We are dedicated to the visual representation and illustration of concepts in Ayurvedic Philosophy, and practice, Tantric philosophy and practice, Yoga
Use coupon code: wintersale and save 17 percent on all order $100 or more, sale lasts until Jan 15th.
Discover the secrets of life and living in harmony with body mind and soul through these visually engaging, unique Ayurvedic posters, sold all over the world to students, practitioners and teachers of Ayurveda.
New and updated Ayurvedic Poster, the best selling general Ayurvedic poster got a re-design and looks fresh and brighter; Samkhaya, 8 branches, 5 elements, 3 doshas (& their subtypes), 7 tissues, 3 essences, Agni, Ama, prakruti, and Vikruti.
Please note, there have been some technical problems with registering as a customer so if you have trouble, try clicking "order without registering" while completing an order, if there are any additional problems email me and I will send an invoice.
New Ayurvedic mandala of the doshas relating to times of day and seasons as well as the 20 gunas order here, or for medium size here, and small size here.
New Samprapti (pathogenesis) poster mapping the six stages of disease according to Ayurveda. Understand and treat an imbalance before it manifests into a disease.
I am available for teaching about Ayurveda, chakras or other material on my posters, email me if you would like to book a seminar or workshop in your area.
Jyotisha and Ayurveda poster, full of information illuminating the ancient science of Indian astrology and Ayurveda. (click the jyotisha tab in my products section to order a full 18x24" poster). Ayurvedic art.
Set of three 18x24 inch Ayurvedic Herb Posters
With Information for each herb including Rasa, Virya, Vipaka, guna, energetic properties, action, uses, and effect on each dosha.
Ayurvedic Herb poster, text Set of 3
We are dedicated to the visual representation and illustration of concepts in Ayurvedic Philosophy, and practice, Tantric philosophy and practice, Yoga and Bio-psychology. Our products include: posters, charts, cards, prints, illustrations, original art, power point presentations and herbal remedies (some of these items are under construction but will be available soon).
Our posters and charts are designed to aid in learning and teaching: in schools, Institutes, clinics, offices, spas, yoga studios and for individuals to increase their self knowledge; in the spirit of Ayurveda. Or they may be simply used to increase the aesthetic beauty of a particular place. "Health is Wealth" and health is achieved through increasing knowledge and expanding awareness. We must learn about how to live in harmony with our inner and outer nature and not always be dependent on someone to give us a "quick fix" pill. Our Ayurvedic charts and posters are designed for this purpose. Health through self knowledge and preventative medicine. I am always striving to push the edge and create the best products in my field, visually stunning, aesthetic, clear, and more informative than other posters available.
All art and design work done by Aaron Staengl (Ananta)
The new large 18x24" Ayurvedic Herb Poster with 168 Ayurvedic herbs including the Sanskrit, Latin, and common names.
What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda is the ancient science of self healing coming from India and is thought to be more than 5,000 years old. The Sanskrit word "Ayus" means life or living, and the word "Veda" means knowledge or Science, therefore Ayurveda means the science of life, or the knowledge of living in harmony with ones internal and external environment. The fundamental spirit of Ayurveda is to be able to understand and heal oneself on the physical, mental and spiritual level, and to understand how these parts of ourselves are in harmony or disharmony with our environment and the macrocosm in general. This is done with a wide variety of therapies utilized in Ayurveda: Herbal medicine, dietary changes, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, massage, medicated oils, meditation, yoga postures, exercise, sound therapy (mantra) and many more. Virtually every thing in the universe is seen in the light of Ayurveda as either beneficial to the individual or harmful, and how to antidote those harmful effects.
Traditionally there are eight main branches of Ayurveda.
Using Video to Promote Acupuncture with Isang Smith of AcuTalks
Hi everyone! Welcome back.
This week I’m so excited to interview acupuncturist Isang Smith, the creator of AcuTalks.
AcuTalks is a video platform to spread understanding and knowledge of acupuncture, and it’s recently exploded in popularity online. I love that Isang is making acupuncture approachable and relatable to a huge audience using video as her medium.
