My approach to wellness is inspired by my connection to the natural world, the unseen world, and my own lived experiences.  I believe all of our bodies have the innate ability to heal themselves if given the proper conditions.  I utilize acupuncture as a means to balance one's spiritual body and energetic fields first, which is why I have been drawn to systems such as esoteric acupuncture, Classical Chinese medicine, and Five Element acupuncture.  I believe that wellness involves balancing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pillars of health, and this approach has been shared with me by mentors from many different lineages.  In my clinical experience,  I have seen people come in for what they believe to be purely physical issues, that only find relief once we address the root cause, which is most typically an energetic blockage, stemming from their internal world or our external environment.  I am most inspired by the archaic roots of medicine, which I believe are reflected well through this quote, that also explains the innate relationship between dance and medicine: "The oldest character for medicine had at its bottom the character wu, denoting two women dancing. These women were shamans, and the etymology of the character suggests that Chinese medicine and the practice of acupuncture specifically evolved from the shaman's role in protecting the sick from evil influences" -Lonny Jarrett.  

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As a practitioner of both dance and medicine, my work also lies in the fact that we are all responsible for our own wellness, and our lifestyles play a big role in how we feel.  When I began to understand and truly embody the fact that I am an agent in my own healing, is when I stopped depending on others, including the western medical industrial complex, to make me feel better.  Most of what we are taught through a Western lens of healthcare is that all of our symptoms are separate, and there is no lifestyle change that can shift them, yet there is always a pill or medication.  Conversely, in all of the earliest Chinese medicine texts, there are lessons in living in harmony with nature and with oneself, the body is a microcosm of the natural world itself.  Diet, meditation, physical exercise, healthy relationships, etc are the foundation of living a life with balanced health and longevity.  Acupuncture and herbs can only do so much, but if we do not take responsibility for our own healing, we may be choosing things that are making us unwell without even knowing it.  I work to reveal to my patients where they may be making choices that do not contribute to their optimal wellness.  Over time I have learned that everything we do in life is connected to our health...

 

Some of my earliest inspirations came from music and nature, and these themes have blossomed into what is now my life’s work as a professional movement artist and Chinese medicine practitioner. Blending these passions has become seamless, as Chinese medicine teaches us about the ebbs and flows of energy throughout our bodies, nature, the seasons, and everything around us.  This philosophy expanded my understanding of rhythm and how it moves through our vessels, and as I debated choosing one path over the other I quickly learned that I could not have one without the other- my understanding of music and movement strengthens my relationship to the healing arts and vice versa, and both have been my guides into my own deepest knowing.  As a young teenager and child I struggled a lot with my health, was in and out of doctor's office and hospitals, always on medications and always feeling unwell.  I had been diagnosed with endometriosis, IBS, depression, and anxiety and I was tired of looking to a system that was not viewing my body as a whole, that was not even helping me feel better.  There are many mentors I've had over the years that have helped me shift my understanding of health, and I'm so grateful to have the tools now to be happy, healthy, and connected to myself- my purpose is to inspire and educate others to do the same, and trust that we each have it within to be our own best healers. 

 

Qi (pronounced “chee”) makes up everything around us, it is the essence of Chinese medicine.  Qi is constantly flowing through our bodies and throughout everything in the universe, living and non-living, and is responsible for weather, for the seasons, and even our internal emotions and overall health.  Rhythm is the pattern of flow and qi is that which is flowing.  When you watch a street dancer seamlessly intuit what is happening in the music, and interpret that with their bodies, they are acting as a channel for a higher power, they are opening their body up to be a vessel for qi, and with that as my lived experiences, the name Rhythmic Qi was born.  I believe we all have a direct role in our healing, and as a bridge between art and medicine, my purpose is to empower myself and others to awaken our natural intuition so that we can all enjoy our divine destinies.