1/2008 Update: I…read moreschedule appointments for the practitioner, Timothy Yan. After all the great work he's done for me, it's the least I can do. I'm constantly amazed at the power of Traditional Chinese Medicine as an alternative or complement to Western Medicine. 7/2007 Update: I've been sleeping badly and getting pains in my shoulder/shoulder blade area. One day it got bad enough that it felt like a pinched nerve because the pain was radiating down my arm and it was just hurt to move/turn my left side. My unhappy self went to Spring Life for an acupuncture treatment. The next day, I was a little sore but not in pain. And since then I haven't had any shoulder pain! ------------- When I think of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I think of my childhood. Going to Chinatown on the weekends to see my grandparents. One of those memories are of those times my parents took me to see a Chinese doctor. The smells of herbs as you walked in to the store. The doctor was inevitable in a backroom, the size of a closet. Enough space for a chair and a table, usually with an older gentleman that doesn't talk to get to know you, just asks you to sit down and they feel your pulses. Then he writes something in Chinese and you give it to the guys up front. My have things have changed since then! Walking in to Spring Life is like walking in to a day spa type environment. With a running water feature, calm green walls, gauzy curtains to let in the light. Music plays in the background. The practitioner? Timothy Yan is not what I pictured a Chinese doctor to be. I was asked the usual questions about my symptoms, lifestyle and *ahem* bodily functions. But I didn't feel judged like I have in the past with other practitioners. I also appreciate the fact that Timothy takes the time to ask questions and takes time to answer my questions. He addresses my concerns, analyzes where my barriers are to help me overcome them so that I can feel better.

Wow! Tim has helped my arthritis issues and recently my tendinitis in my arm. He asks wonderful…read morequestions each follow-up visit. His two receptionists are very kind as well! Highly highly recommend Tim!!!

Reached out to Sean via text to inquire about length of sessions offered and what his rates are. He…read morereplied a full day letter with a curt reply. I then asked about availability in the coming week . His reply was "fully booked". The Interaction was off putting....felt like I was bothering him.

Shawn is really good at pressure points, lymph nodes and manipulating the soft tissues leaving me…read moremore relaxed. His technique reduces tension and chronic pain, I always feel better.

Tonia makes me feel great! She uses multiple healing practices including reiki and gentle bodywork…read moreto relieve my aches and get my energy moving. She's also a good listener and provides a safe space for releasing emotional burdens. Plus it all happens in a charming tent in her beautiful little garden. I'm a 67 year old woman, and after Tonia's treatments I feel younger and healthier. Looking forward to my next session!

I've never had an experience quite like this before. I found Tonia to be quite extraordinary at…read moremoving energy or, perhaps, opening energy channels for me to work in. I don't know how to describe it. I felt like I experienced a non-ordinary state of consciousness, and it felt safe, supported, and deeply healing.

Vania is very connected and has gentle waves of energy throughout the session. She has helped clear…read moreenergy in my treatment room and will also help in educating you about which crystals or habits will help in your own healing process. I highly recommend experiencing a reiki session with her.

From the owner: We take advantage of all healing information and consider medical philosophies from eastern…read moreand western lands to offer an integrative health experience. Healing modalities offered are traditional Usui-reiki, Holy Fire reiki, Hatha/Vinyasa/Restorative Yoga styles, pranayama (breath-work), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Meridian Theory, Chakra Theory, Native American smudging, nutrition/dietetics, crystal work, neuro-linguistic programming, sound therapy, and hypnosis in no specific order. Various techniques are used to induce relaxation & meditation, creating the ultimate healing environment allowing you to properly release stress as well as toxins and inflammation.

