We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jonathan Olcott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jonathan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

“Movement is the best medicine.”.

That’s the advice I give to nearly every patient I work with, especially those dealing with chronic low back or neck pain — which make up a large part of my practice.

Many of these patients come in after trying everything else: physical therapy, chiropractic, injections, prescription painkillers, even surgical consultations. They’re often stuck in a frustrating cycle — managing symptoms, but not seeing progress. They’ve been told to “rest” or “be careful,” and as a result, they’ve become more guarded and less mobile. Over time, many become afraid to move at all, which only compounds the issue.

They’re not just in pain — they’re disconnected from their own bodies.

What I’ve seen time and again is that the real breakthrough happens when we combine two things: acupuncture and intentional movement.

Acupuncture calms the nervous system, reduces inflammation, and restores circulation. It creates the conditions for healing — and often allows patients to reduce or eliminate the use of pain medications. I’ve worked with many people who were dependent on NSAIDs or muscle relaxers just to get through the day, and after a course of treatment, they no longer needed them. That kind of shift has ripple effects — physically, mentally, emotionally.

Orthopedic acupuncture plays a crucial role in this process. Using motor point and trigger point techniques, I can deactivate hypertonic muscles, reawaken inhibited ones, and improve neuromuscular firing patterns. This helps bring the body back into structural balance — reducing compensation patterns that cause or perpetuate pain. It’s not just about pain relief; it’s about preparing the body for movement.

But acupuncture alone isn’t the finish line — it’s the foundation. Once we’ve created a window of relief and reset the body’s neuromuscular patterns, I teach patients how to move again in ways that are safe, structured, and sustainable. That includes postural retraining, breath-work, and core stabilization work like the McGill Big 3. These exercises are simple but powerful tools for rebuilding spinal support and restoring confidence in movement.

Over time, I’ve watched patient after patient return to the activities they thought they had to give up — gardening, hiking, surfing, even just sitting at their desk without pain. They’re not just managing pain; they’re reclaiming their lives.

That’s the deeper meaning behind “movement is the best medicine.” It’s not just about mobility — it’s about empowerment. It’s about giving people the tools to participate in their own healing process. And that’s when lasting change happens.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jonathan Olcott, owner and lead acupuncturist at Intuitive Acupuncture in San Luis Obispo. I specialize in orthopedic acupuncture and functional medicine, helping people overcome chronic pain, restore mobility, and reconnect with their bodies through a comprehensive, movement-centered approach to healing.

I grew up here on the Central Coast and spent much of my early adulthood working as a mechanic while pursuing a passion for extreme sports — rock climbing, surfing, wakeboarding, and racing downhill mountain bikes at a semi-professional level. That active lifestyle came to a sudden stop when I suffered a serious accident: I rolled my truck 200 feet down a ravine on Cuesta Ridge and sustained a thoracic spine compression fracture. The chronic pain that followed lasted for years, and kept me from living the life I truly loved.

Looking for alternatives to surgery and long-term medication, I explored yoga and tai chi. Those practices eventually led me to live at an ashram in Colorado, where I immersed myself in Eastern philosophy and traditional healing arts. It was during that time that I received my first acupuncture treatment — and for the first time since my accident, I experienced real, lasting relief. That moment changed everything. I knew I had found the path I wanted to follow.

I went on to study Eastern philosophy at Naropa University, and later earned my Master’s in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in Los Angeles. While in school, I focused my clinical training on orthopedic acupuncture and functional medicine approaches — blending the ancient with the modern to treat complex pain conditions and movement dysfunction.

Today, I work with patients struggling with chronic musculoskeletal pain, sports injuries, postural imbalances, nervous system regulation, and inflammation. My approach integrates orthopedic acupuncture — including motor point therapy, trigger point release, and fascial balancing — with functional movement coaching, postural retraining, and principles from functional medicine.

