Barefoot Healing

Taken this morning before patients arrived at the Victoria Native Friendship Center. It feels good to be back in the community acupuncture saddle. It was a busy day but there was a nice flow. I have ten minutes for my intake and needling, which feels just right. Then folks can snooze for up to an hour.

I had forgotten how peaceful and safe it feels when a group of people are all in a circle napping together. It's very soothing for the nervous system--theirs and mine!

I will share some more pics as we go along.

... They remind us of our value as human beings. They give us the strength to go on " - from 'Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal' by
Rachel Naomi Remen

Hello, it's been awhile! Just wanted to hop on here to update you on my clinic hours. I'm currently offering treatments from my home clinic on Rowland Ave on Tuesday mornings.

If downtown is more convenient, you can catch me on Fri/Sat/Sun and on Tuesday afternoons.

As always, if you are open to touch, I will include tui na and acupressure along with the needles.

Ooh! And fire cupping🔥🔥🔥

"Each time I experience the unseen wisdom of a person's system, it deepens my trust in the inner process unfolding and my awe at the way we are organized to be protected until the possibility of healing arrives."

Bonnie Badenoch, The Heart of Trauma

Having worked in a community clinic for 4+ years, I recognize that private acupuncture can be cost-prohibitive.  Not everyone has an extended health plan. Some have lost their jobs or had their wages reduced since we entered this pandemic.  And some of you are students, with not a lot to spare...

If this applies to you, please reach out: [email protected].  I have a limited number of sliding scale spots ($70-$100) available on Tuesday mornings at the Recovery Clinic at

transitions... oof!

8 more days of mercury retrograde...and whether you take your cues from the skies or not, these last few weeks have been challenging for many.

relationships ending, getting a new diagnosis of some sort (and processing the fear), concern about vaccinating or not vaccinating, shifts in family 
systems, a new ache or pain where there wasn't one before...

these are a few of the issues bubbling to the surface lately that i've experienced myself or held space for in clinic.

but there have been moments of clarity and hope as well!  tiny victories deserve 
acknowledgement too: a frozen shoulder coming out of its hibernation and getting back to work reaching for things like fresh coffee or pulling a loved one into a hug.  a restless leg finally.... taking rest! and yesterday this utterance following a treatment: "i feel like a new person". it feels a little cumbersome and clonkity to share that buuuuuut...

...resisting the urge to self-deprecate and deflect in the re-telling, that's an old pattern that i'm ready to bury so that like nepo says, something new can grow 🌱

New location starting this Tuesday: Third Space Movement

Very excited to be joining this vibrant team and to be treating out of such a bright and beautiful space ❤

Hope to see you soon!

"Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. " - 'Desiderata' by Max Ehrmann I have turned to this poem so many times in my life but it feels especially relevant these days. As someone who both gives and receives treatments regularly (the latter could definitely be more regular...) I am noticing how much I value asking or being asked "how are you doing" and truly listening/being listened to. No expectation of keeping on the mask and blurting out "fine" if it's not really the case. I know from my own experience slogging through this cold, gray, eleventh month of the pandemic and from the honest convos with patients here at Barefoot, at Diversified Health Clinic and at Pacific Rim College (3 slightly different demographics) that we are all struggling. Maybe surviving is the new thriving... And so good ol Max Ehrmann might be onto something with his sage words above. Are you finding ways to be gentle with yourself? To each their own, but in my mind, this is not the time for strict diets/cleanses, any type of exercise or movement that you don't enjoy, overscheduling yourself or taking on anything that doesn't bring you joy or warm the little cockles of your heart ;) There is light at the end of the tunnel my friends. And in the meantime, there's nature walks, some semi-decent Netflix series, cooking and enjoying delicious things and of course, treatments. I'm here holding space for your healing and offering touch therapies (KOH, acupressure, tui na and cupping) along with acupuncture/needling. And I feel grateful to be doing so in a time of extremely limited touch. Barefoot is operating out of the beautiful Fernwood Yoga Den on Tuesdays (ongoing) and Saturdays for a few more weeks. I am tinkering with my schedule to make more time for propping my woolen-socked feet by the fire and the occasional cold water dip. But I will be reopening a second shift down the road so stay tuned sweet peas.

