From Yoga Teacher to Acupuncturist

From Yoga Teacher to Acupuncturist

My path into the wellness world started with fitness before leading me to Yoga. I had long been intrigued by the body’s capacity for strength, fluidity and balance-qualities I encountered first through martial arts and later through yoga.

When I began working as a personal trainer, I was drawn to the powerful relationship between body, mind and spirit that Yoga could create. Yoga was never solely about physical movement; it also offered healing, mindfulness and the opportunity to uncover inner strength.

Over time, I saw first-hand just how transformative the practice could be, both for my students and for me.

Exploring healing beyond yoga

Yet, valuable as yoga was, I felt compelled to investigate deeper forms of healing. As my personal practice developed, I recognised that certain clients required support beyond what yoga alone could offer. Some were living with chronic pain, stress, anxiety or imbalances that movement by itself could not resolve.

I had always felt fascinated by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its holistic approach to the body. Its perspective on energy flow, balance and the body’s natural capacity for healing strongly resonated with me, reflecting many of the Ayurvedic principles of health I already knew.

The more I encountered acupuncture, the more I felt drawn to it as a complementary modality alongside my yoga teaching. Choosing to train as an acupuncturist felt both thrilling and daunting. Acupuncture seemed the natural next stage of my journey, giving me another way to work with the body-not only physically, but energetically. Although it meant committing to further years of study and practice in a completely unfamiliar field, I chose to follow my curiosity.

I understood that it would demand significant dedication, yet the prospect of supporting people in such a meaningful way kept me moving forwards. The course was demanding, but it rekindled the same enthusiasm I had experienced when I first started teaching yoga.

Studying acupuncture at Athens College of East Asian Medicine

I trained with the Athens College of East Asian Medicine, through a hybrid programme involving extended weekends of online study, evening lectures and intensive practical sessions in Athens. I would not alter a single part of that experience.

Online learning introduced me to lecturers based across the globe. For a time, my Wednesday sessions “were in” Beijing, my evening lectures were in London, and my weekends took place in the centre of Athens. Other lecturers taught from Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and Canada.

My classmates were Cypriot, Greek, Latvian and Irish.

Acupuncture gave me a fresh understanding of the body and its systems, extending beyond the musculoskeletal structure. I learned about the subtle flow of Qi (energy), the energetic pathways woven beneath the skin, and the ways in which blockages within them may appear as physical or emotional pain.

How yoga and acupuncture complement each other

One of the most fulfilling discoveries of this journey has been learning how yoga and acupuncture complement each other. Both practices seek to restore balance, whether through movement and breath or through needle insertion that activates energy channels.

Yoga helps ready the body and mind for deeper healing, whereas acupuncture works with the body’s energy systems to help address concerns from within.

I can now see how these practices come together within a holistic approach to wellness. Whether a person comes to me for yoga, acupuncture or both, I can offer a broader set of tools to support them in reaching their goals.

What started as a wish to broaden my understanding of the body has become a lifelong commitment to holistic healing. Training as an acupuncturist has expanded my view of wellness, and I look forward to continuing to combine these practices to help others lead healthier, more balanced lives.