Sarika Q Connor L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)® 12 years of clinical experience Specialized training in orthopedics and chronic pain Over 10,000 treatments performed Over 8 years of mindfulness training in somatic movement and yoga rehabilitation therapy Soma Acupuncture and Wellness is a private practice located in Temecula, CA, and is led by Sarika Connor, LAc, a celebrated and gifted acupuncturist. She believes in healing people, empowering them to achieve their fullest potential. Sarika Q. Connor, L.Ac, Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)® is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in the state of California, as well as a nationally board-certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. With over 12 years of clinical experience, Sarika has specialized training in orthopedics and chronic pain management, and has performed over 10,000 treatments. In addition to her extensive clinical background, Sarika has spent over 8 years in mindfulness training, focusing on somatic movement and yoga rehabilitation therapy, which allows her to take a holistic approach to healing that incorporates both the mind and body. Sarika’s journey into acupuncture began after a life-changing experience. At age 19, she suffered severe injuries from a car accident, leaving her with chronic pain and the inability to use her left arm. It was Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that provided her with the greatest relief and hope. This transformative experience became the driving force behind her purpose: to bring the healing power of TCM to her community. Sarika pursued and achieved her Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the prestigious Yo San University in Culver City, CA, where she focused on Orthopedics and Women’s Health. Coming from a family with a long history of TCM practitioners, Sarika is proud to be the 38th generation healer in her lineage. Through her practice, Soma Acupuncture & Wellness, she specializes in treating Chronic Conditions, including Neuropathy, as well as Sports Medicine and Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine. Sarika is also currently enrolled in the Post-Graduate Sports Medicine Acupuncture (C.SMA) Certification Program and is a Doctoral Candidate at Yo San University’s DAOM Program. Sarika’s blend of clinical expertise, holistic training, and a deep commitment to healing allows her to provide compassionate and effective care for a wide range of conditions, helping her patients restore balance and vitality in their lives. [read more]
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DR. Drew Nystrom, DAOM, L.Ac. CMT I was introduced to massage at a young age but it wasn't until the age of 21 that I enrolled in a year long massage program. I graduated with over 1000 hrs of massage training and with Honors from Maric College (now Kaplan) acquiring a Holistic Health Practitioners Degree. A few years later, after working in the massage field, I knew there was more that I needed to learn. While researching possible schools to further my knowledge I came across Emperors College of Traditional Oriental Medicine. I found my calling. Three years into the four year program, I became severely ill and anything that I ate would go right through me. I lost 30 pounds in a month. A Colonoscopy and Small Intestine Barium Xray revealed major inflammation and ulceration of my Digestive tract. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease that can involve the entire digestive tract. The doctors prescribed serious medication that stopped the leak (pun intended) and told me to stay away from vegetables and fruits (basically anything healthy). This didn't sit well with me. I understood why those foods would and could make my situation worse at that time but to forgo the life giving nutrients within said foods would surely lead to worsening of this condition. Indebted to all my doctors and western medicine for saving my life; I knew there was a better way to manage and treat my condition in the long run. My time at Emperors allowed me to work with some of the greatest doctors alive today and some that have since passed on from this world. I was also able to work within the LA Community at the schools onsite community clinic and at UCLA, Arthur Ashe Medical Center. Four incredible years later I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emperors College in 2011 with my Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In 2016 I finished the Doctoral Program at Emperors College. This program catapulted my understanding of the field of Chinese Medicine as well as western medical sciences. It also put me in contact with some more brilliant minds in the field. [read more]
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