Meet Emily Blanche | Licensed Acupuncturist and Sound Healer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Blanche and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I’ve been asked if my training (acupuncture) was a weekend course.
Rest assured that your traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner must have 3,000 clinical hours, at least four years of graduate level classes and a masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college before going through three rigorous board exams to apply for licensing. Becoming a licensed TCM practitioner is no easy or fast feat. An abundance of published scientific research studies show acupuncture and herbs to be effective in treating pain, digestive issues, fertility, regaining movement and improving facial paralysis post-stroke plus much more. People have been successfully practicing this form of medicine for thousands of years and it is not “woo”.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a licensed Acupuncturist, sound healer and yoga teacher. I’ve been teaching yoga for most of my adult life adding in sound healing in 2009 and becoming a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner in 2023. I also guest teach for yoga teacher trainings around the valley. I love teaching people passionate about deepening their practice and sharing what I’ve learned and experienced. I mainly teach energetics, subtle body, and pranayama. I am fascinated by how intentionally changing our breath can affect our emotions, how we are thinking and our reactions. I finished my undergrad in 2004, traveled a bit, sewing clothes, teaching yoga and volunteering at a non-profit acupuncture clinic, Quan Yin, in SF. I didn’t think I would or could continue my education due to cost and how challenging my undergrad was. Thankfully some years later I witnessed a friend who was also a single mother working on her masters degree, she showed me it is possible. I took the leap and here I am. I love what I do. I love treating patients and witnessing their physical and mental health greatly improve. I hear a lot from my consistent clients, “I mention something’s bothering me and poof it’s gone, each time I get a treatment”. It feels really good to experience all my effort and hard work effectively helping others. Of course there are challenges to being an entrepreneur but I’m learning to keep my heart open, my grip loose and try not to fight the flow. Sometimes what feels like a dead end or a bad experience is a gift to shift directions and let something in better alignment come through. The time we get in these bodies on this gorgeous planet surrounded by beautiful people is precious and uncertain so if you feel the nudge to try something new or go after your very clear dreams I highly encourage you to do it. Who knows how much time we have, so find a way, ask for help, listen to those who are following their dreams, help others and have fun.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Phoenix has expanded so much since I was a teen. Back then, we relied on Denny’s grilled cheese to meet our vegetarian and hanging out needs. Now, there are so many amazing options. First, I would take them to Bagelfelds. They have the best bagels and smear around, additionally their shop & staff are cool. Olive Vaughns for breakfast is a given. Huarachis for yummy tacos which is conveniently located next to Central Records with Skoden coffee that has a delicious Dinè matcha latte. Next door is Mount Sunny & Big Sun where I offer acupuncture, cupping and more on Mondays and Tuesdays. I love to love on my friends with treatments. Plus, Glai Baan’s for savory Thai food and Valentine for coffee and croissants. Road trip to Sedona to play in Oak Creek. Get smoothies from Local Juicery, shop at the boutique next door, the bead shop, then hit up some thrift stores. Back in the valley there are a few great hiking spots I frequent like Papago Mountain and Dreamy Draw. Picnics at Margaret T. Hence park are lovely. Artist Andy Brown, runs Megaphone a great independent artist studio space downtown that is fun to check out. Meet a variety of artists and see different mediums in one place. Find a Cut-Paste pop up community collage night. For shopping I would bring them to The Vintage in Sunnyslope for handpicked goods, Luxie Vintage in Tempe for vintage clothing and Strawberry Hedgehog for locally handmade beautiful soap. The girls at Monsoon Market have great snacks and treats. The MIM, Music Instrument Museum is wonderful too, especially to experience live music in their amphitheater. PIP’s ceramic classes are enjoyable and we get to make something tangible to keep. If we are lucky and Phoenix Mercury are in town then we’d get tickets to cheer them on. Their games are fun and it is impressive watching talented women take over the court. Phoenix has so much to offer. Hopefully they are staying for more than a few days because that is a lot. Who wants to come visit me?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh gosh, I could write pages about all the people who have helped me get where I am today. I’m grateful for this opportunity to credit those that have helped me along the way, I hope I’m not missing anyone. Beginning with yoga- I have had many mentors, teachers and helpers in the yoga world that have inspired me and given me amazing opportunities: Brooke Sterling, Tara Martell, Ashley Zettler, Elizabeth Palmer (Fluid Yoga SF), Michelle Armenta, Sangeet Khalsa, Sevak Khalsa, Julie Tuomisto-Bell, Dominque Roe-Sepowitz, Dave and Cheryl Oliver plus all my students who showed up each week, year after year.

