9.15.2019

Ojai Herbal Symposium


Welcome to the second annual Ojai Herbal Symposium in November! I'm especially excited to visit Carol Wade's garden or take a plant walk with Lanny Kaufer on Sunday morning, and meet other herbalists and acupuncturists. Last year's opening Chumash blessing was moving and beautiful, and I expect this year's to be powerfully stirring, as well. I love this year's theme, and the abundance of Chinese medicine influences. Krotona Hall sits on a hill surrounded by the Valley of the Moon mountains, with a lush garden that feels transportive and magical.

California acupuncture CEU's are offered, and volunteer positions are currently open. See www.OjaiHerbal.org for more information. I hope to see you there! 

9.09.2019

The Pharm


I don't know how a small town like Ventura has so many yoga studios! But, it's fun to bounce around and teach/ play at seven of them. 

I'm excited to share that The Pharm is a new yoga studio and community center opening in downtown Ventura next Sunday, September 15! Please come join us for various ongoing classes and events. 

I'm teaching weekly Deep Flow yoga classes on Saturday evenings. My fellow acupuncturist and mentor Geoff Helms is teaching Taiji on Tuesday evenings. I'm excited for Nia dance classes on Wednesday mornings. There is much to look forward to, and diverse class options for everyone. Welcome

9.02.2019

Botanical Products


I create botanical-product custom orders for clients and patients. I make beautiful things for myself, friends, family, and students... but no longer sell bulk items. I'd rather share specific things when I see you in clinic... or teach you how to make it yourself!

Some Herbal Recommendations

Two Los Angeles area herbalists (and dear friends) I recommend for lovely handmade botanical products, and informative newsletters:
For local Ventura herbs, visit: 
For gorgeous natural perfumes, I recommend:

Coming Up

I look forward to sharing ongoing Herbal Classes and Acupuncture- Herbs- Yoga- Wellness Clinic in Ventura, starting early 2020! 

8.28.2019

late summer


late summer
tomatoes ripening on
naked vines

passionfruit spiraling
up up up
to bright blue skies

a cool summer
fog, chills
wool sweaters

and now,
the heat begins
hot legs turning from red to brown
surfing weekly,
beginning to stand,
only half-clad in a wet suit

my traditional summer travels
truncated 
time outdoors
lessened 

internal focus
monk-like
passionate
tired

"don't burn out"
"it's a marathon, not a sprint"
"keep swimming"

I walk the trails
flashcards, papers, 
mind filled with ideas
questions, thoughts,
let it all 
fall away 

one breath
one question
infinite answers
but just one
just one
for this test

hone in 
aiming arrow forward
gaze set
core powerful
body shaking, sweating
rooting feet
counting breath

preparing,
prepared

clear the mind
visualize success
slowly pull back the drawstring
refocus the gaze

precise
alignment

grace 

not yet
not yet
refocus
re-align
practice
fail
rise

practice
fail
rise

soon,
let the arrow
FLY. 

8.23.2019

the RAIN of self- compassion

Tara Brach uses the acronym RAIN to describe the process of self- compassion. I find this helpful, particularly in challenging times:

Recognize what's going on
Allow the experience to be as it is
Investigate with compassion and care
Nourish with self-compassion


8.10.2019

Board exam 1


The test was difficult. It was mostly what I'd prepared for, except different diagnostics thrown all together for answer possibilities, and more "treatment plan" type questions than straight "diagnosis" questions.

I cancelled all work and social engagements the week before the test, cycling through old quiz questions on TCMreview.com and reviewing flashcards, honing in on weak spots. Two days before the exam, I took two full-length mock exams on TCMtests.com. The day before the exam, I took a self-constructed mock-exam at the same time as I'd perform the next day, relaxed (surf, hike, do a few more flashcards to ease my mind), ate a delicious nutritious macrobiotic supper, took a walk, took a bath, slept, then woke at 5:30 AM to perform--- and succeed.

I take a break at the half-way mark (50 questions down, 1 hour in) to pee, take some power-poses in the bathroom mirror, and devour a chocolate bar. The two hours fly by. Every time I start sweating or feeling anxious, I stop, take "chin" mudra (connecting my thumb and forefinger), breathe deeply, then proceed. The computer doesn't allow me to cross out answers or highlight important points, so I fill my scratch- paper with small bullets, key points, and doodles. I draw symptoms for complex cases onto a doughy-sticky-figure human body. I draw out complex tongue and pulse diagnoses. I knock off wrong answers on my bullet-points.

My feelings at the end of the test, as I put a hand on my heart, still my breath, then click "next" to complete the exam--- are complex. The screen flashes "pass" and I hold back tears in the quietly clicking testing room. I am beyond words, and still am.

This is the first of five tests, and an auspicious beginning. I am grateful to everyone who made this focus possible, and my studying-process joyful, meaningful:

Ben, for your playfulness, delicious meals, and adventure partnership. My yoga community, who keeps me responsible, sane, and life filled with purposeful sacred embodied play. Cynthia, for reminding me that this testing process is an opportunity for presence, and to enjoy it while I'm here, while honoring Body Wisdom. The Ocean, for cleansing my body, heart, mind, and sinuses. The mountains for grounding and magic. David, Geoff, and Justin for sharing  parallel TCM experiences, and continual inspiration and inquiry. Geoff, for reminding me to "keep swimming." My grandpa from six generations ago, who wrote our family poem that inspires this journey, informs my name and spirit, and infuses my life with love, meaning, excellence, and dedication to lineage. To all my family and friends, and seen and unseen forces. To all my relations. 

Taking the test itself feels like a very solo adventure, like traveling to a new country where I've never been, and know no one, with a mission to "get the treasure--- and bring it home." I've prepared intensely for the mission, but upon landing, it's still a whole new planet. I'm grateful for my large community of support at home. It's nice to be able to leave--- and come back. Next time, the testing process will hopefully be easier, more familiar. Continued dedication (with strategic restful play) until then.

Next tests: September, October, February, May. Thanks for joining my journey.

Big Love.
Deep bow.

(from a journal entry after the NCCAOM Foundations exam, written in the Sespe Wilderness. I went for a short 24-hour backpacking journey the day that I completed the exam.) 

7.19.2019

Foundation Training

We're into week 2 of practicing Foundation Training daily (during the middle of morning yoga asana practice). We finish each 15 minute practice sweating, shaking, and grinning. The whole body-mind is engaged during these active isometric contractions. It eases lower back pain and chronic injury by engaging supporting muscles, while improving posture and optimizing movement. Dr Eric Goodman has some excellent free resources on Youtube below. See the main site for more detailed information, or to get a subscription to stream more videos.