Isang’s videos are regularly going viral because of her unique ability to connect with a huge range of people and help them understand that acupuncture is an effective and widely useful method of healing. I also really appreciate how she positions acupuncture as an essential and upstanding part of any community: a necessary method for healing working alongside other healthcare practitioners!
There are two big reasons I’m excited to interview Isang today:
Her message about the importance of using video in marketing is timely and so important. As she mentions later on in our interview, by 2019, 80% of internet traffic is expected to revolve around video. Eighty percent! That’s huge!
In a nutshell, we as acupuncturists and small business owners cannot afford to ignore video. As Isang says, if we want to really get our message out there and be heard in a sea of information online, video is non-negotiable.
In fact, AcuTalks is one of two inspirational websites that finally made me realize I HAD to start marketing with video. (Luria Petrucci of Live Streaming Pros was the other website that gave me that final push!)
Thanks to Isang and Luria, I started Marketing Tip Mondays on Facebook Live, even though it was super scary at first. But people’s response to the videos has been phenomenal; my audience is way more engaged with my videos than with my typical posts on Facebook. For that reason alone (increased engagement), video has been worth it.
So here’s to diving in even when something scares you – like video!
I hope this interview with Isang inspires you to take the plunge, because as she explains, video helps build trust and engagement with your target audience, and it’s 100% worth your time and effort.
Today Isang and I talk about:
Why she’s so passionate about creating acupuncture videos
How these videos have already helped her market her own private practice
How we can all get started with video today
What we can do to make our beginner videos look professional
Let’s go!
Welcome, Isang! I’m so excited for the opportunity to pick your brain today. Let’s start with the basics: where did you go to acupuncture school and when did you graduate?
I went to Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City. I’m a newly minted acupuncturist, having graduated in June 2017!
What are your plans now that you’ve graduated?
I have had my own private practice as a licensed massage therapist since 2012. My boyfriend is a physical therapist and we have decided to combine our practices this year under the name On Point Sports Care. Now that I have my license, I’m offering acupuncture as well.
We’re both very involved in the fitness world, so we’re planning future projects around sports events and communities. We have been hustling all summer to get our new offices and content ready to go for the Fall season, so I don’t feel like I’ve been able to rest and celebrate after graduation. But we’re promising ourselves a vacation in the Winter for sure!
You have a pretty cool story about how you became interested in acupuncture. And it explains your passion for working with athletes in your practice! Can you tell us about it?
I competed on Columbia University’s Track and Field team. During my senior year in 2009, I developed a stubborn injury. After exhausting all my options with the school’s athletic trainers, I was told I would have to take off my last season as they had no answers for me.
Even though my injury was being stubborn, I was even more stubborn. It was my last season in college, and I was not going to let it be taken away from me.
I Googled all options for how to resolve my injury, and eventually the word Acupuncture came up. After giving it some thought, I decided I had nothing to lose. So I went down to a practitioner in Union Square. After one session, not only did he resolve 80% of my pain, but he also opened my eyes to the possibility that perhaps other things were connected to why I became injured, such as lifestyle, diet and stress levels. I kept going back for a few more sessions, and after he resolved my injury completely, I was able to compete in my last season of college.
Needless to say, I was hooked, and over the years saw my health and lifestyle move in a positive direction. I also saw my athletic abilities improve, and that was a huge incentive for me to keep going back to acupuncture.
In 2010, I decided I wanted to go to massage therapy school. I was already interested in Alternative Health, and wanted to see what it would be like to develop my skill set for manual therapy. So I enrolled in the Swedish Institute of Health Sciences. Fast forward, I decided to enroll in acupuncture school after graduating from massage school, and now here we are!
When did you start recording videos (in general) and when did you start recording videos about acupuncture? Has video always been an interest/ passion of yours?
I started pushing the record button on my iPhone generally in… 2014? I can’t say I remember specifically when. Actually your question made me go back to my first ever Instagram video, and lo and behold, it was the Ice Bucket Challenge! Now that is a great example about the power of video!
Social media and videos can have a powerful impact: starting social movements, making a person’s day, and even inspiring someone to try something they’ve always been afraid of. Obviously there are cons to social media, and at times it can be overwhelming.