How lucky are we?! Gan A Yi is an incredible caretaker and nanny. From the moment she walked into…read moreour home, she brought so much warmth, a strong work ethic, and a get-it-done attitude that's honestly rare. We had her for 45 days and wish we could have kept her longer! She made my transition into motherhood so much easier. Overnights: She took the overnight wake-ups and diaper changes, brought our daughter to me for feedings, and rocked her back to sleep. Without her, my health and my sleep would be in a very different place. Daytime: Gan A Yi goes above and beyond so my husband and I can be as hands-off as possible. She changes diapers before we even notice, carries the baby for 30-45 minutes until she's in a deep sleep, and often stays well past her break to make sure the baby is calm and settled. She happily watched the baby while we went out and wouldn't take extra time off, even when we offered several times. It's so hard to find someone with that level of flexibility, work ethic, and genuine care. Adaptable: She's great at everything she does. We showed her how to use the many appliances in our house, told her our kitchen preferences, and updated her as the feeding schedule changed. For example, she helped our baby slowly increase her milk intake, stretch out overnight feeds, and even adjust to sleeping on a different side of her head. She only ever needed to hear something once, and we never had to bring it up again. Her adaptability and attention to detail are rare and so admirable. Food: Her cooking is amazing! Every meal was different, and she turned leftovers into something completely new. Her knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and Cantonese postpartum recovery was a big reason we wanted a confinement nanny, and she delivered. Baby: Our 6-week-old now smiles at Gan A Yi more than at almost anyone else, which says it all. From the way she talks to and plays with her every day, I can tell she truly cares about her. She encourages her to talk, play, and move, and is always making sure she's warm, clean, comfortable, and fed. That's exactly what any parent could hope for. We also learned SO much from her: how to bathe the baby, change her diaper and clothes, hold her, feed her, and more. If you want an expert you can trust and enjoy living with, Gan A Yi is it. We'd book her again in a heartbeat. We can't say enough good things about her, and we'll miss her so much!

We feel very lucky to have Chen A Yi caring for our baby boy. She is wonderful at reading his cues…read moreand always seems to know exactly what he needs, thanks to her decade-long experience as a nanny. She genuinely cares for him and is patient, loving, and attentive. We always feel that he is in great hands. She is also very efficient and productive, seamlessly balancing caring for the baby with cooking and cleaning the kitchen. She prepares nutritious postpartum meals tailored to my preferences and has been a tremendous help to our family. She is caring, patient, and dependable. We highly recommend her to any family looking for a wonderful nanny!

I went to therapy for 12 years and made little progress on resolving my emotional issues. Seeing…read moreMarcus for a single year has been nothing short of miraculous. I feel profound inner healing, and see outward changes in my life and relationships wherever I place my intentions in my work with him.

Reiki and energy healing sessions with Marcus have been instrumental to my overall health. I've…read moredone Reiki and other forms of energy healing with Marcus, and after each session I walk out feeling lighter, more rejuvenated, and joyful. He has given me Reiki on my shoulder and abdominal pains, as well as deep emotional release when I was going through a very rough time in my life. Marcus is genuine, understanding, patient, and extremely knowledgeable in his art and practice. He has a wonderful way of calming you down and making you feel at ease. I've had Reiki and energy sessions before, but none comes close to what Marcus offers his clients. If you're searching for an authentic, fantastic energy healer in the Bay Area, give Marcus a call!

We had a wonderful experience with Keira as our doula. We decided to work with a doula because I…read morehad hopes of a natural hospital birth and had learned that the possibilities of what I wanted my birth experience to be and feel would be much more attainable with the partnership of a doula. We interviewed many doulas but found a strong connection with Kiera as she is both incredibly knowledgeable and personal. She put both myself and my husband at ease. I went into labor three weeks early and while it was earlier than any of us expected (and at 2am), Kiera was right by our side. Her ability to guide me through my labor and birth experience was incredible and found her incredibly helpful with pain management and my own understanding of my birth process as it was unfolding in front of me. I'm happy to say I was able to have a natural birth and meet all of my birth goals. Thank you, Kiera!

