Manchester Acupuncture Studio is the best, bar none. I had an injury I thought would never heal and was just resigned to living with the pain. Then one day the pain was unbearable and I was desperate. I found this place, proceeded with treatment, healed while experiencing benefits above and beyond my wildest expectations, and it was a revelation.
My injury is long since healed, but I have continued to go here because frankly, I feel amazing after coming here. I sleep better, have less stress, feel happier, and I have taken my workouts to a whole new level. (I am a serious athlete and PR'd in the mile by a full ten seconds!) The only significant change I made in my training from my prior PR to my current PR was my patronage here at MAS. I've racked my brain trying to deconstruct the science involved in this breakthrough. My best theory is that receiving treatment here took my recovery to a level I couldn't reach just getting massages and stretching and foam rolling. The treatments physically feel amazing, like the end-point of the best massage ever, without manual manipulation of the tissues. I should add that I always take care to relax and get comfortable when I come in for a treatment, before switching on my ipod, zoning out, breathing deeply, thinking positive thoughts, and meditating. I think this mindfulness makes a difference.
Before trying this place, I was the ultimate skeptic, not wanting to believe in any new age, unfounded, deceptive, placebo-effect type of treatments. Zealous searches for all the current, peer-reviewed research on "acupuncture" and certain blood serum markers (like, for instance, "immunoglobulin") yielded evidence that acupuncture does effect the body in a positive way, and not just fudged evidence, either, but the real kind: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. On account that acupuncture stood this truest scientific test and passed, bearing in mind my anguish at the time, I decided to experience it for myself. And it's one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
Try it out for yourself and you will see what I mean- If you have a friend with an injury or illness, or just going through a tough personal time, I would urge you to consider bringing them to acupuncture and going yourself as well. An acupuncture buddy will be your friend for life. Just a note for those apprehensive of needles, the "needles" are actually finer than a strand of hair and don't hurt when inserted. In the hands of a non-practitioner, acupuncture needles will actually bend when placed against the skin (rather than insert)- they are that pliable and gentle.
The things acupuncture can do for your life are profound. In fact, I would personally love to see MAS hosting a health care providers fair of some kind, and getting those MDs into chairs for treatment, so individuals on the front lines of health care can experience for themselves the therapeutic benefits and make the informed decision to start incorporating acupuncture within their practices.
I have scrapped the idea of gifting someone with a spa date and just send them here instead. If there is anything wrong with you, or anything going on with your body that is less than optimal, this place can probably fix it. This acupuncture studio is my favorite thing about the city. In my experience, it has been a beacon of healing and of hope. When you are suffering and have tried other things, and gotten anything less than superb results, the Manchester Acupuncture Studio has what you need.
Acupuncture still flies under the radar, and that is a missed opportunity to the health and well-being of all those who have never experienced it. Because its virtues are still not widely known or understood, I felt it necessary that my review address both MAS and acu in general. How well does acupuncture work- if at all? And: How well does MAS do? The verdict? Acupuncture works & MAS rocks.
Other details: The hours here are pretty great. Conveniently, they manage to be open late enough during week days and also on the weekends so that even someone juggling a demanding schedule can be accommodated. The environment is just as it should be: unassuming but still beautiful, comfortable, tranquil and serene. Aside from performing miracles while making you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, this place is set up around a very innovative treatment model that allows them to charge way, way less than anywhere else. They charge less than 1/10th of what the treatments are worth. I truly believe you won't find better acupuncture anywhere in the world than from Andy. Everyone on staff goes the extra mile to make sure your experience amazing, comfortable, relaxing and therapeutic. And I'll say it again: Andy is the best. I wish more medical/health provider models were designed around this concept, and had this level of expertise behind them. Grab a friend and go. read more