Community acupuncture now offered at LiveWellSLO in our San Luis Obispo location!
What does wellness mean to you?
When you get sick, or have dis-ease, do you know what to do to bring your body back to balance? Does your family have a recipe for healing soup? Or a tea to drink to calm the symptoms or a balm to heal the wound?
Healing is not linear, meaning it looks different for each of us and can vary at different stages of life. One thing that is clear, is healing can be more effective when done in community. Think of friends or family making dinner for you, a therapist you can confide in or attending a yoga or dance class. These activities are all great when done alone, but eating and laughing with friends, speaking to someone who listens and moving your body in a group helps pick up the energy and shift the paradigm.
The same is true for acupuncture and we’re happy to announce we are opening up a community healing acupuncture room on Thursdays starting in July!
Community acupuncture is not a new concept and in fact, people have been receiving community healing sessions in Asia for centuries. This model allows multiple people to experience the healing benefits of acupuncture at a more affordable rate, in a setting filled with friends, colleagues and the community.
This model sits in contrast to the Westernized concept of creating a private healing space where healing is done alone. We know the body has an innate knowledge to heal and acupuncture is one way to redirect the body back to a place of balance or homeostasis.
In the United States, community acupuncture originated in the 1970’s in the Bronx by a group of activists dedicated to reforming treatment options offered to their marginalized communities. This was an act of medical revolution bringing healing to underserved communities, bridging the gap of economic discrepancies found among people of color and immigrant groups.
You can read more about the work of these brave acupuncturists here:
https://www.workingclassacupuncture.org/history-of-community-acupuncture/
Since the early 2000’s community acupuncture has become common practice in various parts of the United States. This was a conscious decision to support healing for all people and create a common space for multiple people to receive treatment at affordable prices.
At LiveWellSLO we are offering community acupuncture treatments for three people at a time.
Call or email us here to schedule and for any questions! Contact us
For community acupuncture, we’ll start with a private conversation to discuss patient concerns. The duration of treatment time remains the same yet differs from a private treatment in clinic time and the locations where needles are placed. In community acupuncture there is no need to remove clothing as acupuncture points are selected on distal parts of the body only: arms, legs, ears and head. Patients can receive treatment laying on a table or in a reclining chair with friends and community in the same room.
Offering a community acupuncture room in our SLO location creates accessibility for ongoing patients to continue to receive weekly care at a discounted rate as they shift from acute flare ups to maintenance care.
Private acupuncture sessions are still available for everyone! These will be reserved for initial consultations, focusing on more specific issues like shoulder, lumbar, sciatica pains and for cupping sessions – or for anyone who prefers a more private setting.
If you would like to read more about community acupuncture in the United States check out this article:
https://medium.com/postgrowth/community-acupuncture-a-silent-healthcare-revolution-cccfc11746e
Call our office to learn more about our sliding scale community acupuncture sessions on Thursdays and to book your spot! Community acupuncture in our San Luis Obispo location is by appointment only.
As always, we look forward to seeing you & being on this healing journey with you!
