A Stories Project: Humans of Heart & Hands

I’ve been seeing David for cupping for the past little while. It’s basically magic, melting tension from my chronically tense neck and shoulders – I’m starting to need to see him less often which makes me super happy, but also sad that I get less magical tension dissolving. Thanks for…

I had never had cupping done before, but when it started being offered at Heart & Hands, the place where I began my acupuncture journey, I decided to take a healthy risk and book it to see what it would offer me. I immediately noticed David’s warm energy and felt…

So often folks in the community will try and help farmers. Ideas that require additional work by farmers (for free) with unknown demand or outcomes. It can be exhausting. Thank you to Heart & Hands for not asking more from us, for putting us first and giving us a chance…

Hi Christina! Wanted to let you know that our little one made an appearance! Amelia Luna Ayi Aba arrived Sept 27 evening. Thank you so much for your incredible support and expertise. I look forward to seeing you again soon and hope you’re doing really well.  Warmly,  L.S.  Did you…

Heart & Hands, our little clinic who could turns 12 on October 6th, 2022. How time flies… Pandemic practicing is not without its trials, tribulations and quirks. There is no manual for what we should be doing.We continue to be driven by the persistent belief that acupuncture is a tool…

My name is Sarah Strohan (she/her).  I am 3rd generation Canadian settler. I have Ukrainian ancestry on my fathers side and Norwegian and Irish on my mothers. I was born on Treaty 6 and Metis Homeland (Saskatoon, SK) and lived there for the first 20 years of my life. When…

Dear Sarah, David, and Christina, I would like to follow up and thank you for being part of my prenatal team!   I ended up going into active labour on Saturday afternoon after my 3rd acupuncture session at 41 weeks and 2 days. Little Senko was born at home later that evening, just…

Snail mail from a former H&H acu-napper K.O. who is as we speak is cycling across the country! The first postcard marks their passage through Alberta, the second, making their way through Saskatchewan. Last we spoke, they were entering Manitoba!! Their ultimate goal is to make it to the East Coast…

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’s journey with acupuncture has helped her through her own personal struggles with…

Thank you for all the healing you’ve brought to to my life, especially throughout my pregnancy.I’m grateful to feel so taken care of during such an exciting and vulnerable time. Love Laska & baby Did you know? Heart & Hands offers safe, drug-free and affordable care throughout your pregnancy journey, whether…

We have been following K.F. throughout their fertility journey and once pregnant, also supported them through all the ebbs and flows of how the body changes as it is gestating a new life! We are delighted to add another babe to our annual spring-summer baby wave! Did you know? Heart &…

Another mission accomplished with 2 acupuncture labour induction sessions over the weekend. Safe, drug-free, potent and traditional. I’m glad it did the trick A.Q., see you in a few weeks for some post-partum follow-up! Did you know? Heart & Hands offers safe, drug-free and affordable care throughout your pregnancy journey, whether…

Hey y’all, I’m David Gillese, (he/him). That surname is anglicized Irish gaelic and is confusingly pronounced gill-eece. I am a 2nd generation Irish-Canadian settler on my Dad’s side and with French-Canadian and some more Irish heritage on my mom’s side. I was born on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen…

A new Saturday afternoon tradition for S.G. and her 10 yr old kiddo. Always such a treat to see families receiving self-care together <3

We were gifted this wonderful, tender piece from a fellow Community Acupuncturist in Dakota Territory, also known as Minneapolis, MN. If you happen to be in that neck of the woods, do visit South Point Community Acupuncture for your pokes! The artwork is by the talented Molly Costello who asked any of the recipients…

Dear Christina,There is nothing I could gift or say that would reciprocate for the space, time and wellness you have gifted me over the last year and a half. This has been the most consistent space for me over the last while, where I have been able to process, heal…

Another babe hopefully on the way, this one is a lil’ stubborn and is a wee bit behind schedule. Keeping this new expectant parent in our thoughts today for a healthy, efficient birth! Did you know? Heart & Hands offers safe, drug-free and affordable care throughout your pregnancy journey, whether you…

My name is Cydney Patricia Elizabeth Smith. I am Canadian born, Mother and Father both born in Canada, Maternal grandparents from Scotland and Paternal grandparents also born in Canada and before that, English and Irish.  I was named after a well behaved little girl in a restaurant that my parents…

Hi Christina, Friday the 12th Saylix Wilder (“Wilder”) was born at 8:51pm weighing 8 lbs 05 oz. I was over 41 weeks so I did acupuncture with a different person (Matt, who is lovely) then we emailed with on Wednesday and then again at 1:30 on Friday trying an electronic stimulation…

