I had the pleasure of speaking with the fabulous Jessica Hildebrand, founder of The Preppy Yogi and creator of (Re)treat Women’s Wellness Weekends, where I will be offering a workshop this April (join us!). We chatted about my personal path to wellness and wholeness through acupuncture, what we can expect from my workshop, and my own daily care practices. Come hang with us for a bit and give it a read!
Meet: Erika. Healer, guide, + award-winning acupuncturist
J: What inspired you to pursue a career in wellness?
E: I began my acupuncture journey as a result of a trial in my early 20’s: a knee injury that created chronic pain and stopped me from doing what I loved, ballet & dance. I hadn’t found any answers or relief with Western medicine, and didn’t want to undergo surgery or take endless pharmaceuticals. I eventually went to acupuncture as a “last resort” and to my surprise, it was the only modality that really made a difference. Not only did I experience long-lasting pain relief from the treatments, I immediately resonated with the holistic and compassionate approach to healing. It was the first time a healthcare practitioner listened to everything that was going on and looked at me as a person, not just an isolated injury.
I was hooked, and I was impassioned. I chose to leave my career in marketing to pursue the path as a healer. In 2009, I embarked upon my Masters of Science in Acupuncture at the Tri-State College of Acupuncture and earned my graduate degree in 2012. Acupuncture helped me recover fully, and led me to my new path in life.
J: What can we get excited about for your workshop at the (re)treat?
E: I’ll be offering a super interactive and experiential workshop that provides a fun introduction to acupuncture.I find that for most people I meet, acupuncture is something they’ve only heard about and probably not experienced… but once they learn a bit more or receive a treatment they become fascinated or even hooked! I plan to demystify this magical medicine by sharing a bit about my experience as a practitioner over the past ten years and explain the basics about what it is and how it works.From there, I’ll jump into an interactive, hands on acupressure session that teaches attendees how to use specific acupuncture points to drop into a deep state of relaxation, no matter where they are.I’ll also give each person a relaxing acupuncture point or points so that they can experience what acupuncture feels like.
J: What is your favorite wellness practice?
E: My morning self-care routine is sacred to me. It helps me slide into the day with grace and fluidity. I always do a Qi Gong routine that activates all of my meridians, joints & muscles, and my breath. I follow it up with several minutes of facial Gua She and cupping (with a rose hydrosol & oil that smells heavenly)! Even if I didn’t get a great night of sleep (I have an 18 month old who is still waking up at night), my skin gets a nice glow and puffiness clears out. I finish it up with some lemon water! And then onto coffee and cuddles with my boy.