Asha Integrative Wellness

At Asha Integrative Wellness, accessibility and affirmation are at the heart of everything we do. 

From genderless bathrooms and wheelchair accessibility to trauma-educated care and low-scent environments, we are dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels welcome, safe, and uplifted. Through our commitment to community care and continuous education, we strive to bring about impactful change for every patient we work with.  

If you have any questions about accessibility, accommodations, or how we can more effectively support you, please let us know! 

*HAES approach=Health at Every Size

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“Today, I heard the familiar despair in the voice of a new patient who was worried that I would judge their fat body. They seemed to expect that I would blame them for their pain or confirm their fear that they are incapable of feeling better. Or maybe I would just communicate through my words or actions that they are unworthy of care. It was disheartening, especially since I was standing in front of them in my own fat body.”

In today’s blog post, we delve into a poignant encounter that highlights the misconceptions and challenges faced by individuals with fat bodies in seeking competent and compassionate healthcare. Dr. Levy shares an insightful reflection on breaking stereotypes, body neutrality, and the transformative power of effective care for bodies of all sizes. 

“When a competent practitioner works with your body, it’s not just about the physical touch; it’s about shifting the perception from seeing your body as a ‘problem’ to recognizing its capacity for increased health and vitality.” 

Our chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists are trained to work with all body types, providing tailored care that acknowledges individual needs. We are committed to creating a treatment environment where fat individuals are seen as possessing the potential for increased health and well-being.

For now, remember this - No body is a lost cause, and no person is beyond the help and healing that can come from expert, compassionate care.”

To read the blog post in its entirety, click the link in bio!

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Are you feeling angrier or more angsty than usual? Perhaps a growing sense of ennui has started creeping in? Have you been having more headaches than usual or an increase in menstrual pain and PMS symptoms? Has sleeping soundly been difficult lately? Are digestive issues making life less than comfortable?

These common complaints often arise with the arrival of spring and indicate a potential imbalance in Liver Qi. Here’s what Asha’s expert acupuncturists, Genevieve, Toshio, and Mandalyn have to say about it all.

As an organ, the Liver acts as a filter, processes nutrients, and aids in digestion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy), which is key for maintaining overall health and well-being. Its corresponding color is green, symbolizing vitality; its element is wood, representing growth and renewal; and its associated emotion is anger, reflecting the need for balance and harmony.

Acupuncture is an incredibly effective way of dealing with Liver imbalances! By stimulating specific points on the body, it helps unblock stagnant energy in the liver, promotes circulation, and refreshes the flow of liver qi – helping to restore balance and vitality to body and mind.

Nourishing foods like greens, brassicas, beets, and goji berries can be extra helpful in supporting your liver’s balance. Stretching and moving freely, all while wearing clothing that is loose or flowy to encourage uninhibited movement without feeling restricted or constrained is another way to bring more balance to liver Qi.

If you’re struggling through springtime, give us a call or book an acupuncture appointment online! Our acupuncturists will tailor a treatment plan to address your needs and help you enjoy spring to its fullest!

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“Use as much pressure as you can”, “you can’t hurt me”, “the deeper the massage the better it is”.

These are common phrases for massage therapists to hear with clients, and there is a misconception that only large amounts of pressure will release muscle tension. SO NOT TRUE! 

While certain massage techniques use deeper levels of pressure (trigger point therapy, myofascial release, muscle energy technique, etc…), they are not inherently more effective than techniques that use less pressure. 

Massage therapists, while they work with the soft tissues (muscle, skin, fascia), are also communicating with the nervous system and helping the client into a restful state of relaxation. They are trained to interpret and respond to what they are feeling in the moment! 

Our amazing massage therapists here at Asha are all trained in a variety of modalities and have different specialities! Give us a call, let us know what you’re looking for, and experience how beneficial a massage can be without the expectation of deeper = better! 

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We are so excited to have Mandalyn join Asha’s team of practitioners as one of our newest acupuncturists!

Specializing in blending acupuncture and bodywork, Mandalyn crafts sessions tailored to your needs. From orthopedic pain to mental health, they skillfully employ East Asian techniques, drawing from a diverse toolkit that includes Shiatsu, Tuina, Cupping, and Gua Sha.

Their journey into acupuncture is a testament to determination, balancing single motherhood and full-time studies. Mandalyn discovered a passion for acupuncture at a community clinic, sparking a unique approach to healing.

Mandalyn's holistic approach, commitment to patient-centered care, and diverse skill set make them an invaluable resource for complementary healthcare. Seeking personalized attention and warmth? Mandalyn has you covered!

Outside the clinic, Mandalyn unwinds with a love for live music, hiking, sewing, crochet, and sketching.

They currently accept Automobile Accident Insurance, Regence & BCBS plans, Kaiser, Kaiser CHP, OHP (CareOregon ONLY), PacificSource (+Medicaid), out off pocket, and are in the process of being paneled with most major insurances.

