What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 6:45pm Tuesday 9am - 6:45pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 12pm - 6:45am Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Balance Acupuncture Center

Home
United States
Boonton, NJ
Balance Acupuncture Center

Treating a wide variety of conditions gently and effectively.

11/25/2024

Hello! You may have noticed that I've been a little quiet on social media recently. As we move closer towards the winter solstice, I've been feeling a strong need to slow down, get quiet and contemplate. During my moments of contemplation, some awesome ideas have come to me. These thoughts need some space to germinate, so with that I've decided to cut back on social media at least through early January. That includes ending my Instagram live Acupressure With Crystals sessions. I know that's disappointing to those of you who have been watching them regularly but I have two bits of good news for you...

1. You can still watch older sessions on my Instagram
2. They will be coming back in a different form....stay tuned!

Though I am cutting back on social media, I'm definitely not cutting back on my acupuncture practice. This tends to be a busy time of year in my office, especially for patients who want to use their flex spending before it expires at the end of the year. If you're interested in making an appointment, I highly suggest doing so sooner rather than later if you'd like to secure a date and time that's most convenient for you. Simply click on the link in my bio to schedule online.

Until I pop back on social media, light some candles and enjoy these longer nights!

10/11/2024

I cannot believe we saw the Northern Lights tonight! Nature is amazing!

10/07/2024

Energy is everything.

On Saturday I took a class called Clinical Energetics & Client Communication For Improved Outcomes, which was taught by Gary Strauss, a well known craniosacral and polarity therapist who lives in California. I took his class last year and loved it so much that I decided it was worth taking it again.

The key words in the title of this class are "clinical energetics". Gary taught me so much about seemingly simple things that can make a huge difference in creating space for healing. I noticed the change in my practice immediately after his class last year, and today I'm noticing the difference even more. I'm so grateful for teachers like this who embrace simplicity and a slower pace.

I know what I've written may seem cryptic, but it's hard to put into words the things I've learned. But what I do know is that when one of my patients came out of the treatment room she radiated an energy that I hadn't seen in her in a really long time, and she said, "I feel absolutely amazing".

I love what I do! Also, I love my office and the sunlight it receives. Many of my classmates this weekend work in places with no windows. I've done that, and I think it should be mandatory that every healing space has windows. The connection to nature is essential.

09/30/2024

Looking back through my posts over the last month, it struck me how the self-care tools that I shared are things that I do so regularly that they're practically automatic....and I didn't even share everything that I do. I don't have to make time for these things because I've already automatically infused them into my life. My day starts with stillness and matcha. My week includes hiking, strength training, journaling, meditating, and yoga. I drink water and tea throughout the day, and most of what I eat is close to the earth. For me, these self-care tools are my lifestyle.

My lifestyle wasn't always like this at all. There was a time when I lived on processed food, barely exercised, didn't journal and definitely did not drink enough water. Slowly over time I made changes, and today I've never felt healthier in my life.

If you're feeling like you need to make a change, start small. A lifestyle isn't created overnight. It's simple steps over time where we give ourselves grace when we fall away from the healthy habits we're creating. It's kindness to ourselves. It's enjoyable. It's uplifting. It's decompressing and invigorating.

As society moves towards a busy holiday season, remember to employ self-care when you can. Your future self will thank you for it.

And if you feel like you need a reset to get yourself started, schedule an acupuncture appointment! It's a great way to decompress your nervous system from the stress that sometimes keeps us feeling stuck.

09/28/2024

Stillness

Stillness is the greatest revelation. - Lao Tzu

This is one of my favorite quotes. I love it so much that I have a necklace with this quote inscribed on metal as a pendant.

My life is quite busy. Between my practice, serving as Secretary for the New Jersey Acupuncture Society, serving as Secretary for the Boonton Elks Lodge, planning Friendsgiving and spending time with friends and family as much as I can, sometimes my days start at 8:00 am and don't finish until 10:00pm or even later. Many days I leave my house with two meals for the day and a change of clothes (sometimes two changes of clothing depending on what's happening). It sounds like a lot, but I love all of it.

But how I'm able to balance that busyness is by intentionally spending time in stillness. It's quite common for me to spend hours simply sitting outside. I'll stare at the trees and watch the breeze cause the leaves to flutter. Lately it's been lovely to see the leaves start to change color. I watch the birds zip from tree to tree. Sometimes a red tail hawk sweeps through the sky. And many times if I'm home and conditions are right, I'll climb up the hill in my backyard and watch the sunset, like this one.

The stillness is where I decompress, where my mind slows down, where my breath deepens. I truly think that time in stillness is why I'm so productive when I work, and because of that I feel absolutely no guilt when I relax in my chair and take in nature.

As it gets colder, it'll become harder to do this, so these days I'm relishing my time outside in stillness as much as I can.

