Constellation Acupuncture & Healing Arts

During treatments, it's not uncommon for patients to give a disclaimer about their armpit hair or belly hair or toe hair, apologize for not shaving their legs, or point out that they are overdue for an eyebrow wax. ⁠
⁠
We get it - body hair preferences are a super individual and personal thing! Do whatever you need to do with your body hair to feel awesome and affirmed in your bod.⁠
⁠
But we can't stress this enough - unless a healthcare provider is specifically inquiring about body hair as related to some kind of relevant health concern, we don't think about your body hair. Like, at all. ⁠
⁠
So whether you let your body hair grow, remove it, or a combo of both, we welcome you - and whatever hair you've got - at the clinic. No apologies needed. ❤️

Bringing people together is something we love doing and the mission behind the Constellation Classroom was to have a dedicated place to do this in ways that center care, community, and creativity.

Here’s a collection of reviews and feedback we’ve received in our first several months of this new gathering space! 💗

Thank you to everyone who has attended a class, shared about our classroom, and supported us on this journey of offering sliding scale care options and group healing experiences. We look forward to all the connections, deep breaths, and healing moments to come.

✨Share to win two tickets to a classroom event! ✨

We want to have a lil fun and spread the love of the amazing classroom events we have on the schedule, so we’re doing a giveaway!

To enter your name in the drawing:

✨Tag someone you love in the comments with a class you’d like to go to together
✨Share this post with the classroom schedule in your stories (and tag us so we can keep track!)

Share from now until the end of the day on August 7 and we’ll reach out on August 8 to the winner. Two tickets will be good for any event open to the public and not yet sold out in the next 2-3 months.

Questions? Let us know! We are excited to see which classes you’re excited about in the comments!

In preparation for moving from the heat of the early summer fire element into the late summer element of earth (according to Chinese medicine), we’ve got a lot of grounding, restful opportunities at the Constellation Classroom in August. No experience necessary and everyone welcome!

💟 QIGONG CIRCLE (SLIDING SCALE)
Tues, Aug 4 at 7pm
Tues, Aug 18 at 7pm⁠
60-minute gentle practice of breathing techniques, mindful movement, and group meditation with Kari Petersen of Sundog Healing⁠

💟 GROUP ACUPUNCTURE + SOUND BATH
Sun, Aug 9 at 6:30pm
Tues, Aug 25 at 7pm
Relaxing acupuncture in a sweet small group with an extended rest accompanied by crystal singing bowls and other instruments for your nervous system with Amy⁠

💟 NEW MOON BREATHWORK + INTENTION SETTING
Wed, Aug 12 at 7pm
90-minutes to tap into the new beginning energy of the new moon and set intentions with your breath with Shannon Schueler, RN

💟 GROUP ACUPUNCTURE + CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Thurs, Aug 13 at 7pm
Thurs, Aug 27 at 7pm⁠
75-minutes of deeply restorative acu and cranio with Dr. Kim

💟 FULL MOON BREATHWORK + TAROT CIRCLE
Fri, Aug 28 at 7pm
90-minutes to tap into the magic of the full moon and set big, bold intentions with your breath before grounding in rest, your journal, and the tarot with Amy⁠

To save your spot, check out the events tab on our website: constellationacu.com/events

As we get close to wrapping up the month, we thought we’d take a little inventory of the things we’ve supported folks with recently.

It's a little bit of everything, and for good reason - acupuncture, Chinese medicine, breathwork, craniosacral therapy, herbal medicine, and clinical massage therapy are incredibly beneficial for a wide range of concerns.

Here's some examples from the last month or so:
⭐️ plantar fasciitis
⭐️ carpal tunnel
⭐️ neck and back tension and pain
⭐️ hip pain
⭐️ shoulder impingement
⭐️ frozen shoulder
⭐️ supporting bone healing after fracture
⭐️surgery recovery
⭐️ nerve pain
⭐️ joint instability related to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
⭐️tension and pain from hypermobility
⭐️ scoliosis
⭐️ foot and leg pain caused by decreased blood circulation and blood clots
⭐️ leg spasms and cramping
⭐️ migraines
⭐️ tension headaches
⭐️ tinnitus
⭐️ jaw tension, jaw pain, and TMJ dysfunction
⭐️ acne, rashes, eczema
⭐️seasonal allergies
⭐️ chronic sinus inflammation and post-nasal drip
⭐️ digestive pain, bowel irregularity, and blood in stool due to Crohn's disease
⭐️ acid reflux
⭐️ constipation
⭐️ diarrhea
⭐️ nausea
⭐️ splenomegaly (aka, swollen spleen)
⭐️ peripheral arterial disease
⭐️chronic Epstein Barr Virus
⭐️ fibromyalgia
⭐️ rheumatoid arthritis
⭐️ hypothyroidism
⭐️ diabetes
⭐️ endometriosis
⭐️ PMS and PMDD
⭐️ heavy periods
⭐️ painful periods
⭐️ scar treatment after abdominal hysterectomy
⭐️ recovery after pregnancy loss
⭐️ fertility support, including IUI and IVF
⭐️ pregnancy care
⭐️ post-partum support
⭐️ PTSD and CPTSD
⭐️ anxiety
⭐️ depression
⭐️stress
⭐️grief
⭐️ poor sleep
⭐️ frequent waking in the night
⭐️ difficulty falling asleep due to busy mind

And truly, this is only scratching the surface. 💜

If you're ready to learn how our team can support you in your health, check out our services at constellationacu.com, schedule a 15-minute consult, or give us a call at 612-339-5088.

