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There's a bit of a buzz around sleep these days. Until several years ago, I didn't even know there was such a thing as "sleep hygiene"...did you? We know that good-quality, restorative sleep is essential for physical and mental health. We also know that many of us are not getting it. What's most surprising is that it's not just sleep deprived parents, or overworked city dwellers walking through our doors feeling exhausted. More and more 20 and 30 somethings walk into our clinic with a sleep apnea diagnosis, insomnia, burnout or some other form of interrupted sleep that presents more than once/week. As a wellness based clinic, our RMT and R. Ac team can help you to find much needed balance. It starts with permission to rest. Just walk into our sanctuary/studio, enjoy the soft music, the dim lights and 60-90 minutes of passive un-interrupted rest. Of course there's more to it than that; you'll also be in the hands of a professional who can help. At Pinpoint you can seek a blend of therapeutic massage + medical acupuncture with RMT Julie, or a stand alone traditional acupuncture session that addresses deeper ailments leading to sleep issues with R. Ac Megan. Any form of bodywork is a good place to start. If you are new to bodywork and you have sleep issues we recommend starting with a few sessions of Registered Acupuncture. R. Ac is covered by extended health benefits and addresses the deeper causes of interrupted sleep. It dives deep into your physical body while also addressing lifestyle habits, diet, body temperature and even the emotional body to figure out what's causing your sleep issues. Your acupuncturist also uses tools to make a complete TCM diagnosis by taking your pulse and looking at the health of your tongue. Tongue diagnosis is an ancient practice in TCM ~ and one that gives your practitioner clues to the state of your internal body. A simple Google search can give you some insight on the most commonly used points for sleep deprivation; now all you need is the right practitioner. If you can't make it in to see us, or you need tools to help in between your sessions here is a list of ways you can invite restorative sleep into your life: Practices to Invite Better Sleep: 1. Set up a bedtime hygiene routine that works for you: set aside an hour of "me" time before bed, cozy up with a new book, or pour a bath. Find time daily to unwind and let go of the stresses of the day 2. Dim the lights and reduce your screen-time: our circadian rhythm follows cycles of light and darkness to determine when we should be awake vs sleeping. By creating a dusk-like atmosphere and reducing bright light stimulation before bedtime, you signal the body to begin secreting melatonin which will ease you to sleep 3. Stretch: release any physical tension and stress you are holding onto. Try holding each stretch for 30-60 seconds 4. Take a breather: deep belly breathing stimulates the vagus nerve which activates your relaxation response. Try out a 4-4-4 tempo of inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 4 seconds, and exhaling for 4 seconds. Repeat 10 times. 5. Journal: let your thoughts and reflections of the day flow onto paper to reduce an overactive mind at night. 6. Self Massage: There are 4 acupuncture points you can self-massage to initiate a relaxation response in the body. They are located on: the inner ankles, between the eyebrows on the forehead, the outside of the wrist and the back of the neck. 7. Use a high quality essential oil blend in a small dose before bed. Spritz some lavender water on your pillow at night, or diffuse some peppermint in your bathroom. Small rituals like this are simple and that's the point. In our over-stimulated world, we must remember that rest is productive and make time for it. To book an appointment with Megan, our Registered Acupuncturist click here. To add yourself to the waitlist with Julie, our RMT please email info@pinpointrmt.com

While many of us have moved beyond the paralyzing fear we felt at the start of the pandemic in 2020, a new feeling has emerged. The New York Times called it languishing: the unsettling feeling of stagnation and emptiness, a void between depression and flourishing. Coping for me came in the form of buying and watching my new houseplants grow. At my best, I’m an erratic plant-parent where the only consistency is inconsistency - overwatering, underwatering, too much sun, too little sun - but I was impressed at their resilience. Seeing a new leaf unfurling on my pothos or a new shoot breaking through the soil of my snake plant brought joy in a time when life felt like it was at a standstill. As it pertains to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, you can think of the human body as the garden and your Registered Acupuncturist as the gardener. The garden is this beautiful, dynamic and self-regulating system - there is a time for sprouting, ripening, harvesting, and composting - and through this cycle of transformation, it continuously sustains itself. Optimal growth occurs when there is a proper balance between sunlight (yang) and water (yin). When the garden