like pain, sleep and digestive issues, fatigue, and headaches. 

As I’ve reopened I am seeing that people are eager to get acupuncture again and others are becoming interested in trying acupuncture for the first time. 

What inspired you to pursue your profession?

I first started getting acupuncture myself in 2009 for a hip injury after nothing else helped.  I went to an orthopedic doctor, physical therapist, personal trainer, chiropractor, and osteopath.  I tried changing how I exercise including adding swimming, yoga, and pilates.  None of that worked as well as getting regular acupuncture treatments that included trigger point release.  After getting treatments for several years for numerous sports injuries and for managing stress, I decided to become an acupuncturist so that I could share the benefits of this wonderful healing system with those around me.

I was actually getting an acupuncture treatment when the idea first popped into my head and about 3 years after that I finished acupuncture school. 

Where do you see yourself in the near future?

I see myself continuing to cultivate my acupuncture practice to reach more people struggling with pain and stress in their lives.  I am looking to delve deeper into the connection between acupuncture and the nervous system to refine my approach to treating chronic pain and stress related disorders.

Please contact me if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment by clicking below or calling/texting (917) 830-4440.