Fundraising Giveaway for Wet Coast Mutual Aid Kits 🌱

Wet Coast MAKs provides lovingly and ethically sourced health kits to Indigenous families supporting children, elders and front line workers. This 100% volunteer based organization works alongside community members, farmers and herbalists to source supplies and make herbal remedies, masks and sanitizers that each kit contains.

Kits are distributed through the Victoria Native Friendship Centre on Lkwungen and WSANEC Territories, and the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House on Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Territories.

To raise donations for this incredible cause we put together a package worth over $700 of products and services donated by , , .healing, , .rmt.

✨ a 90 min Acupuncture Spa Facial with Sasha Ormiston R.Ac

✨ An herbal consult, two weeks of herbs plus four tea blends from Krista Poulton Medical Herbalist

✨ a 60 min massage with Danielle Morrison RMT

✨ a 75 min acupuncture treatment with Emma Barker R.Ac

✨ a variety of my favourite skin care treats from The Green Kiss

TO ENTER:

- Give your donation through Wet Coast MAK's crowdfunding page (1 entry for every $5 you give). Link in bio.

- Like this post and tag some friends in the comments.

- Once you have donated, message Sasha your receipt of donation via Instagram, Facebook, text or email and we will add you to the giveaway. Please ensure we reply to confirm entry.

❤️ Sharing to your insta story would also be greatly appreciated. Lets spread the word and raise some money together!❤️

RULES:

This fundraiser will run until Wed July 15th at 11:59pm, and the winner will be announced and contacted directly. Services and all giveaway items are provided on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen people (Victoria), therefore the winner must be local or willing to commute.

Thank you for the support ✨❤️

I found this tiny fellow/femme (slugs are hermaphroditic I'm told) on my dog's belly the other day. They had been hitching a ride and I happened to come across them as I was administering Rudy's twentieth belly rub of the day.

I snapped a few pics and then just stood there in my kitchen for about 10 minutes, watching their slow progress along my index finger.

It got me thinking about the medicine of slowing down. These last two and half months have been unusual, trying, rewarding and maybe even transformative. For myself, for my dog certainly and for others I have come into (socially distant) contact with.

I was one of the lucky ones who were gifted the ultimate gift these past couple of months: time. Time to do the dishes slowly, time to enjoy a meal looking out the window rather than answering an email on my phone, time to stare at this tiny creature, making their way slowly across my index finger. No rush, no haste.

In true slug spirit, Barefoot Healing will be starting, softly and slowly, beginning Tuesday June 9th from 9am-2pm.

I look forward to welcoming you back into the peaceful, plant-filled space at 1005 Cook st. We are in the midst of putting together protocols and measures to keep us all safe and are taking guidance from our regulatory board and health officials.

Link to book in Bio 👣

Did you know that cupping can be an effective treatment for cold and flu symptoms and can help to boost immunity?
Commonly used to help nourish the lungs and clear away phlegm or congestion, cupping therapy can be useful for speeding up healing time from respiratory illnesses. It can help to improve immune function by moving blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body, which is why it’s been associated with reductions in lung diseases (especially chronic coughs), allergies, infections and asthma.

Suffering from a weakened immune system, congestion, colds or the flu? Cupping, especially around DU14 (acupuncture point) at the back of the neck, reduces muscle spasm and helps with respiration and lymph flow. Following cupping, you'll experience redness and warming to the area cupped as blood flow is increased.