But I started to understand that video is the chance to tell your story, and to tell it in a way that sticks! I learned over time it could be an extraordinary contribution to a community, to a cause, and even to your loved ones. Video can make a difference! It has helped me find my voice, and I feel I can contribute in an effective way to the acupuncture community.
I would say I officially started recording videos in 2015. Mainly funny cat and goofy fitness videos. It was fun, and I found myself reverse engineering some of my favorite videos online. I loved how these quality videos would add music or edit a certain way to make a story come to life. It was especially helpful that my boyfriend is a huge movie buff, and my biggest constructive critic when I show him a video I produced. At that time I was using my iPhone and iMovie for everything, and I was loving it!
Looking back again at my Instagram feed, it looks like I officially recorded an acupuncture video in August 2016. I asked my acupuncturist friend Zach at Athlos Sports Acupuncture to show him giving me an acupuncture session. I was frustrated with not being able to show effectively how acupuncture works to my friends, or convince them that I wasn’t dying on the table or anything. To them it was a crazy concept to get needled, and they were even more surprised that it was an actual healthcare profession and that we went to school for it! Eeek! I felt there was a huge disconnect between the public and the acupuncture world.
I wanted to bring them into our acupuncture world and show that what I was doing was amazing and that I was very relaxed on the table. After posting it on Facebook and seeing the positive responses and questions that came from it, that’s when I had my epiphany moment. That’s actually where I started to come up with ideas that would eventually lead to AcuTalks the next year!
After starting AcuTalks, that’s when things really started to move fast. After seeing the positive responses for each video I posted in the beginning, and the way it inspired my colleagues and friends, I just went for it. I dived in to learning about videography.
At first, it was a little stressful. Here I was asking acupuncture students and practitioners to jump into these interviews and share their story… while I was still trying to figure out the ins/outs of setting up for an interview, what equipment to buy, how to interview, where to interview, when to interview etc. But I at least knew the why! My Why was very strong, so I stuck with it.
My friends also started reaching out to me on social media. They were kindly suggesting little things here and there that were big no-no’s in setting up lighting/angles etc. Some walked me through Adobe systems so I could have more editing tools, and others shared ideas for future videos. AcuTalks started becoming a community of like-minded people who wanted to see the story of acupuncture told through the power of video and social media.
I eventually graduated to my first DSLR camera in March (a gift from my amazing boyfriend!) and this month I’m currently learning how to tell a story by storyboarding and using cinematic language. There’s so much to learn, and I can’t wait to share my upcoming projects with the acupuncture world.
Do you plan to use video to market for your personal practice?
I am indeed using video to market my personal practice! There are estimates that about 80% of web traffic in 2019 will be video. It’s important to adapt and to stay with trends if we want to have our voices heard.
I plan to use my newfound skills to market myself for my practice as an athlete and practitioner who wants to see her patients cross the finish line or win at their next competition.
But it’s up to me to get the message across, and there’s so much opportunity now to do so! Social media, newsletters, vlogging, networking, etc. Practicing my message on video and posting it on multiple platforms increases the chances that some athlete in need will see it and find a solution to their injury or training goals.
What are your goals for AcuTalks? What do you hope people experience through AcuTalks?
I love how AcuTalks is still in its infancy and there’s room to grow and decide on the next big steps. Currently I’m working on a few partnerships/sponsorships and trying to learn more about online business models and how to capture the message of acupuncture in video format. This year my main goal is to get a solid system set up for providing content, learn fundamental techniques for recording with a DSLR, and getting ready for a new website.
I’m still grateful and dumbfounded by how popular AcuTalks has become in our community. I love the messages from the other side of the world. I’m learning so much about other countries and how acupuncture is practiced there. And that’s also been shaping how I’ve been approaching AcuTalks.
I’m learning that the spirit of our profession is strong worldwide, and I want to capture it as best I can in these videos. I want viewers to experience hope, inspiration, and to feel that they have a stronger voice as a profession.
I also want to challenge other acupuncturists to engage more within their communities and other healthcare professions on important issues. We have to be open to being uncomfortable, to step into conversations that we may have avoided in the past.
As a profession we can dramatically shape healthcare in the coming years, and we need to be in the thick of the conversation with other healthcare professionals.
