Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that involves the insertion of very thin hair-like needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture can be performed with or without electric stimulation through the needles. This technique triggers a cascade of local and systemic biochemical and neurophysiologic reactions, which address diverse conditions in the body and result in better body self-regulation and thus, improved health. Although its technique can’t be described in a single statement, possible therapeutic pathways for acupuncture may involve systematic, segmental, local, and psychological effects.

A significant body of rigorous scientific research demonstrates that acupuncture is effective for many chronic health conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, lower back pain, arthritis, migraine and other headaches, and digestive and hormonal issues. See, for example, a large scale meta-analysis by Vickers(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3658605/)

The goal of movement in yoga is to settle the mind and connect to the spirit. Whether your preference is for an active practice or one that’s more relaxing, take a moment to consider your personal needs and analyze the many different styles. If you’re looking for a physically demanding flow, Vinyasa may be a good place to start. This style of yoga is one with dynamic postures that are explored in a sequence to build up heat and strengthen the muscles. Yin, on the other hand, is using somewhat active poses but at a slower pace, with the poses ranging from around 2-6 minute holds. The aim of Yin is to center the mind and use the breath for easing into a deeper stretch. Restorative, however, is the most rejuvenating style of yoga that there is, with props used in each posture to promote passive stretching and calm the nervous system. There’s minimal movement in Restorative and holds can be an average of 3-10 minutes in length. While this is not a comprehensive list of yoga types, these are some of the common practice styles used in the private yoga offerings at Beyond Acupuncture. We also have an option for focusing on Pranayama, which is breathwork. This session would be a deep dive into breathing techniques to tap into the somatic experience and facilitate control that can be incorporated into stress-reducing mechanisms for daily life. Not sure if yoga is for you? Have further questions of which style might benefit you the most? Please feel free to reach out to Grace Wolfe at gw@bydacu.com with any questions you may have.