Laura Heslin

Gung Hay Fat Choy - Welcome Yellow Yang Earth Dog !! The Fire cycle of the last two years is transitioning into an Earth cycle. This will have marked impact on all things Earth related, both within and without. In the Chinese cosmological systems, the physical body is represented by the Earth element. Earth is also associated with food, nourishment, digestion, contemplation, Spleen-Stomach / pancreas, flesh and muscles, dampness/humidity, worry, the sound of singing and sweet... taste. All of these aspects of the body and of life will carry more weight in the coming year. Earth is about Transformation and Transportation. Earth is dense, its movement is mostly slow. It contains vital nutrients and channels water. When in balance it is calming to the nervous system and facilitates the body to ground, align to center and be awake in the present moment. When out of balance, there can be excessive cyclical thoughts, often worrying about the future, and the body can feel tired, bloated, crave sweets, heavy, sluggish and off-center. We will be offered opportunities and challenged this year to live the middle path of moderation, to stay aligned in our center, and cultivate humility and integrity. The animal medicine offered for this path is the Dog, that of deep connection to our body, to others, and to the land. Noticing, feeling and feeding the healthy connections that are constantly available to us in every moment is an essential practice right now, and as one of my mentors would say "its whats for dinner".

rainy Saturday podcasting... Botanical Biohacking on the immune system, nitric oxide, micro-circulation and chinese medicine some very practical practices on how to boost our immunity and resiliency to climatic influences.

I love this. Makes me more aware of the current of air that must be created by their movement. If you left tracks in the air, what would they look like?... What wake do you make as you move through this world? The first new moon of the year has just passed and we are in the discerning and storing time of winter, reflecting back on our tracks of the past and contemplating in what ways they need to be adjusted as we continue our movement in this one precious life. How do we effect the world around us by our movement? How does that movement impact our bodies, minds and spirit? What effect do we want to have on the world? In goal settings, lets pay attention to the means, not just the ends - as its the journey that is rich with life-learning, no matter what the ends may be.

What if we replaced the word "addict" with: A human being who suffered so much that he or she finds in drugs or some other behavior a temporary escape from that suffering"? Here is part 2 of Dr. Mats interview for The Fix. Please share.

Coming up this Friday from 4-8:30, we have a special treat for you: A sweet gathering celebration including demos from all our amazing practitioners: your chance to meet Melanie Nelson, Malcolm Clark, Jeannie Achuff, and myself, see what we do in action, and get a little taste of it yourself. I will be doing a cupping demos from 5:30-6:30, and offering folks a chance to find out what it feels like (spoiler alert: feels like magic).

I'm very exctied to be offering this new community clinic with Malcolm Clark, starting tomorrow, Tuesday October 9th. Acupuncture and Bodywork, community style. The first half of the clinic (1:30-3:30) is open to all ages, so parents with young ones are welcome to come. Holiday times are rich ways to gather and celebrate with food, family and friends. They can also be times of great overload: of food,... drink, exertion, information, emotion and stress. In these times, it's important to take care of the digestion process, to help the body take in what is necessary and release what is not. Walking in nature, tending to your hydration and your heart, and quality sleep all help with this process. Acupuncture and bodywork are also excellent methods to help with post-holiday self-care. Happy Thanksgiving Community!!! For more information, contact U Retreat: Holistic Spa and Wellness

As my patients know, I most often have the same music playing during treatments. It is not random background, but carriers a deeper purpose in facilitating the energetic alignment of the treatment. It also aids as a recall for continuity of treatments, so no matter how long it has been since your last treatment, hearing the music again will aid in the recall of the energetic foundation built up from previous sessions. The body remembers. And in this way, you can use this meth...od of attunement to bring yourself into clearer and sound alignment when the waves of life are strong and the ground feels like only an idea. Even amongst the contracting turmoil, remember all that brings expansive joy to your sweet, deep, open heart. For it is real. You can trust it. You can trust you. Love to you all. You are amazing. It is a privilege to work with you. Thank you.

