Welcome to this month’s Holistic Practitioner Interview with Holly Pelletier,  Acupuncturist!

1. WHO are you? 

Even as little as a year ago, I would have answered the question “Who are you?” in as little as four words, “I am an acupuncturist.” I would have been proud, because I love what I do, but I wouldn’t have given my simplistic answer a second thought. Now, I realize that I am so much more, we all are.

I am a free spirit who delights in many things, and the more I get to know myself the more I realize that there are many aspects that make up a person that extend beyond career path. To simply call myself an acupuncturist doesn’t seem fitting, rather acupuncture is the work I choose that allows me to freely and naturally express my true nature.

Some of the day-to-day things I find joy in are yoga, hiking, dogs, earl grey tea with raw milk, writing, dancing, paddleboarding, reading a good book, creating art, cooking, and, probably most of all, hanging out in a coffee shop with a good friend or my computer writing a blog post.

When you look beyond the day-to-day, I am just a soul who is working her way along her own journey. There have been many ups and downs along the way, but each stage of life has molded me into who I am today. The more challenging times are definitely the ones that have made me more of a compassionate and understanding healer. I can finally say I’ve reached a place where I am thankful for every little bit of my journey so far, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

2. WHAT is your profession/holistic healing method?

My holistic healing method of choice is that of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It might come as a surprise to find out, but acupuncture is actually part of a much larger system of Chinese medicine that incorporates other modalities such as herbology, nutrition, Qi Gong, meditation, and body work. I choose to live my life based on this Chinese system of medicine and make many recommendations to clients about expanding their healing outside of the treatment room by making minor lifestyle tweaks as well.

It is a really well-rounded, balanced approach at living that is based upon thousands of years of development. It works to clear blockages and stagnant energy,  which then allows the body to return to its optimal level of health. Basically, the needles, herbs, breath work, and/or massage allow the body to facilitate its own healing. It is truly a unique, gentle, and all-encompassing approach to health care.

In addition to acupuncture and TCM, I do a lot of yoga and meditation. I like to combine these modalities together because they have a lot of the same foundation having both originated in Asia. They go together so nicely, and completely maximize healing and help treatments last longer. Rarely do I ever see a client in the office that I do not give some piece of “homework” to involving yoga– whether that be breath work, meditation, or a pose to practice at home; and I never teach a yoga class without incorporating the meridians, the time of year, and specific acupuncture points. They piggy back on each other, and help the healing go deeper physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

3. WHEN did you decide that you wanted to help people in this way?

I was struggling with a lot of my own health issues when I was going through a particularly stressful time in my life. I was juggling two jobs, graduate school, and yoga teacher training when a really good friend suggested I try acupuncture to help manage my stress and severe headaches. Prior to that I hadn’t really heard much about it at all! I grew up in a remote town in northern Maine and not much was being said about Chinese medicine in the late 80’s/early 90’s.

My first treatment hooked me immediately. I was blown away by the drastic changes I experienced; my anxiety diminished almost immediately and my other symptoms began to resolve after only a few treatments. I had never felt so good. Even though I was in the middle of an extremely intense program, for the first time, I felt like I had some ground underneath my feet.

4. WHERE does a session occur? 

Schooling was long and challenging! Most people I talk to, think becoming an acupuncturist is done in a week-long certification course. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, this is not the case. To be an acupuncturist, you must first have at least a bachelor’s degree and have taken all of the science classes required for a pre-med program. Then, acupuncture school in itself is four years, with the final year being comprised mostly of clinicals, sort of like a residency. I chose to study in Boston because the New England School of Acupuncture had a really good reputation and offered programs that other schools didn’t, such as Japanese acupuncture.

After finishing school, I created my own business that is run out of two different locations. One location is in Kennebunk, Maine and the other is in Newton, Massachusetts. I love both spaces equally, but they are both completely different! In Newton, my clients are primarily kids and teens, and in Kennebunk I see mostly adults. The two locations offer a chance to work with such a diverse group of people, no day is ever boring!

The two clinics, though different, both have a very warm and inviting feel to them, and I am capable of seeing all ages in either one.

In addition, I have recently begun combining yoga and acupuncture in extended classes in the seacoast area and offering week-long retreats in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica that really allow for the healing to take place without all of the distractions of everyday life. It allows for a total reset, and clarity of mind to return back to the stressors of the day-to-day.

5. WHY do you do what you do?

I didn’t realize the impact that becoming an acupuncturist would have on me and my way of life. I went into it thinking that it would be a “cool career”, but in addition to it being a “cool career”, it has completely rewired my way of thinking about health, my body, and the environment in which we live. I love what I do; everyday I’m in the office, I feel so connected to my clients and purposeful with my life. My work energizes me and gives me so much joy. I know deep down that this is my path, and I am so incredibly thankful for it because it has helped me to  open my heart and develop compassion in such a way that I never could have imagined.

For more information on Holly and the services she provides:

Website: www.hpelletieracu.com

Blog: https://www.holisticallyinspired.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hpelletieracu/

Instagram: @holistically_inspired

Email: hollypelletier.acu@gmail.com

This slideshow requires JavaScript.