Starting my blogging journey...

Starting a blog during the global crisis of 2020…no better time

I’ve been told that blogging is back in style and that it’s the new social media. I’m not sure if either of those are true but I’ve been wanting start one for a long time and now time is all that I’ve got! So here goes nothing, or at the very least an attempt at improving my SEO ranking.

My name is Allissa and I am a registered acupuncturist currently living a socially distant life in Kimberley, BC. If you are reading this, at this time in world history we are collectively experiencing a global pandemic. Although this blog post will be intended for information on Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and information related to the betterment of your health and wellness, this first one is about current events and current daily life. Because why not start your blog in the thick of a pandemic?

As an acupuncturist my job is extremely reliant on physical touch, so 3 weeks ago when it was strongly recommended that all forms of non essential services temporarily stop to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, it came as quite a shock to both myself and the entire planet. I had spent the weekend prior in Banff with my mother and even a mere 4 days before, this was not even a thought that I would need to put into action. I had seen some other practitioners putting their practices on pause, but at this point it seemed like a formality. When things quickly heightened over the following days, I think we all began to see the gravity of our circumstances and one by one doors were shut.

I have struggled with the words “non essential service” every day since March 17th. How is it that someone like myself who’s purpose in life is to be of service and to help is being asked to stop. Now trust me I know, and am respecting all protocols that are currently in place in order to flatten the curve, but my thoughts and feelings towards them aren’t totally in agreement. I personally think that acupuncture is needed more than ever in times such as this and I feel that acupuncture should be put in the essential service category come the next pandemic (fingers crossed this doesn’t happen again for a very very long time).

Why do I make such a bold statement?

-Acupuncture boosts the immune system

-Acupuncture could be used to help front line workers like nurses and doctors, not only to boost their immune system but to help with overwhelming stress and anxiety of working with those who are tested positive

-Acupuncture can help with the increasing addiction and opioid epidemic that is sure to be a much larger issue once the dust settles after COVID-19

Yes I have most certainly considered my own health in all of this, and to be completely honest I am ok with being a front line worker, in fact there have been moments where I wish I were a health care aid or a nurse. It truly is in my nature to help. Since that has been put on pause for the unforeseeable future I have decided to commit this time (like many others) to all the things I never had time for before, or things I didn’t deem as valuable to spend time doing.

Here’s how I have been spending this time:

-Yoga, yoga, and more yoga. I have committed the month April to my yoga practice, I can see how that had taken a back seat and I would pop in in and around my busy practice, it wasn’t really a strong priority. I am seeing how this was a disservice to myself and actually to my acupuncture practice. Mindful movement is medicine and about the cheapest form of therapy in existence.

-Cooking whole, clean foods. During week 1, my husband and I definitely indulged in all things bread, sugar, and alcohol. Yep. It was bad. I could tell immediately that my mental health would take more of a plummet should we continue this way. Since then we have cleaned it up, we usually eat pretty well but I think we have stepped it up a notch in recognition of the importance of our mental health and also in keeping our guts and microbiome in working order. As for the alcohol, oh its there, but saved for the weekends and in serious moderation. Alcohol does not boost the immune system and definitely doesn’t help with mental health, but a glass of wine or a beer in the sunshine is in my opinion perfectly fine.

-Running and being outdoors daily. A no brainer and a must. I usually have a time limit on everything I do, I can be a very scheduled and regimented person so giving myself permission to take long lingering walks and not working around a schedule has been very freeing. Making run dates with one friend at a time has allowed my extroverted self connection time with other beings outside of my household.

-Sleep. I love to sleep in. So I’m doing that. Every day. Right now no alarm setting, and no ‘schedules’ until after 11 am. I don’t think I have lived this way since I was a teenager and seriously what better time to indulge then now.

Other things I am working on:

Keeping connected with patients through email and social media. My patients are so important to me and I care deeply about their health and well being. I wouldn’t be where I am without them so this time is also committed to bettering myself as an acupuncture practitioner and as a human being.

Upgrading this website - was much overdue, including starting said blog.

A potential online practice - although not sure but I am definitely researching and thinking about it

As I said this blog is intended for all things acupuncture, health and wellness but I clearly needed to write out and share some things before I delved in! I do not blame you if you looked at the nice picture and then skimmed or skipped over this all. There will be other more important pieces of info to be shared later, for right now, this I think is what is important and on most peoples minds.