Craving some cuppin'? --> link to book in bio 👣

Looking for something unique to do on Valentine's Day? 🧘‍♀️🥂❤️

Happy 2020! I am excited to dive into this new year and to experience all it has to offer. In the next two months there are some wonderful things to look forward to. I am always excited as we approach Valentine's Day as our Valentine's Acro Date Night is a favourite event to offer. Registration is rolling in for both evenings that we have scheduled andw e have some amazing sponsors involved: Rock Coast, Level Ground Trading, Barefoot Healing, and more to be announced.

To learn more and to register please head to this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/968591173516288

Have a Happy and Restful New Year - https://mailchi.mp/f304a18e4cd6/have-a-happy-and-restful-new-year

It seems that folks these days are pretty sleep deprived. So many of us spend our nights tossing and turning. It wouldn’t be such a big deal if we were napping to make up for the lost hours of sleep, but due to busy lifestyles, naps are not a priority for most… But maybe they should be–a brief mid-day slumber of 20-30 minutes can increase alertness and boost mood. Furthermore, naps can enhance performance and decrease the risk of mistakes and accidents... --> Want to read the rest? Link in bio 👀

.. you could always try Kruger Omni Healing :) It's a gentle, safe and hands-on treatment that stimulates a healing response from the nervous system to bring balance and relief of symptoms.
To learn more --> link in bio

Do you know someone who might be in need of a treatment? Running this special until the end of November ❤
*I offer direct billing through most extended health plans

Wondering what to eat for breakfast?
Check out my 'Coo coo for congee' blog post --> www.barefoothealing.ca/journal

Acupressure on Taichong (Liver 3)

This point is a powerhouse! It's good for stress, headaches, abdominal pain, blurred vision, high blood pressure, irregular menstruation, low back pain, insomnia and anxiety, to name a few...
👣: 📷: .photo

A sunny afternoon at Barefoot Headquarters 👣
Open Thursdays 9am-7pm
Link to book in bio ❤

You: "How does acupuncture work?"
Me: "I was hoping you could tell me!" In all honesty, the easiest answer we can offer in biomedical terms is that no one has a definitive explanation. But many have taken a stab (pun intended) at explaining it.

Here is what we do know:
Acupuncture promotes blood flow. This is key because blood contains the oxygen, nutrients, immune substances, hormones, analgesics and anti-inflammatories the body needs in order to heal. For example: a decrease in blood flow by as little as 3% in the breast area can lead to breast cancer.

Acupuncture stimulates the body’s built-in healing mechanisms by creating ‘micro-traumas’. These tiny "injuries" stimulate the body’s ability to heal tissue injuries through our nervous system, our immune system and our hormones. As the body heals these traumas, it also heals any surrounding tissue damage left over from old injuries, boom!

Acupuncture releases natural painkillers. When the needles get inserted, it signals the brain to release chemicals such as endorphins, norepinephrine and enkephalin, some of which are 10-200 times more potent than morphine! Tense muscles? Acupuncture relaxes them, which in turn releases pressure on joint structures and nerves, and promotes blood flow.

And last but not least, acupuncture reduces stress. This is huge! It does this by stimulating our parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” nervous system. An impaired parasympathetic function is involved in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including arthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

In a nutshell: acupuncture works by stimulating the peripheral nervous system. It heals us by relieving pain, reducing inflammation and restoring homeostasis. It brings our body back into balance and makes us feel on point ;) 📷: me
Handsome 🐶: Rudy

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most common and dependable medical therapies used in the world. It's like the porridge of the healing industry, except more exciting!

It is by nature simple, safe and effective health care. Acupuncturists use thin, sterile disposable needles inserted superficially into specific areas of the body in order to assist the body's own innate healing capacity.

Over the past three decades or so in which acupuncture has gained popularity, it has been proven by an increasing body of scientific evidence to be not only exceptionally safe, but statistically effective as well.

Go porridge!

📷: 8:12am this morning

In need of a treatment? Open for biz this Thursday, 9am-7pm
Link to book in bio 👣

I'm renting this gorgeous space at 1005 Cook street from the lovely while she is on mat leave ❤