Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/180483
Connections in Wellness Shana hopkinS: It's important to slow down and put some thought into your food. Traditional medicine rarely takes the time to find out what a patient is really eating, much less educate them about optimal food choices and how to integrate these foods into their busy lives. Sara bayEr: And it takes more than one visit. With acupuncture, for example, you set up the direction for the body to go so the problem unfolds. Often people go through a period where their bodies unwind and there's some level of pain, but eventually the pain starts to go down. It takes time though. Jim WEbEr: The point is, the busier people are the more time they need to slow down, breathe, and meditate. The challenge is that people want immediate evidence. They don't typically take the time to go through these experiences. Yoga is the opposite of everything we do. We totally unplug, lie there, and just let go. tamEla: How do your modalities complement one another? Emily Durban: If I'm not achieving the goals I expect as far as tissue quality then I might refer a client to either a Rolfer or an acupuncturist. They might pick up things that I may not have. It's nice to have a dialogue going back and forth. 28 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | OCTOBER 2013 paul Dompé: Nutrition is a basic determinant of health. Sara bayEr: Eating right has a lot to do with healing. If you take someone that's really weak and put acupuncture needles in them, you won't get the same results. There's a baseline of health that has to do with nutrition and is required to achieve healing, increase vitality, and improve health. Ultimately, though, it's the individuals that determine which modality the healing process will come out of. Jim WEbEr: One of the nice things we have going for our clients here at the Wellness Center is a diversity of approaches and a lot of expertise. Each of our services offers something different. By putting our clients first, and helping them know their options, we can serve them better than we might be able to otherwise. —Naomi Thalenberg is WAC Magazine Editorial Assistant.