"A recent meta-analysis, which examines existing research on a topic, compared acupuncture treatment to standard medical treatment (the kind involving a doctors exam and drugs) for musculoskeletal pain, chronic headaches, and osteoarthritis...When comparing legit acupuncture to standard care, there was a statistically significant benefit to acupuncture, Vickers says. We saw a measurable effect there, he explains. If acupuncture were a drug, wed say the drug works.

Im very exctied to be offering this new community clinic with Malcolm Clark, starting tomorrow, Tuesday October 9th. Acupuncture and Bodywork, community style. The first half of the clinic (1:30-3:30) is open to all ages, so parents with young ones are welcome to come. Holiday times are rich ways to gather and celebrate with food, family and friends. They can also be times of great overload: of food,... drink, exertion, information, emotion and stress. In these times, its important to take care of the digestion process, to help the body take in what is necessary and release what is not. Walking in nature, tending to your hydration and your heart, and quality sleep all help with this process. Acupuncture and bodywork are also excellent methods to help with post-holiday self-care. Happy Thanksgiving Community!!! For more information, contact U Retreat: Holistic Spa and Wellness

AcuLounge is getting ready for our fourth offering at the Oaklands Sunset Market happening Wednesday night starting at 4:30. If you have been experiencing any difficulty with the smoke in the air, in your breathing, your eyes, nose, mouth, skin, energy, or heartbody, acupuncture is a phenomenal remedy. The smoke is an irritant to the lungs and mucus membranes in the body and the body in its brilliant intelligence to manage the irritants will create an inflammation response to... help capture and clear the invading irritants. Sometimes we need to help our body in this process and acupuncture can boost the bodies ability to do so. In Chinese Medicine, the lungs are one of the primary sources of qi, or energy, gathering it from the air, and transporting it throughout the body. If this function is impaired by irritants, inflammation and mucus, then our energy can drop significantly. Also, on an energetic and vibrational level, the smoke is carrying the energy of that which has been burned - so we are physically feeling the destruction and dissolution of the forests, fauna, animals, and homes. The great loss that is occurring can stir deep grief. Acupuncture can help the emotional body meet these feelings with care and insight. If you have any questions or are not sure about acupuncture but curious about how it works, feel free to stop by and ask away :) Take great care out there. <3 https://redleafwellness.ca/respiratory-problem/ http://acupuncturewellness.net/respiratory-diseases-and-ch/ #oaklandssunsetmarket #uretreat #selfcare #communityacuyyj #lunglove

There are no wrong postures, only positions we have forgotten to come out of. BBC

Getting water ready for AcuLounge @oaklands.sunset.market. /// mint, lemon balm, rose, raspberry, rosemary /// so. simple. so. yum. #aculounge #communityacupuncture #healthyself

AcuLougne happening Wednesday night at the Oaklands Sunset Market // come get your healing on // #midweekboost #iloveacupuncture #communityacupuncture #aculounge #midsummerhealing #settleintoyou

Something so magical about pulling up at boarding time and being the last one on the ferry. Bringing some acupuncture to Cortes. #onemoreferry #cortesacupuncture #lovemyjob

Starting this week at the Oaklands Sunset Market: community style acupuncture. Just like you need to prepare your firewood for the winter in the Summer, Summer is the best time to boost your system to prevent illness in Winter. Drop on by and say hi, would love to see you. Come get your health on <3

Great little clip demonstrating the healing power of mindfully practiced functional movement.

Don't be fooled by what's currently cool, Take it to your heart first to know if it's right for you. Medicine is more than substance, it's just as much timing, dosage and intention too.... #bodyintelligence #listeninbodyknows #uniquelyyou

Here's an excellent article detailing some studies and sharing excellent information on the impact of cesarian scars. I love that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are so effective in alleviating these symptoms and restoring health. "Some common symptoms reported to me in regards to connections made with C-section scars in the building of IAP (intra abdominal pressure):... 1. Bilateral limb pain, especially at the knees and anterior hips 2. Low back pain 3. Pelvic floor symptoms like incontinence or constipation/diarrhea, despite the fact they did not give vaginal birth 4. Feelings of numbness or absence of sensation in the area around the scar, coupled with the loss of connection with contractibility of the lower abdomen 5. Perception of bilateral anterior hip tightness, even though their hips are passively and/or actively mobile Many women have never associated the presence of the C-section scar with their symptoms. After all, their symptoms tend to not always be close to the area of the C-section scar!"