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If you’re looking for a thoughtful present as the Holidays approach, consider our massage and acupuncture gift certificates! You can even purchase a gift certificate online now as well as in person!

Pictured here is the incredible Laura, one of our fabulous massage therapists! Doesn't that neck massage look like pure bliss? 😌 All our massage therapists and acupuncturists are amazing (and everyone who works here, really!), providing top-notch care to our community.

Your patronage, no matter how seemingly small, makes a huge difference in the world of small businesses. Your support means we get to continue providing care for those in our community who need it most!

Link to purchase a gift certificate is in the bio!

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We're giddy with appreciation for the incredible feedback we've received. Your kind words fuel our passion for what we do and make every adjustment, massage, and session even more rewarding.

As a small business, your reviews are like shining beacons guiding those who need our care to our doorstep. Your support means the world to us, and we're beyond thankful for each and every one of you who takes the time to share your experiences.

Cheers to our amazing community of patients – you're the heartbeat of our clinic!

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Hey folks! Don't let those insurance benefits slip away like the last leaves of autumn! 🍂 If you've met your deductible and/or have unused benefits, take a moment to book a session with our fantastic practitioners – chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, naturopathy, and dietitian services, we've got it all!

Why now? Because those insurance benefits won't magically roll over into the new year. Don't miss out on these unused benefits! Most plans offer a set number of chiropractic visits per year, so check if you have any left over.

Remember the post about the rhythm of pain with the seasons? Well, it's autumn, and upper body pain might be knocking at your door. Seeking treatment early and often is key. It not only brings relief but can also save you money in the long run by lowering healthcare costs!

We get it – navigating health insurance can be tough and unfair, especially when you’re Q***r, Fat, Disabled, or anyone who is othered by the medical industry. But if you have these benefits, might as well make them work for you.

Book an appointment online or give us a call! We’re happy to help you navigate your health insurance!

We have a visiting doctor in the office today! Thanks to Shar of excellence who let us borrow their goodest boy/mascot for a couple hours today! Everyone’s walking around with big smiles now!

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Come join us! We’re looking for practitioners interested in rooting their practice in our q***r trans affirming practice dedicated to body liberation! We can’t wait to meet you 🥰🤗 ***rhealthcare ***rhealth ***r

Come join us! 🏳️‍🌈💐💗🌼💗 ***rbodyworkers

Are We LOOKING for YOU?

Reception/Admin in NE PDX

We're HIRING for a part-time position for reception & general administrative support in our busy alternative healthcare practice in the NE Broadway Business District. Come Grow with Us!

About Asha Wellness:
• A diverse team of talented practitioners who are extremely well versed in different modalities and dedicated to improving the quality of life of our patients.
• Our Client Services & Reception Team work with our Practitioners to give our patients the best possible alternative healthcare experience. (you will be part of this Client Services team)
• We are dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming and affirming space for a diverse range of people regardless of age, size, race, sexuality, gender, ability or nationality.
We promote Health at Every Size and radical self-care. There is *NO* diet talk at this clinic by any one.

Details:
• Training as soon as available
• Roughly 15-20 hrs/week between the hours of 10 am and 7:30 pm . Looking for Mondays noon - 5pm and Fridays 9am-5pm definitely and potential for more
• Flexibility to co-create a regular weekly schedule
Additional hours may be available for the right qualified candidate.

Skills Required:
• MS Office Suite / collaboration via Google Tools
• Cloud-based apps (scheduling, billing, records mgmt)
• Phone etiquette, message and note taking, cash handling
• Credit card payment processing (using a chip/swipe machine)
• Ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks/projects at a time

Please Be:
• Digitally savvy, Computer proficient
• A clear and compassionate communicator with active listening skills
• Able to juggle competing needs and tasks with grace
• An ally or self-identifying in the LGBTQIA community.

This position will be PART TIME @ $17 hr with a raise after a 90 day review - though additional days and hours may be available as business allows.

If you would be great for this position, please respond with a Cover Letter AND Resume; or email us with questions for more detailed information.

Please contact us at [email protected] , do *not* call.
Thank you!

You know Seasonal Depression … now meet Festive Anxiety! 🎄

A New Cookbook by Indigenous People, for Indigenous People A group of Indigenous chefs is releasing a virtual cookbook featuring digital issues, webinars and videos to reclaim narratives about Native foods.

REPOST: image & caption by Allé (he/him) Trans Yoga Teacher ❤️ https://bit.ly/3adf0oN
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via Trans Yoga Teacher: Anti-fat bias is real and it’s veryyyy present in the yoga community. Join us:

Teaching Fat Affirming Yoga Training
Friday, October 15th 2-4 pm Est on zoom

Sliding scale and free spots for BIPOC (use code OM) & yea, the recording will be available - sign up and indicate you’d like the recording in the comments. Thanks so much

This has been a long time coming and I’m getting excited as I gather the resources! I’ve a lot of information to share and I hope you’ll show up.

