What to Expect in the Circle.
The Rhythm of Healing: Public Acupuncture in Practice (2/6)
Walking into a Public Acupuncture session for the first time can feel both familiar and completely new. It’s not the quiet, private room you may picture when you think of acupuncture, and it’s not the clinical rush of a conventional medical visit either. It’s something in between — a space that belongs to everyone in it, designed to feel steady, calm, and quietly powerful.
How the Space is Set Up
The room holds six chairs, arranged in two rows of three. Each row faces outward, so the backs of the chairs are to each other. This creates a sense of privacy without closing off the space entirely. You’ll share the room with others, but you’ll also have your own cocoon.
The Intake Happens Before You Arrive
One of the most important parts of making Public Acupuncture work is filling out your paperwork ahead of time. This is your intake: it’s how I know what’s going on for you, what you’d like to work on, and how to tailor your treatment. Because the room is kept silent, there’s no back-and-forth conversation once you’re seated. Your words on paper are what guide my hands.
A Completely Quiet Experience
Silence is a big part of the medicine. It allows you — and everyone else in the room — to fully drop into the experience without distraction. You’ll feel the small movements of the practitioner setting points, and then you’ll settle into stillness. The rest is yours: your breath, your body, your quiet.
How It Flows
You arrive, take your seat, and get comfortable. I place the needles according to your needs that day. You rest — usually 30 to 40 minutes — before I return to remove the needles. Most people find that time passes differently here; it’s less about the clock and more about how your body feels when you come back to yourself.
Why the Quiet Matters
We live in a world that’s constantly asking for our attention. Public acupuncture is one of the rare places where nothing is expected of you. No talking, no listening, no performing. Just resting in the presence of others who are also letting go.
That’s the rhythm we’re building: a space where healing can happen quietly, consistently, and without the need for anything more than your willingness to show up.
