Christina Chan, R.Ac.
Christina (she/her) is a Community Acupuncturist, community organizer, educator, rider of many things with 2 wheels, martial artist, lupus survivor and high functioning spoonie. In 2006, Christina became certified as an National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA) provider. Then, in 2009, she completed her training as a Registered Acupuncturist at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) in Victoria, BC.
Christina is a Balance Method practitioner, training in the system since 2010, initially with the late Dr. Richard Teh-Fu Tan, Si Yuan Balance Acupuncture based in the EU and soon to complete the Balance System Acupuncture program with Gold Level certified Dr. Sonia Tan, based in Vancouver, BC.
She is also a certified Cranial Sacral Therapist, completing her training in 2011, through the Department of Holistic Health Studies at Langara College in Vancouver, BC. In a previous lifetime, she completed a Master’s in Human Physiology in 2005, specializing in Cardiovascular Cell Biology at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON.
She has practiced her craft in a variety of settings including at the Vancouver Daytox, Indigenous Wellness Week at UVic’s First People’s House, Motherfest at Mothering Touch, Fernfest, Victoria’s Annual Anarchist Book Fair and AIDS Vancouver Island.
Active in the community, she is passionate about using acupuncture as a tool for positive social change through providing outreach, increasing accessibility and bringing the practice back to its traditional roots. She continues to explore her own personal experiences as a woman of colour living with chronic illness, community organizer, and founder of an unorthodox social enterprise in Lekwungen Territories, otherwise known as Victoria BC.
David Gillese, R.Ac.
David (he/him) is a Registered Acupuncturist, Tui Na practitioner, martial artist, Qigong-er, gardener, rock climber, former singer in various local choirs, In 2020, he completed his training as a Registered Acupuncturist at the Oshio College of Acupuncture & Herbology in Victoria, BC.
David is currently studying kinesiology at University of Victoria, to deepen his existing understanding of movement practises such as martial arts and Qigong, and how to use them as tools to support health and wellness. He draws from a variety of bodywork styles including Myofascial trigger point therapy, Reflexology, Tui Na (Chinese-style Massage) and Acupressure.
David has been drawn to Community Acupuncture (CA) as first a lover of (acu)naps then subsequently a member of the H&H front desk volunteer team and now, a member of the H&H acupunk team! Accessibility is a core value within the CA model, but also for all of the health services he offers both in his bodywork practice and now in acupuncture!
The CA model has been inspiring to him as a viable and sustainable model for allowing many people to access a lot of help. David is excited to step into a new role as part of the H&H team and meet the community as a facilitator of (acu)naps rather than just a fellow (acu)napper :)
Sarah Strohan, R.Ac., R.TCMP.
Sarah (she/her), is originally from Saskatoon, but has been living (mostly) on the west coast for the past 13 years. During this time she studied acupuncture and East Asian Medicine at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC
Sarah is passionate about internal medicine concerns, mental emotional health, reproductive health, chronic and acute pain and overall health and wellbeing. She is fully trained in acupuncture, cupping, tui na massage, gua sha, moxibustion, channel palpation and Chinese herbal medicine. She has trained in many different acupuncture styles, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tan Balance Method, Global Balance and 5 Element acupuncture.
Sarah’s journey with acupuncture has helped her through her own personal struggles with gynaecology disorders, digestive health, chronic pain and supporting her mental health. She guides her clients through their journey from a place of hope and understanding.
After spending the past 2 years in Saskatoon, she is very exciting to be back working at Heart & Hands and bringing her enthusiasm for community acupuncture back to Victoria!
When not working, Sarah loves spending time with friends and family and being in nature!