What sets my work apart is the way it blends targeted, hands-on treatment with long-term, movement-based strategies that patients can use to support their own recovery. Acupuncture helps regulate the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and prepare the body for movement. From there, I teach patients how to move again — using tools like the McGill Big 3, breath-work, and mobility drills to restore stability and confidence. Many are able to reduce or eliminate their use of pain medications. Others avoid surgery altogether. Most importantly, they leave with the tools to take ownership of their own healing.

I take pride in the fact that my patients don’t just get temporary relief — they gain a deeper understanding of their bodies and a sustainable path forward. Whether they’re recovering from injury, navigating chronic pain, or trying to stay active as they age, I help them return to the activities they love with strength and ease.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

While clinical training and technical skill are essential, it’s the ability to foster meaningful human connection that often has the greatest impact on both patient outcomes and practitioner success.

When patients feel truly seen and supported—especially those navigating chronic pain or complex health challenges—their nervous system begins to shift from a protective, guarded state into one of openness. That shift alone can open the door to healing.

This isn’t just anecdotal. A 2023 systematic review titled “The Interconnection Between Social Support and Emotional Distress Among Individuals with Chronic Pain” found that the quality of the patient–clinician relationship significantly influenced treatment outcomes. When patients were met with empathy, active listening, and emotional attunement, they reported feeling more cared for and understood, which in turn reduced perceived stress and emotional distress—two major amplifiers of chronic pain.

The presence of empathic, trusting relationships was also linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety, and decreased pain intensity, likely due to reduced activation of threat-related brain circuits and a calming effect on the autonomic nervous system.

These findings highlight that the therapeutic relationship isn’t merely supportive—it can serve as a powerful clinical tool, with effect sizes comparable to, and sometimes greater than, many standard medical interventions. In other words, how care is delivered can be just as important as what is delivered.

A 2021 study titled “Healing in a Social Context: The Importance of Clinician and Patient Relationship” echoed these conclusions, showing that social support—especially from a trusted provider—was linked to decreased pain intensity, lower depression scores, and improved quality of life. Researchers emphasized that relational warmth activates neural pathways associated with safety and calm, helping to reduce central sensitization—a key factor in the persistence of chronic pain.

The Center for Pain Management supports this view, noting that social connection has neurobiological effects that directly modulate pain perception—demonstrating that support from clinicians is not just emotionally beneficial, but physiologically therapeutic.

In East Asian medicine, this understanding is deeply embedded in the tradition. Practitioners are trained to observe not only physical symptoms, but emotional tone, language, posture, and spirit (shen). Healing is inherently relational—when trust is present and the patient feels safe, qi flows more freely, and treatments become more effective.

In my own practice, I’ve found that connection creates the foundation for everything else to work. Acupuncture, movement therapy, and lifestyle change are far more powerful when delivered in the context of genuine rapport. Patients who feel supported tend to engage more deeply, follow recommendations more consistently, and ultimately experience better, longer-lasting results.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing our clientele base is a combination of consistent patient outcomes, and authentic word-of-mouth referrals.

In a field like acupuncture, especially when focusing on orthopedic and functional approaches, nothing speaks louder than results. When a patient who’s been living with chronic pain finally returns to the activities they love, they naturally share that experience with others. Over time, this has created a steady stream of referrals from patients, healthcare professionals, and even movement specialists who trust the integrative, results-driven nature of my approach.

That said, I’ve also focused on building relationships within the community—not just through marketing, but through service. I take time to educate patients about their bodies, offer tools they can use outside the clinic, and create an experience that feels personalized and empowering. This builds trust, and trust builds loyalty.

In addition, integrating functional movement therapy and orthopedic diagnostics has helped set my practice apart. Patients come in expecting relief—they leave with a plan, an understanding of how their body works, and a renewed sense of agency. That kind of experience naturally leads to referrals and retention.

Ultimately, it’s not just about getting people in the door—it’s about giving them something meaningful to walk away with. That’s what keeps a practice growing in a sustainable, values-driven way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://intuitive-acupuncture.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitiveacupuncture?igsh=NTc4MTlwNjQ2YQ==

Image Credits

Beehind.the.lens – Central Coast photographer Bradlee Simonaro