Cydney Smith, R.Ac., studied Acupuncture and Moxabustion at Eight Branches Academy of Eastern Medicine from 2015 to 2017. She recently moved to Vancouver Island in 2020 and is living in the Traditional Territories of the Costal Salish Peoples, specifically the Pauquachin First Nation and Tseycum First Nation. Her first experience in a community acupuncture setting was…

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, soon to be acupunk! Accessibility is a core value within the CA model, but also for all of the health services he offers both in…

Family Day came early at H&H! Mom-daughter duo + grandma-grandson too!We are always delighted to see family members receiving self-care together and is one of the many perks of running a community practice :)

Christina is a shining example of what a healthcare practitioner should be and I have seen her many times over the years. As someone living with chronic pain, cPTSD, and a very dysregulated nervous system, I go to see Christina for care when I am not able to find balance…

Hi Christina!Sorry for my very late reply. Things have been a little wild over here – baby Sophie arrived on December 31. I’m so grateful for your care during my pregnancy. There were so many things that were hard on me, and I got the most relief from your treatments….

Dear Christina,Thank you for all your help, don’t know what I’d do without you. You do great work, you should be proud of yourself + what you do changes peoples’ days + lives. A lovely holiday card from, C.J.

Hi Christina, Had a fast but smooth birth today at home. Thank you for squeezing me in last week and helping to get my body ready for delivery! I have cancelled my appointment for Tuesday morning. Cheers, S.B. Did you know? Heart & Hands offers safe, drug-free and affordable care throughout your pregnancy…

Hi Christina,I wanted to send a quick hi and thank you for doing what you do! You are fantastic.   As you may have guessed when I never showed up again, I went into labour after our last appointment together! B, our little boy is 5 weeks old today and…

Christina,Thank you for everyone you do for the community and everyone that walks through your clinic door.Heart & Hands is a special place and I hope everyone has a chance to have a safe space in their life. Cat speed. A thank you card from M.H. <3

My name is Brewster Scott I am a First Generation Grenadian Canadian on my Father’s side and a 3rd generation Irish/Scottish/Pennsylvania Dutch Canadian mix on my Mother’s. One of the reasons my parents decided to name me “Brewster” was so that when my name was seen on a resume, I…

Going to acupuncture with Christina at Heart & Hands got me through to the end of my pregnancy. I started going for relief from pregnancy-related carpal tunnel, but it soon became clear to me that Christina was very knowledgeable about a lot of aspects of well-being for mothers to be….

Pandemic practicing is not without it’s trials, tribulations and quirks. There is no manual for what we should be doing. The foundation of our community practice is relational and a huge component of the work we do involves human connection. Now that we have enhanced measures in place to keep…

When my partner and I started thinking about having kids I was worried it might be a challenge for us. I had had irregular cycles for years and often skipped ovulation. I started coming to Heart & Hands for help with stress and hormonal balance. After 3 months of regular…

Acu-naps at Heart & Hands are a both a space of respite and an important aspect of healing for me – helping me so much on my path to to help others, to work with my hands and body at all the arts I love, and to assimilate and quieten…

Originally from “A reflection on 8 years” posted Oct. 5, 2018, by Christina Chan, R.Ac. As we close our 5-week crowdfunding campaign, we reflect on HOW MUCH Heart & Hands has GROWN in the last 10 years, the role it plays in our community’s well-being, including our own, the importance…

Heart & Hands has been the only reliable constant in my healing process. It’s the only place that, if I am struggling to keep up with life’s demands, I can show up knowing that I will walk out with improved health and increased resources. From bodily misalignment to immune system…

A friend of mine brought me along to H&H back in September 2016 while I was in the process of recovering from a broken foot. I was apprehensive at first about receiving acupuncture due to my fear of needles. But as an open-minded skeptic I was willing to give it…

My first experience with acupuncture was right here at Heart & Hands in 2013. Christina and multiple other acupuncturists through the following months warmly welcomed me to this lovely community clinic. I was healing from an injury and felt supported and cared for. After a while I continued my healing…

My body is in fairly good health but there are times when I’m not feeling well and a trip to the walk-in doctors doesn’t seem like a welcoming and fruitful choice. I enjoy going to Heart & Hands for acupuncture, but I feel they deliver so much more than just…

Heart & Hands has been the single most affirming health care experience I’ve had. I came to Heart & Hands in a moment of extreme burnout. As an art and community worker deep in the hustle, I felt strapped in terms of accessing resources to invest in my health. Anxiety…

I started going to Heart and Hands to treat a knee injury about 7 years ago, and while my knee injury is long healed, I just keep coming. I keep coming back for the warmth, care, compassion, community, and deeper healing that this magical place and its practitioners offer. It…