All around Support, encouragement, dearest friend, daughter’s Auntie, and co-partner for Study Hall & Gold Lion boutiques: Leilani Hudson! I still ask her for career advise. Joey Grether, Michael & Joanna 23 -Thought Crime for teaching me how to sew garments and create handmade/DIY fashion shows. Joey G. for bringing me into the Downstairs Cooperative, many nights sewing, creating and inspiring me. Sewing & long time friend, Downstairs member, fashion show co-creater Lisa Jacobs. Vintage inspiration & pop-ups with my sweet friend Becky Lee Walters. Tara Logsdon my neighbor & close friend from Holgas who designed both Gold Lion logos, helped with flyers, photos, flea markets and such. Airi Katsura who has helped with photography multiple times. Between 2002-2012, I was involved in and organized many fashion shows at rad locations in Phoenix. Those would not have happened or had been so cool without so many people donating their time: models (Jelena Milešić many times, and many more beautiful women), hair & make up, djs, photographers and so many friends. We were all young, learning and none of us got paid but I treasure those days and grew immensely.

Inspiring me to finally study acupuncture/TCM: Kewal Wright, Sami Rank and Kim Mathis. Acupuncture mentors and teachers include David Wallace, Pam Wallach, Janelle Clare, Mayo Mercedes Wardle, David Myrick and Shelby Ramirez. My wonderful TCM classmates, feels like a trauma bond getting through graduate school but I am grateful it brought us together and helped me through the program: Katie Barro, Ashley Finney. Kristen Ziegenbein, Kelsey Mattas, Melissa Rambo, Susan Kim, Sam Honroth, Emily Lundin and Shawn Kim,

Energetic healers, intuitives, witches and light beings that have held space for me in many ways: Cathy Bradway, Erin Brunelle, Ina Hilgers, Felecia Cocotzin Ruiz, Susan Shanti, Tara Martell, Pam Degraff, PJ Johnson, Ann Seletos, Lisa Schrempp, Iz Wyrd, Jinn El-Masri, Dawn Augusta, Emily Pennington, Nancy Ferraro, Heather Joy Magdelano, Sharmyn Townsend, Silvia Suh and Portia Richardson. Grief counseling, encouragement and support friends, Amar Atma and Siri Chand Khalsa. My midwifery birthing team- Sarah Butterfly, Ada Johnson and Kewal Wright. I am very grateful for that super empowering experience, having a home birth and the exceptional care they gave every step along the way. With these experiences of presence, nurturing and loving care I now know by example how to treat others. All the sweet people who have cooked for us, brought us meals at different times, gave us generous offerings, it absolutely touches me deeply and I think of that often and do my best to honor that kindness by paying it forward.

Shout out to my daughter Eissa. Making me a mom, up-leveling the value of my time and energy, teaching me unconditional love, making me a better person and providing so much joy. John Oyzon, my coparent. We’ve been able to create a new paradigm that works so much better for our family than the traditional family concept. He helps our daughter have a full life and me transition from full-time school to building a sustainable healing practice. We both aim to support each others individual happiness, not together, making the whole family healthier. Tatum Berry my daughter’s long time babysitter. She is so special to us and I’m so grateful to know my daughter is safe allowing me to work and hold special events. Jess Umble has been so helpful to our family as well. I’m grateful for our community!

My aunt Linda is a huge inspiration to me. She did not let polio and being partially paralyzed stop her from graduating with a master’s degree, working within prisons and creating positive change around her. She really saw me, encouraged me not to settle and to think big. Always checking back in on my dreams and aspirations that I shared with her. My grandpa Blanche and whole family helping me along the way.

I have so many supportive and inspiring friends that I look up to. I am so grateful for their friendship. All these people and more attribute to the woman I am today. To think about all these people and all the people who contributed to those people’s path and who they are today and so on, it is easy to see this web that connects us all and the power we have to create positive changes in our community by using our individual gifts to uplift each other.

Website: https://goldlionhealingarts.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldlionaz

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goldlionaz

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@goldlionaz

Image Credits
MIrror gong image: Tara Logsdon
Cupping & Acupuncture images: Airi Katsuta
the rest: me, Emily Blanche