Do you feel like AcuTalks brings awareness to you and your practice? Just having that presence online and being seen as an expert?
This is something Bob Wong (of Art of Acupuncture) and I have talked about in the past: that putting content out on the internet consistently, even if it’s not specifically for a marketing purpose, ends up having an effect on your practice because potential patients stumble across it and automatically assume you’re an expert, which helps builds trust and makes them more likely to come see you as a patient.
Yes, I believe it does! My patients and friends tell me they love watching the AcuTalks videos. I have become associated with acupuncture in my social/athletic circles and overall, being consistent has been paying off. I believe people trust me more to provide them acupuncture, and they get to understand my background and my passion for this medicine before they even meet me in person.
Do you have any advice for acupuncturists who want to use video in their marketing?
I love this quote: “Don’t wait for clarity to take action. Take action to find clarity.” For me, it’s jump in and see what video means to you and your practice no matter where you are, how long you have been practicing, or even the size of your audience. Whether you have five Facebook friends or 5,000 on your social media account, it doesn’t matter! Practice sharing video with who you have to share it with. Don’t wait to be proficient in making videos, just make videos!
I love that quote, and I couldn’t agree more. I feel like too many of us hesitate to try new marketing avenues because we feel like we’re not “expert” enough at them. But the way to become an expert is to get started and practice!
What kind of equipment and editing software should we use?
Don’t let fear or lack of equipment get in your way. Start off with the basics: an iPhone or a home camera. Prop it up on something, have a friend record you, use the Live option on social media apps.
Practice for a few minutes several times each week with a message about your practice, what acupuncture is, etc., My first piece of equipment for my iPhone was a tripod, which was around $30. I used iMovie for editing. Honestly, I still use those basic tools when I’m suddenly inspired or in a rush to get an update out. Do what you can with what you have.
What can we do to make our videos look professional?
In the beginning, I found that the main thing behind making a video “jump” and look professional is cutting out the words “um,” “so,” “hmmm,” or other long pauses in between thoughts. It keeps the rhythm going, and the audience will feel you gave the video care and attention.
Also, keep the camera stable and avoid low light where possible. Bring good lighting to your face!
Lastly, try to keep the message short, sweet and to-the-point. There’s so much to share about acupuncture, and you can spread out your ideas over time. But from what I’ve learned, a video over 45 seconds is now considered too long for the average viewer. Try making various episodes about different topics!
Do they need a sidekick to help them record or can they do it all on their own?
You can do this on your own! Of course it’s more fun with a sidekick and you may have more options. But I’m a lone wolf. I can record anytime, anywhere and I’ve created systems around how to do it efficiently. I can’t wait to share more about these systems in the near future *hint hint.*
Oooh, I can’t wait for that! I love a good surprise. Anything else you’d like to add today?
Thanks Michelle Grasek for inspiring me to believe in Marketing! You are my marketing superhero!
Thank you, Isang, for helping me to understand how essential video has become in marketing of any kind, and inspiring me to bite the bullet with Facebook Live!
Marketing Tip Monday on Facebook Live exists in large part thanks to you!
Thanks again to Isang for sharing her wisdom and her practical advice for getting started with video. Hopefully we’ll be seeing even more of Isang here on michellegrasek.com, so she can keep teaching us to use video to market our acupuncture practices!
Do you use video to market your practice? Have you seen increased engagement and patient numbers as a result? Share in the comments below!
Original article and pictures take www.michellegrasek.com site
Understanding Breakouts from a Chinese Medicine Perspective
Ah, pimples. Those dreaded spots that arise once adolescence hits and seem to follow us throughout our 20’s, 30’s and even late 40’s. Much has been written, researched and theorized regarding the cause behind their development – hormonal changes, genetics, poor food choices, lack of hygiene, stress, etc.
Of the above causative factors, hormones, stress and diet are predominantly involved in acne development. What we know for sure is that all acne and skin breakouts have a systemic inflammatory process behind them. There is also a link between the inflammation involved in the formation of breakouts and sugar intake. Research now supports the link between the two, making it clear: hormonal imbalances caused by our diet trigger acne. When consuming inflammatory sugar in the diet, insulin (a hormone that is released by the pancreas to maintain glucose equilibrium within our body) is disturbed. This in turn interferes with sex hormones such as testosterone and androgen, as well as pro-inflammatory sequences in the body, all of which are involved in the formation of acne.