This will obviously come from an intersectional approach and I invite you to check out the resources on my website, Transyogateacher dot com / resources. There’s a lot of free info ℹ️ about a whole slew of topics

Who are some of your favorite fat influencers, creatives, educators, artists, yoga teachers? I’ll tag a few in the comments - would love to hear yours 😎

Sign up! Tell a friend! Share!

Save! 🙏🏼💕🏳️‍⚧️🙌🏻😊❤️🕉😍



More info: https://transyogateacher.com/specialevents/sf15lhx3xnt4tpbxpnu1p8755d92eo
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-Image Description-
A white graphic by Allé, a.k.a. TransYogaTeacher, that reads:
Teaching Fat Affirming Yoga - Inclusive cuing, space set up & self-awareness. Friday, Oct. 15th 2-4 pm EST. Learn to hold space for folks in larger bodies with love

here's to unlearning shame and judgement and learning to live well and cherish our bodies!

In the Body Trust Project: A School for Unlearning, we bring in some amazing guest speakers to lead discussions around our monthly topics. Last month, Melissa Toler joined the cohort to speak on Reclaiming Movement:

"At their core, the messages that we get around health and weight and bodies and food are really meant to reinforce a body hierarchy. They perpetuate the idea that there is such a thing as a 'normal body' and that a person who deviates from that norm should be 'fixed' or excluded in some way.

Those messages made me feel like I had to deny who I was in order to be a part of this body hierarchy, to climb higher up the body hierarchy.
So at the core, these messages are reinforcing that status quo and they add to the chorus of voices that we hear about not being good enough and having to strive and hustle for worthiness.

I think it's important to note that these messages don't go away without effort.

One of the things that I have observed as part of my own process of unlearning is there is a denial of our humanity when this status quo or this body hierarchy is reinforced.
It doesn't take into account the differences in our lived experiences, and our genetics, and our environment. It enforces that there is one way or very limited ways of being, and that we need to do whatever we can in order to accomplish that."

⬇️⬇️⬇️

The Body Trust Project: a School for Unlearning will be back in session on November 11th!
Registration is open-- you can read all about this 9-month program here: https://bodytrust.lpages.co/sfu/
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-Image Description-
A quote by Melissa Toler from her presentation, "Reclaiming Movement," to Be Nourished's Body Trust Project: A School for Unlearning cohort: "We don't arrive on this Earth ashamed of our bodies or hating other people just because of their's. Over time, shame, embarrassment, and fixing (and fixating) creep in because of the messages that we see and hear every single day of our lives."

An example of a “reverse poem:”

REPOST: image & caption by Anna Sweeney MS, RDN, CEDRD-S (a.k.a. DietitianAnna) ❤️ https://bit.ly/39kjf1w
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via Anna Sweeney: It’s a short story, but an accurate one.

At every given moment, more is going right for your body than is not.

Think about that.

The human skeleton renews itself completely every 10 years.
The stomach lining is replaced every 4 to 5 days.
The human brain uses just as much power as a 10 watt light bulb.
In an adult human, blood circulates about 12,000 miles a day. This is like traveling from east to west across the widest part of the Pacific Ocean.
The average person breathes about 20,000 times a day.

I am happily self identifying as a fan of science, and these are incredible things.

These are incredible things that are happening whether we love our bodies or we don’t. These are incredible things that are happening whether we are healthy or we are ill. These are incredible things that are happening because the human body is resilient.

You are resilient.

Wellness culture is a liar.

The end.
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-Image Description-
A screenshot of a tweet by Anna Sweeney MS, RDN, CEDRD-S that reads, "Your body is brilliant and doing more right, in any given moment, than it will ever do wrong. Anyone or anything that says otherwise is lying or doesn't appreciate the incomprehensible complexity of bodies. The end."

Soul Kissing

Image: A table of phrases, in two columns.

"Native Appropriated/Colonizer Phrases"

The left column is labelled, "Instead of .." in orange. The right column is labelled "Use .." in blue.

"Instead of: Let's have a powwow about this
Use: Let's meet about this"

"Instead of: This is my spirit animal
Use: This is my daemon/familiar"

"Instead of: They went on the warpath
Use: They're dedicated to this"

"Instead of: They went off the reservation
Use: They're acting on their own"

"Instead of: Lowest man on the totem pole
Use: Lowest rung on the ladder"

"Instead of: This is my totem
Use: This is something I identify with"

"Instead of: Circle the wagons
Use: Let's get ahead of this"

"Instead of: Do a rain dance
Use: Hope for rain"

"Instead of: Too many chiefs, not enough Indians
Use: Too many bosses, not enough staff"

"Instead of: Find your tribe
Use: Find your people"

"Instead of: Indian giver
Use: Settler/colonizer giver"

Credit: "@ decentering_whiteness "

😍

Transcript:

"The Difference Between A Good Day And A Bad Day Is"

Crossed out words: "Your Attitude"

Amended words: "A Lot More Complex Than Some Sanctimonious Quote On The Internet.

"Veronica Dearly"

You really do.
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