About Me
Aria Walker is a licensed acupuncturist with a master’s degree in acupuncture and Chinese herbal studies from Academy for Five Element Acupuncture. She also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and herbs at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, and assisted a third generation acupuncturist from a family tradition. She has been working and teaching in complementary medicine since 1991. In addition to National Certification, she has held acupuncture liceneses in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington states.
Working internationally and with Acupuncturists Without Borders.
www.facebook.com/AriaTouchofaHealer/
Aria Walker, L.Ac. +1 971 405 4050 / WhatsApp +1 503 374 5242
Rachelle Aria Walker NCCAOM ID # 151588
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY: Who will be my acupuncturist?
Education has taken me many places in life. Oregon was the twelfth state that I lived in. Each place has held great beauty: from lush greenery and thick scents of flowers, to rocky cliffs and fragrant chaparral on desert air, to sunrises and sunsets through salty, crashing waves, to blankets of snow in quiet, curving drifts. My animal companions have traveled with me each place that I have lived.
While in undergraduate school, I began to study Western herbology, indigenous healing techniques, and sustainable agriculture. Since 1989, I have practiced various martial arts including tai chi and qi gong for health and well-being. I graduated from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 1996.
I continued my own education through numerous workshops including craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, lymphatic drainage, and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET). I formally started teaching massage and Reiki natural healing in 1998, and began studies in the master of science degree program at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego in 1999. While in California, I was a full-time massage instructor and clinic supervisor. After a severe car accident, I put acupuncture studies on hold to pursue other areas of interest and teaching workshops. In 2008, after a couple years assisting a third-generation acupuncturist from China, I returned to the structured study of Oriental medicine at the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, Florida. With this education, I found the approach to acupuncture which had originally inspired me and have since found my own path in this way of healing.
I have traveled throughout most of the United States, as well as in the former Soviet Union (Russia and Ukraine), Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Israel/Palestine, Australia, and New Zealand. I also have a passion for parrots, living at times with a blue-and-gold macaw, an umbrella cockatoo, and a Moluccan cockatoo.
I have a deep acceptance and compassion with people. I sincerely value the opportunity to share what I have learned, and to share your healing journey.
I look forward to working with you!
~ Aria
SELECT RESUME: How was my acupuncturist trained?
EDUCATION
09/08 - 06/11 Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, Gainesville, FL
Master's degree in Acupuncture
Chinese Herbal Studies Certificate
05/99 – 09/02 Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, CA
Medical theory, herbal and acupuncture studies
in the Master of Science program
03/96 Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Boulder, CO
1000 Hour Diploma Program, Honors
Ohio University, Athens, OH
03/97 Bachelor of Specialized Studies: Images and Interpersonal Relations, Cum Laude
11/93 Women’s Studies Certificate
05/91 Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Associate of Applied Science: Professional Photographic Illustration, Highest Honors
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
11/12 - present Licensed Acupuncturist and East Asian Medical Practitioner: Private practice providing the five aspects of Chinese medicine - acupuncture, Chinese herbs, exercise and meditation, dietary evaluation, and hands-on work with a specialty in Five Element Acupuncture.
01/96 – present Nationally Certified Massage Therapist: Massage including Shiatsu, Tui Na, craniosacral, visceral manipulation, myofascial release and more; Reiki; Qi Gong; neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and neuroemotional technique (NET).
12/17 - 10/19 Evaluator: Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, Gainesville, FL
01/98 - 09/11 Instructor: Instructor and clinic supervisor for Holistic Health Practitioner Program, and workshop instruction.
03/07 - 09/09 Acupuncture Assistant to Dr. Alexander Ly Natural Health Center, Alabama: Assisted the acupuncturist with electroacupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and acupuncture treatments.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES - Start Dates
03/17 Acupuncturists Without Borders, International: Providing group auricular acupuncture and training for disaster relief and trauma recovery.
09/13 Covenant House Alaska, Anchorage, AK: Providing group auricular acupuncture and other acupuncture services for the youth.
11/12 Compassionate Caregiver and Pro Bono Service Provider, Hospice of Anchorage, Anchorage, AK: Volunteer, in-home support for individuals and their families; and acupuncture service provider for select approved Hospice of Anchorage clients.
11/11 Forget-Me-Not Facilitator, Hospice of Anchorage, Anchorage, AK: Facilitator in peer-support grief processing program for children and teens.
11/02 San Diego Hospice Volunteer, San Diego Hospice, San Diego, CA: In-home and in-facility companion care, massage, and aromatherapy.
05/93 Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate, Careline, Athens, OH: Crisis intervention and advocacy, first contact through hospital and court proceedings.
Working internationally and with Acupuncturists Without Borders.
www.facebook.com/AriaTouchofaHealer/
Aria Walker, L.Ac. +1 971 405 4050 / WhatsApp +1 503 374 5242
Rachelle Aria Walker NCCAOM ID # 151588