Your skin’s appearance indicates quiet a lot about your internal health condition. In Chinese Medicine, we practitioners gain much insight by examining the shape of our patient’s face, the colour of their complexion and where lines, marks, lesions and breakouts are located.
Chinese Medicine views the skin as an extension of the lungs. The lungs provide nourishment to the skin and hair via its function of dispersing Qi (our vital energy) and spreading fluids to the skin. Lungs also regulate the opening and closing of the pores and sweating. Examples of the connection between skin and our vital organs are as follows, based on where you are getting breakouts:
Upper Forehead
The forehead corresponds to the lungs in Chinese Medicine. Heat of the lungs manifesting as breakouts on the forehead can be caused by one’s emotional state, the emotions of sadness & grief in particular. Heat in the lungs is also caused by smoking or/and a respiratory issue. If breakouts are occurring into the hairline (lets say above the brows), Acupuncturists look at the Gall Bladder, which is related and paired with the liver (more on the liver below).
Ears
The Kidneys manifest in the ears in TCM. When kidney health isn’t optional, you may get large, painful pimples in and around the ears. Be sure to drink lots of water (1.5 to 2 litres) to flush out impurities and also be mindful not to consume too much sodium i.e. salt. Other bad habits which impact on the kidneys include:
– Not emptying out the bladder when required
– Consuming too much alcohol and coffee which cause internal heat and most importantly dehydration
– Not allowing enough rest time, especially too many late nights, impacts kidney health.
Eyes, Orbital Bone, Between Brows
This area relates predominately to the liver. Oiliness, redness, flakiness and breakouts between the eyebrows can indicate that your liver is in need of some TLC. Eliminating fried, greasy foods and decreasing dairy (or eliminating it altogether) is very useful. Obviously, the elimination (or at minimum, cutting back) of Alcohol consumption is very important, as it has such an impact on Liver health. Look at consuming lots of greens, in particular bitter greens, and drinking dandelion tea or taking milk thistle tablets, as both are great at supporting the detoxification role of the liver. Drinking warm water and lemon first thing in the morning is also helpful for this organ. The emotion related to the Liver is anger and one may find that after an emotional period, be it involving anger, irritation or frustration, skin breakouts occur. In this case its important to take some time out and go for a walk, run, or do a yoga class which focuses on relaxation of the heart and soul.
Upper Cheeks
This area corresponds to the stomach, as the stomach meridian runs through here in Chinese Medicine. Obviously, diet plays a huge role here. Consuming heating foods in excess (such as chili), too much animal protein (meat), alcohol, coffee, and greasy or oily foods all cause heat within the stomach. Therefore, being mindful of the amount of these foods you are eating is important. Overeating and not metabolising food well are also causal factors here, as this can lead to damp formation. Lower portion of the cheeks also relates to lung health.
Jaw Line
Once again, here we look at stomach issues as well as teeth or gum issues.
Chin
Skin issues in this area often are a reflection of hormonal imbalances, particularly in the case of women. This can be due to menstruation, birth control and in some cases, allergies or intolerance to soy, which have been shown to have an impact on hormones. Emotional or physical stress can cause hormonal imbalances, which manifest on the skin – Chinese Medicine focus on emotions strongly. Get plenty of sleep and make a habit of doing a relaxing form of exercise, which really focuses on the mind-body connection. Also it’s important to look at elimination here, as the center of the chin is related to the small intestine and large intestine. If we are not eliminating every day, wastes build up in our body and eventually start to show in our face as it breakouts, puffiness and edema.
In summary, Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture theory views skin breakouts and the development of acne as related to the lungs, stomach, intestines (heat, damp, stasis) and blood conditions specifically of heat and stasis. Following a consultation, which involves discussion of symptoms and signs, observation, tongue diagnosis and diet assessment, a diagnosis can be reached, and a resultant combination of Acupuncture, herbs, vitamins and diet recommendations are carried out. The course of treatment depends on whether the condition is acute or chronic (long standing).
Original article and pictures take www.livewellcollective.org site
