A selection of services offered at Sacred Roots. Photos by Matt Cohn.
“Health care” is such an ironic term these days, conjuring up images of forbidding-looking medical buildings, callous receptionists, bitter political debates and ridiculous insurance premiums. Sacred Roots Holistic Healing, however, is a new Long Beach collective of healing arts practitioners and doctors that offers a refreshing contrast to the current state of traditional Western medicine.
Each of the three self-described “founding mothers” of Sacred Roots–Jocelyn Fee, Jenny Ahn and Kailey Outram–discovered a passion for healing early in life, and each of them pursued an education in the field often called “alternative medicine,” which is increasingly referred to as “complementary” or “integrative” medicine. The three women have assembled a group of practitioners who employ a variety of skills to help their clients realize the ideal expressed in the Sacred Roots mantra: “Clear MInd, Open Heart, Vibrant Body.”
“How can we help you grow and create goals for your own life?” asks Fee, a registered massage and yoga therapist. “We don’t like to call ourselves ‘healers’ and sound like we’re placing ourselves above the client.”
“We give our clients the tools,” adds Jenny, a certified yoga instructor who teaches at the Leisure World retirement community in addition to her instruction at Sacred Roots and is also well-versed in Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India and incorporates diet, herbs and other therapies.
“We help our clients let go of their limiting beliefs,” says Kailey, a body worker who came to California from her native Hawaii to partake of the education opportunities here and has become skilled in a variety of massage techniques.
Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated the importance of one’s own mind when engaged in healing: as soon as a person believes he or she is on a path to healing, the body begins its healing processes. At Sacred Roots, this principle can be applied through a variety of healing arts. Massage techniques available include Deep Tissue, Shiatsu (finger pressure), Thai massage (which involves assisted stretching), and Rossiter massage, or “step-Rolfing,” in which the practitioner uses her feet to address pain at its source.
Chiropractic and Acupuncture are available at Sacred Roots, as is Reiki, a healing system developed in Japan in the early 20th century which addresses the universal life force, or “ki.” One member of the Sacred Roots collective is a certified Hypnotherapist, and another specializes in Somatic Counseling, in which the unity of the body and the mind are explored. Life Coaching is also offered, in English and Spanish.
Jocelyn gives credit to a “very supportive landlord” for enabling Sacred Roots to set up shop in a home-y and comfortable building on Redondo Avenue. Word is rapidly spreading about the quality and variety of healing options found at Sacred Roots. “Each practitioner is getting new clients weekly,” Fee says.
A great way to become acquainted with Sacred Roots is to visit during one of its 3rd Saturday Community Clinics (including this Saturday), which take place from 11AM to 3PM and feature “25-minute tune-ups” for reduced rates. Normally, advance appointments are required to visit a Sacred Roots practitioner, but during the 3rd Saturday Community Clinics, walk-ins are welcome.
Another attraction of Sacred Roots is its “urban sweat lodge,” which is actually an infrared sauna. As opposed to a traditional sauna, which heats the air that in turn heats the body, the infrared sauna heats the body directly, which makes the cleansing and relaxing sauna experience more comfortable for those who are averse to stifling heat.
For those discouraged by the current state of health care, Sacred Roots Holistic Healing is accessible, affordable, and personal.
“What we’re trying to do is heighten people’s state of being,” says Jocelyn. “That’s what this space is all about.”
Second photo: Founding mothers from left to right are Jenny Ahn, Jocelyn Fee and Kailey Outram
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Sacred Roots Holistic Healing is located at 316 Redondo Ave. 3rd Saturday Community Clinic is this Saturday, April 20 from 11AM to 3PM. For more information, please visit sacredrootsholistichealing.com
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