I grew up in the hills of New Hampshire, climbing trees and racing bikes with my two brothers. At the age of twenty-one, wanting to escape the winters of New England, I packed up my car and drove west. This landed me in San Diego and I immediately fell in love with southern California. The year round sunshine fed my health focused, activity fueled lifestyle and I cultivated my hobbies of surfing, hiking, farmers markets, meditation and yoga. Healthy living was my passion.
Considering my lifestyle it was quite a shock when, at the age of twenty-three, I became extremely ill with an ailment that doctors were unable to diagnose for over a month. After a five week period, during which my health continued to deteriorate, it was finally determined my illness was due to a bacterial infection in my heart which had slowly been eating away at one of my valves. I was immediately admitted into the hospital and put on an intensive three-month cycle of antibiotics to stabilize my condition. Once the bacteria had been eliminated, the doctors told me my valve had been mangled and I would have to undergo open-heart surgery.
This began a long list of happenings that would change my view of western medicine forever; the quality of my care depended upon the level of my health insurance, being over-medicated to the point of vomiting, and having counseling on the inevitability of depression after surgery rather then being coached on how to live a healthy full life again. There were so many events that seemed in opposition to cultivating health and healing that once I had finally recovered from my surgery, I knew there must be more to medicine than this. Simple humanity was a huge piece of what was missing in the care I had received.
Soon after the surgery I realized my life calling as a health practitioner, and in 2006 moved to Los Angeles to enroll in YoSan University’s four-year Masters degree program of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I graduated with honors in 2010 and immediately opened my own acupuncture and wellness practice in Santa Monica.
In addition to being a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, I’m an avid CrossFitter and co-founder of Sweet Cheeks Headquarters, a successful food blog that focuses on healthy living and Paleo style cooking. Sweet Cheeks is a regular contributor to the CrossFit Journal and you can find a continuous stream of anecdotes and delicious recipes at www.sweetcheekshq.com.
I believe a life of wellness is achieved through the simpler points - proper food, sleep, exercise, and mental well-being. Provided with the right tools the human body has amazing capabilities to heal itself of just about anything.
If you love your body, it will absolutely love you back.
Considering my lifestyle it was quite a shock when, at the age of twenty-three, I became extremely ill with an ailment that doctors were unable to diagnose for over a month. After a five week period, during which my health continued to deteriorate, it was finally determined my illness was due to a bacterial infection in my heart which had slowly been eating away at one of my valves. I was immediately admitted into the hospital and put on an intensive three-month cycle of antibiotics to stabilize my condition. Once the bacteria had been eliminated, the doctors told me my valve had been mangled and I would have to undergo open-heart surgery.
This began a long list of happenings that would change my view of western medicine forever; the quality of my care depended upon the level of my health insurance, being over-medicated to the point of vomiting, and having counseling on the inevitability of depression after surgery rather then being coached on how to live a healthy full life again. There were so many events that seemed in opposition to cultivating health and healing that once I had finally recovered from my surgery, I knew there must be more to medicine than this. Simple humanity was a huge piece of what was missing in the care I had received.
Soon after the surgery I realized my life calling as a health practitioner, and in 2006 moved to Los Angeles to enroll in YoSan University’s four-year Masters degree program of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I graduated with honors in 2010 and immediately opened my own acupuncture and wellness practice in Santa Monica.
In addition to being a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, I’m an avid CrossFitter and co-founder of Sweet Cheeks Headquarters, a successful food blog that focuses on healthy living and Paleo style cooking. Sweet Cheeks is a regular contributor to the CrossFit Journal and you can find a continuous stream of anecdotes and delicious recipes at www.sweetcheekshq.com.
I believe a life of wellness is achieved through the simpler points - proper food, sleep, exercise, and mental well-being. Provided with the right tools the human body has amazing capabilities to heal itself of just about anything.
If you love your body, it will absolutely love you back.