It can be hard for a husband and father to admit, but sometimes we need extra help. As much as I…read morecould read about pregnancy, there were some things that I couldn't be as supportive in. Similarly, the most important thing was for my partner to be as comfortable as possible in the process. I was at first somewhat skeptical of hiring a Doula, and some of the initial interviews didn't fully convince me, but once we met Kiera, she was the obvious choice. From our first meeting we were clearly a team, all three of us. Kiera was curious to learn about not only my wife's expectations and hopes in the birthing process but mine as well. As we had conversations about what roles we wanted to play and how we wanted to be supportive of and supported by each other she brought a calm experienced energy and wisdom to our discussions. The exercises she helped us practice also helped me feel more confident in my ability to support my partner through birth. Our birth was unique in its own way as our son decided to come 3 and a half weeks early. How Kiera was able to drop everything at 1AM and arrive at the hospital so quickly I will never know, but her ability to help me be the coach I wanted to be, to provide counter pressure for my wife, and be another set of hands and support in the room were critical to us being able to welcome our son in the way we wanted. I couldn't imagine a better part of our team and highly recommend Kiera for anyone whether your first or fifth child.

I wasn't sure what to expect coming in, but kept an open mind. The room was beautiful with so much…read moreto see, which made me feel at ease even before the session started. Marcus was very attentive and had a very calm demeanor. The 60 min session itself was relaxing and something I had never experienced. After the session I felt lighter, at peace, and my thoughts seemed clearer. I hadn't felt like that in a while. So very thankful for the session; I would definitely recommend and plan to come in again in the future.

Most noticeable change has been a decrease in social anxiety and less self consciousness about how…read moremy body looks. Interesting results I wasn't expecting. Thank you!

My first session with acupuncturist Valerie Mendels was deeply restorative. I felt clearer, could…read morefocus, and rested. She focused the treatment around points that were lacking in "yin".She guided the energy to replenish me. Her ability to customize the treatment for my goals was masterful. Her intuitive and sensitive approach is quiet and very effective. I highly recommend her for women "on the go".

I met Valerie in April after being diagnosed with a painful incurable disease and in a state of…read moregreat distress. I can remember the pain I was when we started and how she took care of me in a very intensive manner, working on me twice a week. After four months of treatment I can say my life is night and day and I'm sure that Valerie contributed to the great progress I've done. Valerie is very gentle and a great listener; you can tell she truly cares and acts as a partner on your way to recovery. I can say that I feel immediate stress relief as soon as she start working on me. I did traditional acupuncture before but I'm still surprise how responsive I am to Valerie's method. I would highly recommend Valerie to anyone who is looking for pain relief and well being.

One of the worst acupunctures I have been to. I took my sister-in-law who recently suffered a…read morestroke to get some acupuncture. We walked in and Dr. Lee immediately ushered us into a room for acupuncture without saying a word or asking any questions. Dr. made no attempts to find out about her issues. In previous visits to acupuncturists they asked us many questions, specifically about her stroke, and where she was feeling discomfort or pain. Mr. Lee did not ask one question, even about where her pain was. He proceeded to put in some needles at various places and left the room, and said he would be back in a half hour. When he returned, he took the needles out without asking any questions about how she felt and we left. Obviously, we would never go back to his office.

After trying several different providers who for one reason or another didn't work out, I'm so…read morehappy to have found Dr. Lee. I was seeing him previously for an issue that has gotten better (thanks to his help) and now I have a new complaint. Going back reminded me what a gem it is. His office isn't fancy. It's in a run-down building that doesn't look like much from the outside. But his treatment rooms are clean and comfortable. And his manner is amazing. He speaks in a very comforting voice and explains every thing he is doing. Parking is easy, but you do have to climb stairs (no elevator). He accepts insurance and you can schedule online. All very convenient. My only complaint is that his appointments fill up quickly - a testament to his popularity. You'll have to book several weeks in advance. I'm very grateful to Dr. Lee.