09/25/2024

There are many different ways to journal.

Recently I felt drawn (pun not intended) to journaling by drawing. I got this blank paper notebook and colored pencils and every few days or so I sketch or write. Mostly what I’m journaling is about goals I’d like to accomplish, and in moments when I’m feeling like I need a pick-me-up, I look back through the pages. It’s amazing how only doing that can help me refocus my energy.

Back in college, I had a larger blank paper notebook and watercolors. I still have that journal and the paintings bring me back to what I was experiencing in college.

I’ve done rapid journaling as described in Writing Down Your Soul by Janet Connor. I’ve carefully written down my thoughts and feelings very slowly and methodically.

All of these methods are beneficial to healthy mental processing. If you find yourself ruminating or feeling stuck, try journaling. It’s a wonderful self-care tool.

09/22/2024

Hiking is one of my favorite things to do and it's become one of my essential self care activities.

Breathing in fresh air, surrounding myself with nature, listening to the breeze through the trees, moving my body and breaking a sweat....these are the things that decompress my stress and rejuvenate my energy.

Today I hiked a fun loop at Hacklebarney State Park with Mike and fellow New Jersey Acupuncture Society board member and vice president Shara Resende and her family. Such a beautiful day for a hike!

If you're new to hiking, there are a few things you should know before you give it a try.

🌱Wear good hiking boots. You can get fit for a good pair at REI. They'll last for years and are worth the investment.
🌱Bring water. The amount may vary depending on the length of the hike and the conditions. For a 45 minute hike like today I had 20 ounces with me.
🌱Research the trail ahead of time. Start with an easy trail, not a moderate or challenging trail. The county or state parks websites are good at describing the trail. Websites like AllTrails have reviews from hikers, which are also helpful.
🌱Save a photo of the map on your phone before you head out for the trail (sometimes cell service is limited). If there is a trail map at the trailhead, take photos of it.
🌱 Understand what the trail markers mean. See the last photo for reference. I can't tell you how many lost hikers I've helped over the years because they didn't understand the meaning of these markers.
🌱Use bug spray. Nantucket Spider makes a wonderful tick repellent.
🌱Hike with others. I only ever hike alone on trails that are either full with a lot of people or I'm super familiar with the route, and even then I tell Mike where I'm going and what time I'm starting and when I should finish. If you're new to this, it's significantly safer to hike with others. Need a hiking buddy? Ask me! I'm down!

09/16/2024

I've been doing yoga for almost 30 years. A college professor recommended that I practice yoga to help improve my posture, and little did I know how much yoga would become a part of my life. It's one of my most favorite forms of self care.

Towards the end of a practice I like to rest with my legs up in the air. When I'm home I rest my feet against a wall or a chair, but when I'm outside during Boonton Recreation yoga I place a block under my sacrum and let my feet hang out in the air.

Also I love doing yoga outside. Breathing in fresh air during a practice is amazing.

If you're looking to try yoga, consider Boonton Recreation yoga. Classes are extremely affordable and Erika the instructor is wonderful!

09/07/2024

Matcha

I love starting my day off with a hot cup of matcha. I gave up coffee quite a while ago because I found the caffeine jolt to be too intense. I had palpitations, sweating and jitteriness. For a while I wasn’t consuming any caffeine, but I found I needed something in the mornings. That’s when I started drinking matcha.

Matcha has a lot of caffeine but it’s released slowly, providing a more even flow of energy that lasts over time.

Matcha is ground up young green tea leaves, which gives it a bright green appearance. It has several health benefits.

🌱High in antioxidants, which help stabilize harmful free radicals that can damage cells and lead to chronic disease

🌱Improve liver health, shown in a 2015 systematic review

🌱High in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which some studies have shown may have anti-cancer properties (more evidence is needed)

🌱Helps with weight loss, shown in a 2020 systematic review

🌱Reduce cardiovascular disease, shown in several studies

🌱Enhance brain function, shown in several studies

It’s so easy to make. I put half a teaspoon in a mug and mix it with hot water. I like it this way but adding coconut milk and a little bit of honey will make it sweeter.

09/03/2024

I remember having a conversation with a patient about self-care shortly after reopening my acupuncture practice during the pandemic. At the time, she and many of my other patients were prioritizing self-care as a coping mechanism to the high stressors and limited healthcare at the time. As they re-entered society, it became harder for them to sustain their self-care practices, and my patient was sharing her struggle with me. She was tired, feeling like she couldn’t keep up and concerned she was at risk of reversing the health benefits she had experienced. Nearly every day while working from home she had been fitting in meditation, yoga, walks, cooking everything from scratch, reading, drawing, writing and taking online seminars. After she had listed everything she had been doing, she chuckled and said, “I’m sick of all of this self-care!” We both enjoyed a bit of a laugh at that notion.