"What is the relationship between the external movement of your body through space, the internal movement through your tissues and the movement of your mind?"

Heat wave coming to the Island this weekend. To provide your body with high resiliency and protection from the heat, ensure you are well hydrated BEFORE it gets really hot. #simplepreventativehealthcare

Dont be fooled by whats currently cool, Take it to your heart first to know if its right for you. Medicine is more than substance, its just as much timing, dosage and intention too.... #bodyintelligence #listeninbodyknows #uniquelyyou

Heres an excellent article detailing some studies and sharing excellent information on the impact of cesarian scars. I love that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are so effective in alleviating these symptoms and restoring health. "Some common symptoms reported to me in regards to connections made with C-section scars in the building of IAP (intra abdominal pressure):... 1. Bilateral limb pain, especially at the knees and anterior hips 2. Low back pain 3. Pelvic floor symptoms like incontinence or constipation/diarrhea, despite the fact they did not give vaginal birth 4. Feelings of numbness or absence of sensation in the area around the scar, coupled with the loss of connection with contractibility of the lower abdomen 5. Perception of bilateral anterior hip tightness, even though their hips are passively and/or actively mobile Many women have never associated the presence of the C-section scar with their symptoms. After all, their symptoms tend to not always be close to the area of the C-section scar!"

Believing babies are competent as opposed to helpless fundamentally changes how you interact with them" This article shares some quality insight into building a strong connected relationship with your child right from the beginning. And the sage advice of : "Trust baby to be able to tell you what he wants even as a newborn." can be applied not only to your baby, but your own body - learning to trust your body to tell you what it wants will also enable you to trust your babys body more too.

"The things that we think are the problems can be the gifts. One of the advantages I have is that my spine was paralyzed when I was a child. So I have that sense of not moving, underneath movement. Its not a gift at the moment, but it can be. One of my philosophies is, "Dont waste the suffering". We do suffer. The reality is we do. All is not suffering but we all suffer and not to waste it." -- Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen

*Special* As many of us know, our skin is the largest organ. What you may not know is it is the last organ to get nutrients, making it important to treat inside and out. This special focuses on both! #loveyourskin

#trauma #somaticexperiencing #healing #transformation #peterlevine

TIME includes acupuncture in its list of ibuprofen alternatives.

This Saturday is the Oaklands Street Party @HualtainCorners. Tonnes of fun is to be had for all ages. I will be on site U Retreat: Spa - Acupuncture - Bodywork doing mini Tongue & Pulse readings for folk who are curious about what it all means and to learn how they are a window into ones health. Pop by, say hi, enjoy some tea and meet your neighbours.

Had so much fun with Eve as she learned some massage techniques and healing touch on her mom. Healthy touch is critical to our wellbeing, and its important to teach our littles to develop the skill of listening with their hands. @URetreat is offering a sweet Mothers Day special that does just that! And of course, therapeutic touch is always apart of every acupuncture treatment offered. #loveyourmomma #healingtouch #touchislearned #teachthemyoung #acupuncture #yyjkids #yyjhealth U Retreat: Spa - Acupuncture - Bodywork

Seeking help with these aliments? Seek out your local acupuncturist!