Constellation out in the wild!! Earlier this month, our clinic sponsored the return of Babes In Bikeland this summer - a women/trans/femme focused alleycat bike race that has been around since the mid-2000s. It is a FUN, encouraging, heart-warming event all over Minneapolis. While Amy Kuretsky remembers participating in the very first Babes race back in 2007, this year she helped our clinic play the role of event sponsor and greeted riders at the finish line and after party.

Thank you to all the riders who stopped by to get some recovery support from our fully-charged massage gun, Buoy drops, Evil Bone Water (a topical liniment we LOVE for post-ride pain and inflammation), and CBD balm.

Coming up soon, the clinic is also sponsoring the 5th annual Dirt Church with Midwest Dirt Legion August 7-9th! Dirt Church is a weekend for creating joyful, welcoming riding spaces for marginalized genders (any non-cis men) out on the stunning red dirt trails of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. If you’re into mountain biking, attend solo or bring your crew to (iykyk).

Our clinic has always been a huge supporter of the Twin Cities local cycling community. Amy Kuretsky first started her solo acupuncture practice in 2013 after spending several years as co-producer of the Minneapolis segment of the Bicycle Film Festival.

Acupuncture, cupping, and massage are such great recovery tools for cyclists of all ages and abilities and Amy has always been wildly grateful for all the cyclists who trusted her with their care and were some of her very first acupuncture patients! We’re proud to still see many folks from the cycling community at our clinic and will continue to support not just cycling events, but cyclists’ bodies as well!

PS: swipe on through to see a snap of Amy riding the first RiotGRRRavel race in Hastings in 2014!

Many patients visit our clinic as a last ditch effort for their health. They've seen their primary physician and one or many specialists before they decide to give acupuncture a shot.

By this time, symptoms may have been present anywhere between 6 months to several decades.

Acupuncture isn't a magic pill. There are times when it can produce almost miraculous results - we’ve seen it ourselves as practitioners and patients - but those are generally the exception, not the rule.

You can't expect a chronic condition of several years to resolve in one or two sessions. Acupuncture works cumulatively - just like strength training or learning a new language.

But while primary symptoms might not abate in the first few treatments, there are other markers you can look for.

SIGNS THAT ACUPUNCTURE IS WORKING

⭐You're less stressed
This is one of the first noticeable side effects of acupuncture. Patients often exclaim how relaxed they feel after a treatment, or how stress related ailments such as jaw pain or anxiety are greatly reduced afterwards.

⭐You're sleeping better
Often, new patients report that their sleep is "just fine" in their initial intake, only exclaiming a few treatments later that they're "sleeping so much better!"

When we are sleeping our bodies regulate our hormones, repair damaged tissue, form new pathways in our brain, and trigger growth and development.

⭐You're more energetic
When we spend more of our nighttime hours enjoying quality, restorative sleep, we wake feeling more refreshed and have more energy to go about our day. Fatigue is rarely a main reason for coming to the clinic, but it's one of the most common complaints heard from new patients.

While acu is naturally relaxing (many patients take a needle nap on the treatment table), it's normal to feel a surge of energy in the days following treatment. This energy isn't like a caffeine buzz, it's more of an awareness in your body and increased motivation to complete tasks.

⭐You're digesting better
Acupuncture is all about creating movement. Illness arises when substances such as blood, lymph fluid, and qi (energy) become stagnant within the body. By increasing the circulation, the body has the ability to nourish all of its organs and tissues and can begin the process of healing.

If your digestion tends to be a bit sluggish, bowel movements might happen on a more regular basis. If your digestion tends to be on the more frequent or erratic side, you might find that acu relaxes the smooth muscle in your colon, resulting in less spasms, pain, and frequent trips to the bathroom.

Interested in learning more? Book a 15 minute consult or check out our website: constellationacu.com

Gong Bath is coming back to Constellation Classroom! Mark your calendar for next Sunday, July 26 because you don’t want to miss this sound immersion with Carrie Nelson.

The vibrations and sounds that come from the gong are unreal. 🤯 Swipe through to get a lil snippet!

The rich vibrations of the gong are FELT in your cells as much as heard with your ears. The notes physically resonate through the body to calm the nervous system and guide brainwave activity into a slower, more restful state.

As the complex layers of sound unfold, the analytical mind naturally quiets, creating space for genuine stillness and a meditative depth that can be difficult to reach on your own.

All you need to do is arrive and let go. 🌀

You’ll rest comfortably on a mat, supported by blankets, pillows, and an eye mask, while Carrie draws on a range of mallets to coax a rich soundscape from the gong: deep resonances, shimmering overtones, and everything in between.

No experience necessary. Just come as you are.

Yoga mats, blankets, small bolsters, and eye coverings are provided. Bring any additional comforts that your body may need such as a pillow.

GONG BATH WITH CARRIE NELSON
🗓️Sunday, July 26
⏰6:30pm - 7:30pm
📍Constellation Classroom
💵$25 - use code ACCESS to lower the price to $12.50 if needed