How Acupuncture and Dry Needling Changed My Life

One of the most common questions I get asked by patients is, “How did you get into this?”. From the age of 12 or so, I carried a quiet, constant tension in my body. It showed up in different ways depending on the season of life I was in — tight shoulders from long hours of studying, Sciatica with higher levels of stress and the kind of stress that settles into your muscles before you realize its there. I tried medication and all the usual “maybe this will help” ideas. Some helped a little but nothing created real lasting change.

Everything Shifted the first time I experienced acupuncture and, later, dry needling.

My first experience with acupuncture

I was 18 years old and I went into my first session certain that the provider was going to be “crazy”. I was willing to try anything for a little relief. What surprised me wasn’t just the physical change — thought I absolutely felt that — but the sense of calm that settled in afterward. It was the first time in a long time that my body felt like it could exhale.

Over the next few sessions, I noticed patterns I hadn’t been aware of: how stress showed up physically, how certain muscles help tensin and how much better I moved when those patterns softened. Acupuncture helped me reconnect with my body in a way I didn’t know I could.

Discovering dry needling

Dry needling came into my life later, I had been exposed to orthopedic styles of acupuncture needling right out of acupuncture school but it wasn’t exactly dry needling. Then, in 2017 my husband was in a motorcycle accident and during his rehab I would treat him but it did not help him to the level we were looking for. Then, a couple years later his acute pain turned into chronic and I continued to have less then ideal results. At that time I began to work beside a skilled provider who had completed extensive work in many anatomy based needling techniques and I sent my husband to see him. He began getting improvement. He would come home talking about the precision of dry needling — targeting the exact muscle that was causing the issue — and how it made a noticeable difference. It helped release tension that had been building for years, the kind that basic acupuncture or physical therapy alone never touched.

What stood out most was how quickly his body responded. He felt more mobile, more balanced and more aware of how his muscles were working together. It wasn’t a magic fix but it was a turning point.

I had to know more

These experiences are the reason that this clinic exists. I know what it feels like to be frustrated with pain that keeps coming back. I know what it’s like to try things that help “a little” but never quite get you where you want to be. And I know how empowering it is when you finally find something that helps your body move and feel the way it’s meant to.

I wanted to create a place where people in our community could access the same kind of care that helped me — a place that feels welcoming, grounded and focused on helping you get back to the activities you love.

What I hope for every patient

My goal isn’t just to help reduce pain. It’s to help people feel more connected in their bodies, more confident in their movement and more supported in their healing. Whether someone comes in for acupuncture, dry needling or a combination of both, I want them to feel heard, cared for and empowered.