The most courageous client came in today to start some powerful work on her scars from a cesarean section and gallbladder removal. At first, she was very nervous about it but is committed to healing and she was so incredible during treatment. These types of scars in particular can create quite chaotic energy patterns within the meridian system as they can impede the free flowing movement of up to 6 meridians. She had been experiencing tightness on the whole right side of her ...body for years and lower abdominal cramping with back pain ever since the cesarean. So excited to work with her and witness her healing. U Retreat: Spa - Acupuncture - Bodywork #bodylove #acupunctureworks #lovemywork #scarscanheal #getthatqifreeflowing

Yes, this is a new flower bud growing out of a cut carnation flower! Flower was blessed by my teacher Dr. Aung and gifted to me on March 5th. First it started growing a set of new leaves, and a few weeks ago the new bud started forming. Dont underestimate the power of your thoughts, intentions and goodwill. #nourishinglife #whatyoupracticegrows #blessed #draung #uretreat #yyj

New Offering! Scar Tissue Integration Most people have scars and internal adhesions from some sort of trauma, injury or surgery. For some, the scars are not that noticeable. For others, they are a cause of great pain and suffering. And then there are others, where ever since a particular incident occurred that resulted in scarring, things were just never quite the same, but nothing particular could be pin-pointed as the cause. Scar tissue impacts the physiological and energet...ic functions of the body in both obvious and subtle ways that can create discomfort, pain, restrict movement, impede healing and promote further disfunction. Manual manipulation and acupuncture needle stimulation are utilized to relieve symptoms related to scars, softening the tissue, loosening and opening adhesions, and promoting new tissue regeneration and correct channel flow. The healing outcomes are profound. This work is excellent for both surgical scars and scars from other injuries. Some of the types of symptoms and disorders that have been healed from integrating scar tissue back into the mind-body are: Crohns disease, anxiety & depression, recurrent kidney and bladder infections, PTSD, menstrual cramps, heavy uterine bleeding, shoulder & back pain. A series of treatments are needed for the most effective and lasting results. The Scar Tissue Integration work will be offered both in private treatment session and in a group treatment setting (no more than 3 per group). Please contact for more information.

Seasonal Attunement with Cupping One of the best ways to optimize health and to truly feel well is to live in harmony with the natural cycles of the earth. When we are in a balanced relationship with our environment, our will is supported and our daily activities come with ease. Using all our senses to tune into what is happening outside in nature will encourage our body-mind awareness to come into appropriate alignment. Right now, we are about to enter the peak of the Spring... season. In the Spring, all that was frozen into stillness in the winter months is now thawing into movement, surfacing from the deep and growing with vigor upwards. This particular Spring is taking its time for the temperature to rise so things may feel a bit stuck or sluggish; impatience, irritability and insomnia may be more intense, as will physical pain (including muscles aches, headaches and menstrual pain). We may also experience an increase in swellings and skin imbalances or eruptions. Chinese medicine offers many therapies that can support seasonal transitions and help the body-mind align into optimal health. One of these ancient therapies is called cupping. It involves taking a cup, vacuum suctioning out the air (either with a flame, a pump, or pressure), and placing the empty cup on the skin. The skin and underlying tissue is then pulled up into the cup. The cup can be left in one place or moved around. This is can be seen as a reverse massage: instead of the tissue being pressed down, it is being pulled up. This style of working with the tissue perfectly matches the Spring rising energy of things moving upwards and out. It helps free up the muscles layers, like fluffing a down blanket, and can help separate adhered facial layers. It encourages free flowing circulation by opening up space in the body and powerfully moving energy and blood. I often relate this action to cleaning the gutters or removing the top wintering layer of leaves from the garden bed. Its a very effective method to remove congestion or toxins from the tissues and is good to combine with a Spring cleanse or detox protocol. In this way, it is also excellent for both acute injuries and old injures that have not quite healed. One of my teachers, Dr. Aung (www.aung.com), even recommends using cupping to help clear ancestral disharmonies that may be presenting as chronic shoulder pain. Many ask if it hurts, and the answer is: no. It feels like a suction, similar to how a hickey would feel. And the marks that can be left behind, they are not bruises so they dont hurt either, they too feel like hickies (if felt at all). Cupping is great on its own, and also excellent in combination with other body work and nutritional therapies, in supporting and sustaining optimal health.

A powerful TEDx talk about the power of mindfulness! ~ Tara The Power of Mindfulness: What You Practice Grows Stronger | Shauna Shapiro How do we change? In th...is pioneering talk, Dr. Shauna Shapiro draws on modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom to demonstrate how mindfulness can help us make positive changes in our brains and our lives. See more