I’ve had an irregular period since the start. Initially, there was a certain amount of novelty to only bleeding a few times a year – saving money on tampons, no cramps, no hassle, etc. Despite that, there was always a little stressed voice in the back of my head that…

I don’t quite remember how I came to find H&H a few years ago, but I am forever grateful that I did. Christina and the other ‘punks and volunteers provide a safe, welcoming, peaceful environment for this important health care. Anxiety and an autoimmune disorder are what originally brought me…

I’m autistic and have a variety of chronic conditions, including anxiety, IBS, and PCOS. I approached acupuncture because my partner recommended it and talked about how it had helped them mentally and physically, and I was ready to try anything to improve the dips and wanes in my mental and…

I was first referred to Heart & Hands by a friend when I was struggling to manage my blood pressure. I was initially assessed at the Urgent Medical Assessment Clinic and was extremely stressed and frustrated that nothing was coming back medically abnormal. I was at first hesitant and skeptical…

I was previously convinced of the power of acupuncture back when I started receiving it in the 80’s from an old school TCM practitioner back when I was living in Vancouver. The results were astonishing. It took me a long time to find my way back and luckily that path…

It’s difficult for me to put into words the level of gratitude I feel for the Heart and Hands community. It was about 5 years ago that a good friend of mine and mentor brought me into the clinic for a community acupuncture session. At the time, I was suffering…

I first started coming to Heart & Hands in 2014 when I was experiencing chronic adrenal fatigue and the accessible model made it possible to receive treatment on a more consistent basis. I remained a regular client over the years, and in 2018, after leaving a chapter of my life…

Nine years ago, I was connected to Heart & Hands through a mutual friend. I was looking for a Victoria location to host my first solo gemstone show on Vancouver Island. My seasonal shows at Heart & Hands has been the only solid, constant element in my life for the…

“Hey Christina,I just wanted to let you know Midori gave birth to our daughter, Camellia on Monday morning. She was a healthy 8lbs 5oz. Both her and Midori are doing very well. We left the hospital today and are now back at home.” “Thanks again for your help, Christina! You helped…

H&H is magic! I most appreciate pokes when nothing feels right, something is wrong that I can’t put my finger on, when I need to be wrapped in a blanket and hide. I consistently feel improvement after treatment, like the crew there has helped put back together the puzzle that…

I’m an illustrator and graphic designer and a few years ago I got to the point where I was in so much computer pain that I thought I’d have to quit. I couldn’t turn my neck and my body would seize up when I sat down at my desk. A…

I have been a client and fan of Heart & Hands for several years. Something that means a great deal to me is that the services are affordable for all and the healing takes place in a circle. I am disabled and a busy mother, so I experience a lot…

H&H is a place that offers medicine in the form of caring, intuitive healers who are accepting, responsive, and compassionate. For me, it is a powerful alternative to the regular avenues for healing; such places never offered me comfort, safety, or empowerment. To say the least, H&H is a place…

We all deserve to be supported without judgement. What I love and have come to rely on about Heart & Hands is the feeling that it is OK to be who you are, wherever you are and with whatever you’re dealing with. Heart & Hands staff are compassionate, patient and…

I’ve been going to Heart and Hands for years, and it’s an incredible resource. Each practitioner is lovely, empathetic, and highly skilled – and whether I come in with a pulled muscle or mental exhaustion, I’ve always left feeling better in every way imaginable. Over time, regular visits have come…

I was first introduced to acupuncture with Christina about 5 years ago. As someone who has struggled with autoimmune illnesses, PTSD and a generalized anxiety disorder and medication resistant depression for the last 15+ years – I had really been struggling to find relief or peace of mind. I was…

I am sooo grateful to have found a wonderful place, a safe loving place that took me in as a regular acupuncture client. I was soooo worried that I wouldn’t find another place to be poked that I could afford on my low income. I came to Heart and hands…

Susan has been my miracle worker for approximately 5 years or more.  Her knowledge of acupuncture continues to amaze me. She has not only lifted me out of the pit of despair many times, but has also helped to relieve and/or eliminate my physical and emotional aches. Acupuncture is a…

I came to Heart & Hands during an emotional time in my life, what I found was far beyond my expectation. Heart & Hands has offered me a safe, non-judgmental place to land, no matter what I am going through. Because of the accessible model, I am able to show…

I came to Heart & Hands not being able to really articulate what I needed and with very few expectations of what the experience would be like. Christina helped me to describe my symptoms, which ranged from poor sleep to climbing injuries, and provided treatment that had me feeling better…