ROOTS MINDFUL ACUPUNCTURE

Yes. Yes. Yes.

I sat down with Dr. Michiko Yoshifuji DAc., Dipl. Ac., L.Ac of ROOTS Mindful Acupuncture on East 41st Street near Bryant Park. Yes, she has a lot of accolades and letters after her name. But I wanted to know more about the human Michiko - the one who volunteered at a clinic for underprivileged patients in rural Nepal, and the woman who believes that her mindful and kind approach can really change lives.

Michiko’s practice is set in a beautiful space that feels like a spa – with crystals hanging from the ceiling and even a moss wall feature. Gorgeous and orchestrated with patient healing in mind, Michiko created a Feng Shui design where each session room is unique and incorporates the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. It feels centering, safe, peaceful and oasis-like in crazy NYC.  

Michiko knew that ROOTS Mindful Acupuncture needed to be a sanctuary for her patients, many of whom are stressed out professionals, as well as couples with infertility issues, and patients with medical conditions that aren’t being fully supported elsewhere.  

Chiso is credited for introducing acupuncture to Japan in the sixth century. Prior, acupuncture was used in China from around 100 BCE. Since then, Japanese acupuncture for medical reasons, and even beauty, is as popular as getting your hair or nails done. A preventative approach for both ailments and wrinkles is the norm (Michiko said it is like toxin-free Botox!), throwing pills at sicknesses just isn’t the go-to solution.  

A whole-body approach is taken in Japanese acupuncture, and that’s where our appointment started. Michiko asked me questions I’ve never been asked by my PCP. “Let me see the color of your tongue” (I need to drink more water) “let me touch your skin”, and more.  

It was clear that Michiko wasn’t only interested in the problem, she wanted to explore the underlying cause be it physical, mental or emotional. Michiko explained “in acupuncture we treat the root cause, we don’t mask symptoms, we want to treat the reason for the imbalance in the body that is leading to disease and pain. Then, we can regain the flow of Qi, or vital energy, through the body.”  

I was willing to give it a go. Any practice that’s been around for 1,500+ years seems like one to believe. And Michiko had such a calm about her that I didn’t mind she was about to stab me with a bunch of little needles. 

As I relaxed, Michiko started inserting the needles into various parts of my body. I barely felt a thing. Japanese acupuncture uses very fine needles, and at ROOTS, Michiko uses the highest quality needles to ensure her patients have the best experience possible.

With close to 25 needles, I lay in a state of utter relaxation while the acupuncture did its thing. I felt relaxed, centered, and knew as I lay there I’d want to come back for more.  

Michiko has a very kind, trusting and endearing nature where even her touch feels like positive energy is traveling through to you.  

It was that kindness that brought Michiko to rural Nepal in 2023 to volunteer for an underserved community. Her biggest take away: “these beautiful people had no running water, electricity; the comforts we are used to. There wasn’t a doctor nearby. Yet they were not stressed much. They had ailments from hard labor and the life they lived, but they were so happy and full of light. In NYC we have everything we want at our fingertips, and so much stress. We need to learn to be more mindful and centered, for the sake of our health.” 

We could all learn to be a little less stressed and have more gratitude. And when that feels too difficult to achieve, Michiko is there to help us.  

I’ll definitely visit ROOTS again. Since my appointment I’ve tried to live more mindfully. Somehow, just knowing that Michiko is there for when I have jetlag, feel burned out, or have pain, is super comforting. Needles and all.  

For more information, please visit roots-ma.com