Aurora Raiten, Licensed Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist 

I chose bodywork as a profession after receiving a bachelors degree in sociology and quickly realizing that the work I was best suited for was helping people through direct action rather than policy; I received my massage therapy diploma in 2006, followed by a masters degree in acupuncture in 2010. Social justice will always be the lens through which I approach the world; I am actively involved in the ongoing and vital work toward reproductive justice, queer/trans rights, and anti-racism and I am always thrilled to serve as a resource for folks looking for ways to get involved. Clinically, my practice is deeply influenced by my experience navigating a previously misdiagnosed chronic illness which was, after many painful and confusing years, finally correctly identified as Lyme disease. I find both hands-on bodywork and acupuncture to be profoundly effective for treating a panoply of diseases and pain conditions in the body and mind and consider it a personal goal to debunk skepticism about the efficacy of natural medicine, as well as to help detach acupuncture from its unfounded connection to "new age woo woo" esotericism. As a heavily tattooed and gender non-conforming person, it is also my intention to challenge preconceptions about who can/should practice healthcare.