Acupuncture and Massage Therapy in Baltimore, MD
Acupuncture and Massage Therapy in Baltimore, MD
Acupuncture and Massage Therapy in Baltimore, MD
Acupuncture and Massage Therapy in Baltimore, MD
Too often within health care (and the world at large!), certain bodies are prioritized while others are left feeling unsafe, unseen, and unwelcome due to insidious tactics ranging from unspoken stigmas about which bodies are valuable and deserving of good health, to overt physical barriers to access. As our bodies are politicized, so too is our care of them; it is my intention to create and hold a radically inclusive, body positive, individually empowering space in which anyone who seeks it can receive the care they need.
Acupuncture is a potent, highly effective, science-backed modality of health care which has been in practice around the globe for thousands of years; it is considered "holistic" because it treats the whole body as an interconnected network, allowing resolution of dysfunction in all of the body's systems. I work within several traditions but primarily offer acupuncture in the style of world-renowned Japanese master practitioner Kiiko Matsumoto through the westernized lens of TCM. I am also happy to offer trigger point release, which has been popularized by non-acupuncturists under the name 'dry needling.' Needle free techniques such as gua sha, cupping, and moxibustion are also a frequent part of my practice, as is whole food nutritional counseling.
While my specialty is deep tissue, I am endlessly humbled by the power of therapeutic touch and will work with you to tailor your session to what your body needs at the time. Many of my clients are folks suffering from repetitive strain - athletes, tattoo artists, bartenders, touring musicians - but you don't need to be in pain to receive massage! Honoring the body's powerful ability to hold sometimes very heavy emotions for us, I continue to study modalities of touch therapy for survivors of both direct and generational/systemic trauma. I am also happy to offer pre- and post-natal massage to pregnant people of all genders.
I chose bodywork as a profession after receiving a bachelors degree in sociology and quickly realizing that the work I was best suited for was helping people through direct action rather than policy. Thus in 2006, upon graduating from Baltimore School of Massage, began my practice as a massage therapist. The following year, I started school at Tri-State College of Acupuncture and graduated in 2010 with a masters degree and license to practice acupuncture. Social justice will always be the lens through which I approach the world; I feel particularly galvanized by the ongoing, vital, and interlocking work toward reproductive justice, queer/trans rights, and anti-racism and I am always thrilled to serve as a resource for folks looking for ways to get involved.
Clinically, my practice is deeply influenced by my experience navigating a previously misdiagnosed chronic illness which was, after many painful and confusing years, finally correctly identified as Lyme disease. I find both hands-on bodywork and acupuncture to be profoundly effective for treating a panoply of diseases and pain conditions in the body and mind and consider it a personal goal to debunk skepticism about the efficacy of natural medicine, as well as to help detach acupuncture from its unfounded connection to "new age woo woo" esotericism. As a heavily tattooed and gender non-conforming person, it is also my intention to challenge preconceptions about who can/should practice healthcare.
Outside of the treatment space, I recently turned from my first love of Muay Thai and am exploring a growing passion for weight lifting. I am an avid music fan and have played bass guitar in several local metal bands over the past 15 years. Hiking, wildcrafting, and mushroom hunting have been giving me life, especially during the COVID shutdown. After trying to make it elsewhere, I am happy to be back living in Baltimore with my amazing partner and our two ridiculous cats.
If you believe you have coverage for acupuncture, please click the link below to have your policy verified. I am in the process of credentialing with CareFirst, Aetna, and United Healthcare, but may be able to offer out of network benefits for folks insured with other providers. HSA/FSA cards always welcome.
As of April 2022, appointments will be held at 120 E 25th Street Suite 1A Baltimore, MD 21218. Online scheduling is available via Schedulicity - if you prefer to book with me directly, please email (allbodiesheal@gmail.com) or call/text (240-600-7139).
Payment via cash, credit card, or Venmo (@aurora-raiten) is expected at time of service. Sliding scale rates are available; please contact me to discuss options. I look forward to working with you!
120 East 25th Street Suite 1A, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States