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Why The Name Empress Wellness?
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I wanted to pay homage to the rich tradition of Traditional Chinese Medicine which originated in China thousands of years ago. TCM was highly valued and employed in the healthcare of Chinese emperors, empresses, and other members of the royal family and court.
Another source of inspiration for the name and logo was from the Chinese goddess Quan Yin, often adorned with flowers in her hair or wearing a decorative headpiece. She is renowned as the embodiment of compassion and empathy. Her name, roughly translates to "The One Who Perceives the Sounds of the World," indicating her ability to hear the cries of those in need, offering comfort and assistance.
At Empress Wellness, our goal is to ensure that you experience a sense of genuine care and empower you to nurture yourself with the same level of self-care and respect befitting royalty.
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One of the things I love most about Chinese Medicine is its ability to truly look at the body as a whole. Always taking into account all aspects of health including lifestyle, diet, and emotions. In TCM, everything has meaning, from the color of your tongue to the specific time you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night. The body can't speak to us directly and say when something is wrong. So, it uses pain and other ways to communicate with us. We just have to learn to listen to its subtleties.
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Chinese Medicine is very individualistic. Meaning, five people could come in with the same problem but each has a different underlying pathology. Each acupuncture treatment is uniquely tailored to the individual, depending on what is going on in their body that particular day.
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Why Choose Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Hayley Rodriguez L.Ac, MSAOM, Reiki Master
I have been interested in the body's own healing abilities and natural medicine for as long as I can remember. So when I was struggling with the stress of college and extremely painful periods, I thought I would give acupuncture a try. I was amazed at how well my body responded. I ended up asking my acupuncturist if I could intern with her! After witnessing how people benefited from this ancient medicine, I had to learn more. I knew that I wanted to share the magic of acupuncture with others.
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I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Zoology from UC Santa Barbara in 2014. I went on to receive my Master's in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture from South Baylo University in 2017. I am a fully insured, Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with the state of California and certified in the Clean Needle Technique. I specialize in pain relief, chronic pain management, anxiety and stress relief.
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I am also a certified Usui Reiki Master. I have been practicing Reiki since 2017 and I love adding this to an acupuncture treatment. I find the emotional and physical healing benefits of the acupuncture and Reiki combo extraordinary. Reiki is a gentle hands-on energy healing system that can help bring peace and balance to your life.
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I started Empress Wellness on Catalina Island in 2020. I grew up there, and wanted to bring what I have learned back to the community. In 2022, I expanded to open my second location in Long Beach. I love sharing this medicine with you all!​
