Announcing Collective Rest: A Monthly Communal Ear Acupuncture Circle
Lately, I’ve found myself emphasizing to clients that the nervous system is meant to have bounce.
Not perfect calm.
Not constant stress.
Bounce.
Like a healthy pelvic floor - not too tight, not too loose. Too tight? You pee yourself. Too loose? Uhhh… you also pee yourself. The point is elasticity. The pelvic floor is meant to respond and then release.
So is your nervous system.
We evolved to run from danger (“fight-or-flight”) and then later sit with friends and eat lunch in ease (“rest-and-digest”). But many of us are living in a chronic stress response. Life is stressful. The news is stressful. And sometimes we compound that stress by participating in “restful activities” that are actually activating like high-intensity workouts, doom scrolling, or using substances to relax.
In my one-on-one sessions, I encourage building nervous system flexibility through small daily practices, moments of “rest and digest” that expand the window of tolerance over time.
Ten minutes of legs up the wall.
One minute of breathing with a longer exhale than inhale.
Singing in the shower.
I think of this as cross-training resiliency. It restores bounce. It doesn’t shame fight-or-flight, but it simply makes space for both sides of the nervous system to exist more freely in the same body. Over time, that flexibility can reduce the long-term health effects of stress.
I’m deeply inspired to help my clients move in this direction.
One of the most powerful tools I have to offer towards this goal is the NADA ear acupuncture protocol in a group setting.
I’ve offered this on retreat in France, at the women’s herbal symposium, and in community spaces like Black Bird Bookstore. Each time, I’ve watched something remarkable happen. People settle. Shoulders drop. Breath deepens. Sleep improves. Many describe feeling renewed and as if something that had been missing returned.
These experiences have honestly set my spirit alight with how powerful this treatment can be.
So I’ve decided to offer it here, in my clinic, once a month.
What Happens in the Circle?
This offering is rooted in the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) ear acupuncture protocol. NADA was designed to be practiced in groups. When offered collectively, something powerful happens: co-regulation.
We settle together.
We do what humans are meant to do. Share brains. Share calm. Share a vibe.
Participants remain fully clothed and seated comfortably in chairs, sipping warm Chinese herbal tea and listening to healing music. A small number of gentle ear acupuncture points are placed to support grounding and nervous system regulation. There is no need for talking during the treatment portion. There is nothing to process, explain, or even fix.
The body is simply allowed to remember how to rest.
Many people report deeper sleep that night. Others notice feeling more spacious or resilient in the days that follow.
This is not a substitute for individualized acupuncture care. It does not include diagnosis, treatment planning, or symptom-specific work. Instead, it offers a communal experience of regulation that supports long-term resilience.
Why Collective Rest Matters
Our nervous systems learn through experience.
When we rest alone, that can be supportive.
When we rest together, regulation becomes contagious.
Mirror neurons fire as you watch others relax, amplifying your own capacity to settle. Shared stillness helps retrain the nervous system without effort.
A Seasonal Arc
This spring, I am offering Collective Rest as a three-month series in March, April, and May. While each circle can absolutely stand alone, there is something powerful about the ritualistic repetition. The nervous system learns through experience. My hope is that the first month will be like an unwinding. The second month will build familiarity with the rhythm of calm. And by the third month, there will be an integration of the nervous system to this new skill. The body remembers. If your schedule allows, I encourage you to consider attending more than once and see what shifts over time.
Details
Second Tuesday of the month
March 10th, April 7th, and May 5th
7:30–9:00 pm
New Mission Acupuncture
Limited to 10 participants
$85 per person
The timing is intentional - late enough to hand bedtime over to partners, early enough to head home ready for deep sleep. I encourage you to plan to meet a friend for dinner beforehand and come together for a gentle girls’ night.