As much as it can make us feel incredible, at times self-care can feel daunting. It’s another thing to do during the day. It’s something to try to fit in. I’ve heard all of the excuses - “I don’t have time,” “I’m too tired,” “I forget”, “I’m not good at it,” “My partner/kids/pets won’t give me space.” I totally get it….I’ve felt the same way too, but a little every day can go a long way.

So for the month of September, I will be sharing simple self-care practices I do on a regular basis, all of which are either free or very low cost. I highly encourage you to give these a try no matter how tired/busy/whatever the barrier may be.

08/27/2024

A day in the life of an acupuncturist

My days tend to vary, but these are the highlights of most of my days...

Matcha
Food preparation
Responding to voicemails, texts and emails
Patients
Morning or afternoon meditation
Meetup with a friend or colleague
Writing
Herbal tea
Yoga or strength training or hiking
Volunteering
Evening conversation with my husband
Kitty snuggles from Gizmo
Moonbrew

And whenever possible, time outside

I know this list makes my days sound dreamy, but imagine taking this list and scrambling it together and that's more what my days look like.....except that they always start with matcha and end with Moonbrew.

08/22/2024

The meaning behind my logo and why it fits what I do so well

First and foremost, I must give credit (and a ton of gratitude) to my graphic designer Nora O'Rourke of nighhawksdesign.com. She came up with the logo and branding for my practice about six years ago.

Sacred geometry speaks to me a lot. It symbolizes nature's design, its brilliance and its balance. Sacred geometry is also associated with a divine creator. With every acupuncture treatment I provide, I trust that the magic of the human body, composed of its own sacred geometry, will respond in a way that I intend while also knowing that healing beyond my understanding is also happening.

Also, I love nature. I have photographs of nature (taken by my amazing husband Mike) throughout my office and on my website. I am always inspired by what nature creates, and to practice a modality rooted in nature is an honor.

raptor

08/19/2024

My favorite modality to use aside from acupuncture needles

I love Gua Sha and I'm finding myself using this technique more often. I was extremely fortunate to learn Gua Sha from Dr. Arya Nielsen who wrote this book, which is THE BOOK for learning Gua Sha. She graduated in the first class of the first acupuncture college in the United States in 1977, making her one of the pioneers of modern acupuncture in our country. She was a frequent instructor at the school I attended, and not only did she oversee me practicing Gua Sha but she did Gua Sha on me during grand rounds when I needed treatment. And I gotta say....I've had a lot of Gua Sha given by a lot of great practitioners, including masters, and nobody gives Gua Sha like Dr. Nielsen. I am extremely grateful for the training I received.

Why do I like this technique? It's great for relieving that dull/achy kind of pain that's difficult to shake. It can also unlock deeply held tension that can result from stress and trauma.

08/17/2024

It was a busy week in my clinic treating a wide variety of things, many of which overlapped. Did you know that acupuncture can treat all of these things and more? Did you know that many times multiple things can be treated during an acupuncture session?

It's what makes acupuncture one of the best healthcare options available.

Call/text me at 973-257-8924 with your questions or schedule an appointment through my website using this link - https://www.balanceacupuncturecenter.com/book-online

08/16/2024

My favorite acupuncture point combination

I love using Kiiko Matumoto's shao yang combination of GB 40/TW above 9 with a slow or normal pulse rate and GB 41/TW 5 with a rapid pulse rate contralateral to the side presenting with SCM tenderness.

It's okay if you're wondering what the heck that means. I'll do my best to explain.

What I love about Kiiko's teachings is her ability to translate Chinese characters and medical texts into Western terminology, which as much as I appreciate the language of Chinese medicine conceptualizing things with a splash of Western terminology helps, hence why I'm going to use Western terminology to explain further.

This particular acupuncture point combination is designed specifically to treat the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of our nervous system that involves our fight/flight/freeze/appease and rest/digest responses. Stress and trauma can linger in the body, causing changes to our digestion, breathing, heart rate and other automated functions in our body (those things our body does that we don't have to think about). Over time those changes can lead to disease of the organs involved. When these point combinations appear necessary during my assessment, I love using them because they are so effective.

08/14/2024

For today's August Meet The Acupuncturist campaign post, I'm supposed to talk about my favorite herb. Here's the thing....I am not an herbalist. I had zero interest in herbs when I was in acupuncture school, and thankfully I went to a school that was known to be superior in learning acupuncture needle techniques, which I think has helped me be really good at what I do.

Thankfully, when I think a patient needs herbal support, there are two amazing experts right here in Boonton who I have sent patients to for years.

Feng Xiao Liu is the owner of on Main Street. Every time I walk in I feel like I'm in China. Her teas are absolutely incredible, and you must experience one of her tea ceremonies.