flourishes, it is able to withstand periods of drought, insect infestation, an unseasonably cold day, and other kinds of adversity. As the gardener, I don’t make the garden grow, but I can help prepare the soil, plant the seeds, provide water, and remove weeds. I observe and judge what the garden needs, and then nurture its interaction with the environment accordingly - promoting growth in some areas and restricting it in others. We can look at the human body in the same way. Acupuncturists observe your demeanor, complexion, and tongue, we listen to the sound of your voice, breathing, and coughing, and we palpate your abdomen, back, and measure your pulse and we use these findings to diagnose what is going on in the body. When yin and yang fall out of balance, our bodies become less efficient at self-regulating and illness can set in. Once we determine the relative distribution of yin and yang in the body and how this is causing illness, we can work to correct the imbalance and bring the body back into harmony. Just as we outlined a flourishing garden above, a flourishing and healthy body helps us respond to adversity and bounce back. We can use Traditional Chinese Medicine and all its amazing tools (acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, diet and lifestyle recommendations) to give our bodies resilience and the best possible advantage when it comes to staving off illness. Eastern medicine requires us to adopt a new language and embrace the wisdom of nature. If we can let go just a little and trust the process, we may find some healing along the way. Registered Acupuncture is available with Megan on Mondays 10-2 and Saturdays 9-2 to book online book here.

Cosmetic acupuncture, also known as facial rejuvenation acupuncture, is a non-surgical treatment that involves the insertion of tiny, stainless steel needles into the face to improve the health and appearance of your skin. It works on the complexion from many angles: First, it helps the body to produce more collagen. Did you know that natural production of collagen decreases as we age by about one percent per year after age 20? Collagen is an important protein building block that maintains the integrity of our skin and gives us that plump, youthful look. Reduction in collagen is the culprit for the gradual appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, thin “crepey” skin, and loss of elasticity that we see as we age. Through a micro-wound healing response, cosmetic acupuncture is able to ramp up the body’s natural production of collagen, which means not only can we treat what is already happening, we can prevent or at least keep the signs of aging at bay. This is why we are seeing people of all ages coming in for cosmetic acupuncture! Secondly, cosmetic acupuncture targets the muscles of the face: similar to muscles of the body, muscles of the face can become either too tense (ex. formation of ‘11s’ on the forehead) or too weak, resulting in drooping and sagging. Through facial acupuncture and modalities like gua sha and cupping, we stimulate the facial muscles to hold their natural length and position, resulting in a relaxed yet firm structure. Third, we rely on parasympathetic response, which is a state of rest and digest for the body. When we drift off into this state, it enhances our sense of health and wellbeing. A calm mind is a calm body, which radiates from the inside out. "Just like tight muscles in the body, we target tight muscles of the face. Reducing tension in the facial muscles allows the muscles to hold their natural length and position for a relaxed yet firm structure" Treatment plans typically range from 10-12 sessions. For optimal results, bi weekly sessions per month for the first 6-8 sessions is recommended, followed by monthly sessions for maintenance. New collagen production takes around 4-6 weeks to ramp up, thus visible results can be expected along this timeline. Results can last 2-3 years with regular monthly maintenance sessions. Facial rejuvenation acupuncture has been shown to: Fill fine lines and wrinkles Improve muscle tone and tighten the face Reduce sagging around the eyes, jowls and cheeks Balance the complexion and skin tone Reduce puffiness Improve conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema Increase collagen production and skin elasticity Increase blood circulation What to expect: Treatments include: Essential oil cleanse Gentle facial effleurage to increase circulation Facial cupping to reduce tension Targeted facial acupuncture to address problem areas, fine lines, and skin texture Body acupuncture (as needed) to address internal factors that may be affecting the complexion, such as poor sleep, digestion, inflammation, etc. Moisturizer application Cooling rose quartz roller & gua sha to close the pores, lock in moisture, and tighten the face How to prepare for your appointment: Eat prior to your appointment Avoid caffeine (this can make you jittery and less likely to relax and enjoy the treatment!) Come to your appointment with a clean face Loose fitting clothing is ideal but not a must Drinks lots of water after your treatment To book an appointment click here.