The Power of Personal Practice in Healing
At Metro Acupuncture in Atlanta, Georgia, our work as acupuncturists goes far beyond placing needles. It’s about showing up authentically in our own wellness practices so we can better serve the people who trust us with their care. In this conversation between myself, Dr. Mark Lewinter, and my mother and colleague, Dr. Andrea Lewinter, we explore a timeless idea that sits at the center of our professional lives: “practice what you preach.”
East Asian medicine, with its thousands of years of history, offers a profound system of healing that affects the body, mind, and spirit. Like many practitioners, our journey into this medicine began with a personal transformation, experiences of deep rest, rapid relief from chronic headaches, and a return to balance we hadn’t thought possible. And yet, as providers, we still struggle with the same human challenges our patients face.
When Knowledge Meets Real Life
Knowing the principles of healthy living and actually applying them are two different things. Andrea and I both admit to not always following our own advice. She recalls a moment when she carefully checked multiple calendars to schedule a call, only to miss it due to a minor mistake. I shared the story of my old 1967 Ford Mustang and its mechanic, who despite fixing cars daily, rarely serviced his own.
These stories are reminders: knowing isn’t the same as doing. As practitioners, we have to constantly revisit and recommit to the same principles we talk about every day hydration, rest, mindful eating, and stress reduction. Patients are intuitive. They notice when we are aligned with our values, and when we’re not. And when we are, it builds trust. They often say, “If you can do it, maybe I can too.”
Small Acts, Big Results
Our modern lives are overloaded with calendars, appointments, and notifications. It’s no wonder people rush into our clinic asking if they can be out in 20 minutes. But even in that short time, something meaningful can happen. A single moment of grounding, one breath, a pulse reading, these can shift awareness and help someone move toward healing.
Andrea often encourages patients to sit, feel their feet on the floor, and breathe for just a minute before acting. These aren’t grand acts of transformation, but rather simple practices that, over time, build into something powerful. As she says, “We’re all in practice. This isn’t something you get a diploma for.”
Compassion as the Foundation
For me, one of the keys to practicing what I preach has been cultivating self-compassion. Being hard on myself for slipping up doesn’t help. What does help is kindness, patience, and curiosity about what I can learn from the moments I fall short. That same approach makes me more empathetic with my patients.
When I recommend something simple like applying a liniment to an achy hip or taking a short walk, I know how hard it is to make that a habit. I’ve failed at forming habits too. That shared humanity is what deepens the healing relationship.
The Real Meaning of Practice
The word “preach” can feel heavy, but the word “practice” gives us space. Practice implies effort, repetition, and learning. It’s not perfection. It’s choosing, again and again, to show up.
Even though I know the benefits of exercise, I don’t always want to run. But I do. I push through because it matters. When a patient says they haven’t exercised in a while, I meet them with empathy and a simple suggestion: walk five minutes, then turn around. That’s doable.
This personal practice makes us better practitioners. Not perfect ones, but honest ones.
Healing Is a Partnership
At the heart of our clinic is a partnership. Our patients share their lives and aspirations with us, and we do our best to honor that with integrity. Being authentic in our own wellness journeys is not just about personal growth, it’s about modeling what’s possible, gently, without judgment.
If you’re in the Atlanta area and want to explore what acupuncture can do for you, visit Metro Acupuncture. For those interested in building a healthier lifestyle, here’s a helpful resource from the National Institutes of Health on creating healthy habits: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/03/creating-healthy-habits.
In health, as in life, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about practicing, again and again, what we know brings balance and healing, for ourselves, and for those we serve.
