About Us

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I was introduced to massage at a young age but it wasn't until the age of 21 that I enrolled in a year long massage program. I graduated with over 1000 hrs of massage training and with Honors from Maric College (now Kaplan) acquiring a Holistic Health Practitioners Degree. A few years later, after working in the massage field, I knew there was more that I needed to learn. While researching possible schools to further my knowledge I came across Emperors College of Traditional Oriental Medicine. Being well versed in martial arts {Ninjutsu and Kung Fu} I was familiar with Chinese Medicine and already understood the balance one needs between the healing arts and the martial arts. 

I found my calling. 

Three years into the four year program, I became severely ill and anything that 

I ate would go right through me. I lost 30 pounds in a month. A Colonoscopy 

and Small Intestine Barium Xray revealed major inflammation and 

ulceration of my Digestive tract. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease that can involve the entire digestive tract. 

The doctors prescribed serious medication that stopped the leak (pun intended) and told me to stay away from vegetables and fruits (basically anything healthy). This didn't sit well with me. I understood why those foods would and could make my situation worse at that time but to forgo the life giving nutrients within said foods would surely lead to worsening of this condition. Indebted to all my doctors and western medicine for saving my life; I knew there was a better way to manage and treat my condition in the long run. 

My time at Emperors allowed me to work with some of the greatest doctors alive today and some that have since passed on from this world. I was also able to work within the LA Community at the schools onsite community clinic and at UCLA, Arthur Ashe Medical Center. Four incredible years later I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emperors College in 2011 with my Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In 2016  I finished the Doctoral Program at Emperors College. This program catapulted my understanding of the field of Chinese Medicine as well as  western medical sciences. It also put me in contact with some more  brilliant minds in the field.

Jocelyn Shinagawa is a California licensed acupuncturist with extensive training in a diverse range of medical environments.  Jocelyn was originally introduced to acupuncture from a young  age while training horses in 

the San Diego countryside, and her passion for complementary medicine 

has brought her to work in integrative settings such as the San Diego

Children’s Hospital, the San Diego Cancer Center, and UCSD outreach clinics.  

In the clinic, Jocelyn’s strong scientific background is complemented by her warm, compassionate demeanor, and her dedication to patients offers a glimmer of hope in the complex world of modern healthcare.

My Philosophy and Approach to the Therapy:

When you have pain, it is a signal that the body is warning you that something 

is not right.  That is, something is off balance.  I carefully listen to what your mind and body tell me.  I analyze your whole body structure, check ranges 

of motion to see which muscle groups may be contributing to the cause or causes, and ask the history of your condition(s). I will treat the area with 

the symptom(s) and also treat the potential pain-causing areas, to provide better results. Palpation and observation of your tissue at a whole-body 

level is also very important. The human body has its own wisdom to heal 

if there is a good balance to function harmoniously.  

In our busy lifestyles, stress, scar tissue, repetitive motions, trauma, bad posture, and so on can be reasons of  connective tissue restriction by hardening and adhesion. That will lead to pain, tightness, limited ranges of motion and other disorders in our bodies not be seen on an X-ray or MRI. 

Sometimes, your traumatic experience or deeply stressed emotion can be.strongly connected to the pain and other problems. 

That is why I specialize in Myofascial Release. This method takes a whole-body approach.  It has been giving myself and my clients much better results for 

pain relief. With MFR, I can feel their tissue softening better than when

 just doing deep tissue massages.  Once the softening occurs, that is the indication of fluidity getting back to tissue.  That means more circulation, supply of nutrients, oxygen, better lymph flow, and an increase in movement 

of waste and toxins which have been released in the system. When this result 

is achieved,  I can reach deeper layers without forcing the strong pressure

 on the surface with other massage modalities. 

When the tissue change happens in your body, it is like a ripple on the water, it will slowly spread. The body will show us the connection and other restrictions  by changing the color or temperature, or simply put, you may feel the sensation or radiating feeling apart from where my hands are.  We follow the "body wisdom" -- like putting puzzle pieces together one by one.  

When the client is truly open-hearted and ready, some emotional release

 can happen.I can work with specific modalities by your request or by integrating different modalities.  My goal is always to meet your needs 

and goals from the session.

Ayako is a Holistic Health Practitioner (Completed more than 1000 hours of school curriculum with different modalities including anatomy)

Participated in various Myofascial Release Seminars under direct

 supervision of John F. Barnes, PT, LMT (JFBMFR)

She also has Completed Skill Enhancement Seminar at the Myofascial Release Treatment Center in Sedona, AZ (2011), participating in intensive treatment of various patients with John F. Barnes, PT, LMT and his advanced-staff therapists.

I believe our bodies have the ability to heal from within and that we 

have everything we need to heal within ourselves. I am passionate 

about helping my clients understand their bodies and take control 

of their health. I believe we must be active participants in our healing 

and truly be accountable for our own well being.

My goal is to empower you to take control of your health through an 

integrative, holistic approach to pain relief. Myofascial Release is 

the absolute gold standard of touch therapy, and I have experienced 

profound, lasting healing both as a client and practitioner of myofascial 

release. I have been practicing this powerful therapy for over a decade, 

and I am confident I can help you heal from pain. 

I enjoy working with complex cases and people from all age groups and walks of life.  I am passionate about movement and nutrition as part of the full paradigm of health, and enjoy helping my clients achieve balance and serenity in their life. My greatest joy is helping others do the things they enjoy most, without pain!