Megan Stypulkoski is the owner of also on Main Street. Megan's passion for herbs extends beyond her knowledge....she's also a wonderful artist who focuses on plants. Her teas are fabulous and effective. While sitting in her store with her I sipped on a blend with a lot of nervines and it mellowed me out almost instantaneously.

So grateful to have my practice in a community with so many other incredible wellness providers!

08/11/2024

How did I get into acupuncture? It came to me....I'll explain.

In my early twenties I found myself directionless. I tried a few different jobs and landed on massage therapy after getting my first massage in Sweden while on a work trip that was particularly stressful. I envied that the massage therapist got to make people feel amazing in a peaceful environment while my job at the time was the complete opposite.

After going to school for massage therapy and working for about a year, I was concerned about the profession sustaining me for the next 40+ years given how taxing giving massages over time can be on the body. One day I got quiet and thought about what I wanted in a career and these thoughts came to mind:

1. I wanted to do something that was related to what I was already doing.
2. I wanted to help people.
3. I wanted to have the flexibility to work full time or part time.
4. I wanted to work for myself.
5. I wanted to have the potential to work anywhere I wanted.
6. I wanted to earn a certain amount of money.

Then out of the blue, acupuncture came to mind. Here's what's amazing about that thought....I had never received acupuncture before and I grew up afraid of needles and blood. Thankfully, my excitement about becoming an acupuncturist far outweighed my concern that I'd never had an acupuncture treatment and that I may still have been afraid of needles and blood. Thankfully those fears are looooonnnnngggg gone.

I enrolled at Tri-State College of Acupuncture in the fall of 2003 and graduated June 2, 2006. In the summer of 2005, I got to go to China with several classmates and we got to observe acupuncture in hospital settings as well as take classes. This is me with Dr. Huang, the acupuncturist I observed for two weeks.

The best part about this journey is the experiencing the benefits of receiving a lot of acupuncture, learning how to see the body from a holistic lens, and helping so many others improve their health. I am so grateful for my journey, and as difficult as the path was a times, I think it was meant to be.

Address

550 West Main Street
Boonton, NJ
07005

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6:45pm
Tuesday	9am - 6:45pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	12pm - 6:45am
Friday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19732578924

Website

http://www.balanceacupuncturecenter.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Balance Acupuncture Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Acupressure With Crystals using amethyste points. Relaxing and centering #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressurepoints #acupressure #amethyste #crystals

Acupressure With Crystals using iolite for a wonderful guided meditation. #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressurepoints #iolite #meditation #guidedmeditation #embodied #grounded #elevated

Acupressure With Crystals using iolite. Cooling the Yang energy. #acupressurepoints #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressure #iolite

Acupressure With Crystals using round stones. They have a name that unfortunately I can't recall at the moment. Please feel free to comment below with what you think these stones are! #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressurepoints #acupressure #acupuncture

Acupressure With Crystals using ocean jasper. This routine is a wonderful meditation. #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressurepoints #acupressure #acupuncture #oceanjasper #meditation

Acupressure With Crystals using amethyste points. Creating calm, loving energy for ourselves and others, especially those in Florida. #acupressurepoints #acupressurewithcrystals #amethyste #meditation #lovingenergy #calm #milton #florida

Acupressure With Crystals using obsidian. I felt super tired going into this routine but afterwards I'm feeling a little bit better. Enjoy and let me know what you think! #acupressurepoints #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressure #acupuncture #crystals #obdidian

Acupressure With Crystals using Caribbean calcite....with an appearance from Gizmo! Supporting the Water element in Five Element Theory. #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressurepoints #waterelement #water #calcite #carribeancalcite #releasingfear #fear #stress #emotions #acupuncture

Acupressure With Crystals using ocean jasper Supporting ourselves during a seasonal transition. #acupressurepoints #acupressure #acupressurewithcrystals #acupuncture #oceanjasper #jasper #crystalsandminerals #relax #relaxing #calm #breathe

Acupressure With Crystals using ocean jasper Slowing down our pace to quiet ourselves...enjoy! #acupressurepoints #acupressurewithcrystals #oceanjasper #jasper #slowliving #slowlife #slowpace #breathing #breathe #breath #quiet #quietthechaos

Acupressure With Crystals using Caribbean calcite for relaxing our neck/shoulder/upper back area. This routine is contraindicated for those who are pregnant. If you are pregnant and you are experiencing tension in this area, seek the care of a licensed healthcare provider. #acupressurepoints #acupressurewithcrystals #acupressure #tension #weightoftheworld #necktension #neckpain #shouldertension #shoulderpain #upperbacktension #upperbackpain #calcite #caribbeancalcite #crystals #minerals #crystalsandminerals #selfcare