We recently connected with Namrata Chansarkar and have shared our conversation below.

Namrata , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

Today I want to share my journey of establishing my MatruSparsh Acupuncture Clinic in Encinitas. Four years ago, I graduated from Pacific college of Oriental Science, San Diego. In my previous career in biotechnology I had zero experience to set up a firm or practice, so when I was graduating I had no idea how, when, where I will be practicing acupuncture but what I knew for sure is, it will happen and I will work thru it.

Completing the Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine was exciting but long, tedious journey. I felt burned out by the time I passed my acupuncture board exam. Once I had my license in my hand, I felt the clock was ticking….

Apart from my acupuncture board license, to set up a health care provider’s practice there is lot of logistic involved. First of all, I needed a name to my practice which took form with some introspection and brainstorming with friends and family.

Then one needed a lot of permits with city, county, insurance, finding a place, finding right people to work with, getting all the paperwork set, fine tuning all the patient forms, and etc.  Though I stumbled a lot, the best resource I used was the free consultations from Score.org. I strongly recommend them for any help with setting up a new practice. To gather all the words of wisdom, I also talked with lot of other health care practitioners and observed few as well. .

A few months after my license, I had all the permits and I found a place to practice. Every time I talked with someone they would ask about my website. By this time, I had exhausted all my saving…. so couldn’t afford to pay someone for a website or a professional photo shoot. So, my husband and my daughter clicked some of the pictures at home and my son created a website. I wrote all the content for my website and I took all the pictures of my subject content such as acupuncture, cupping, and Moxa. It was tons of work and was overwhelmingly hectic. Without the grit I couldn’t have got here today to my happy place with my patients at MatruSparsh Acupuncture.

My biggest challenge was social media and community outreach. I am an introvert by true nature and my presence on social media was none. It was out of my comfort zone to share regularly on social media as well. But over the past four years,  I became busily active on social media. I certainly feel sharing regularly on social media has made me visible. My presence on social media has helped me build relationships, share knowledge, and reach masses across the world. I also offer Tele-health or phone consultations for diet and lifestyle recommendations. I find it very fulfilling to help my patients across the globe.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My personal battle fueled a passion for a new type of care. I was introduced to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine by my oncologist. After experiencing a serious health battle, acupuncture was a life changer for me and was pivotal in restoring health naturally. I left my successful biotechnology career behind in 2012. I explored multiple different holistic healing modalities to feel better for my own healing, read a lot on holistic health and received twice-week acupuncture for a couple of years without fail. I was in a healing incubator, receiving, receiving and receiving.

When life shakes you up, life questions come up. From a busy, proud multitasker who is always on the go to a quiet meditator, I wondered what is the purpose of life!

I come from a science background where my first master’s was in Nutritional Sciences (from India). Then I completed a masters in Biotechnology from U.B.C., Vancouver, British Columbia, and worked in the biotechnology industry until 2010. At the time, my analytical, inquisitive ‘science’ mind had a hard time believing that acupuncture can be therapeutic. I used to ask a lot of questions to my acupuncturist, and they were really kind to direct me to the right source to suffice the thirst to know how it works! I followed a lot of practitioners (MDs, ND, Functional medicine practitioners, chiropractors, energy healers, and etc.) who practice holistic health, which helped me gain a better understanding of integrative medicine

Being a perpetual student, I read (a lot), meditated, and used all my senses to soak in the knowledge that is out there. One day I decided to take on this new journey and applied and joined Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego. Considering my health situation, I was initially apprehensive about how and when I would be able to complete this intense program. But one day at a time, I lived with conscious intention to pave forward my own unique path.

To become a licensed acupuncturist in California, one goes thru an intense program of ~47-semester credits in Oriental Medical Theory (diagnosis and treatment techniques, acupuncture, Chinese herbology), ~22 semesters in clinical training, and ~30-semester credits in biomedical sciences. After finishing masters of science in traditional oriental medicine (MSTOM), we have to pass a California state licensing exam which is a daylong proctored exam similar to other medical board exams.

Along with MSTOM, I also completed my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM), passed my National Acupuncture Board Exam and California Board State Exam.

Pain, Pain, Pain… Pain is what brings patients in at MatruSparsh Acupuncture Clinic. I treat a lot of pain! Commonly treated conditions related to pain are migraines, low back pain, neck pain, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, carpal tunnel, abdominal pain, TMJ, knee pain, ankle pain, planters fasciitis and shoulder pain.

Along with pain, I am treating a lot of post COIVD (residual) symptoms such as throat pain, cough, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, overall malaise, chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular period and headache.

Helping women with women’s health issue is my lifetime commitment. I am always excited to help regulate periods, help with fertility, make women menses pain free (period pain is NOT natural), help with postpartum (an important stage of women’s life) and make women’s menopause experience cool and lively! It is my passion to support breast cancer patient reclaim their life.

Along with Acupuncture, I integrate lifestyle changes like exercise, yoga, breathing, nutrition and supplementation to bring harmony and wellbeing in our lives.

I absolutely love what I do. It is a blessing to have alignment of life’s purpose, passion and profession to help everyone reach their best potential.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson unlearned is I am not part of anybody’s story. I am just the observer of other’s story and of my own story as well. The lesson learned here is of detachment, un-tanglement from the drama of life. 

 Everyone has their own story, a journey and a destination. Although I can’t control it, I can only support it by holding the space with loving, kindness and compassion. Healing happens ‘within’ with inner peace and harmony. Chinese medicine and acupuncture are tools to bring balance in health.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I take immense pleasure to announce that this summer is our 4 year anniversary of MatruSparsh Acupuncture clinic. Although the track to get here was painstakingly slippery. I cherished every step, every part of it. Every smile, every text, every review from my patients who keep me going.

Being genuine, honest, is the first and most important trait I think helped me to get here. When one is genuine and honest one builds a rapport with patient which lead to mutual trust. Without trust I can’t buy in patient compliance.

Consistency, is very important in building a health care practice. It didn’t matter if I had one patient or 10 patients on a given day showing up for each of them on time has helped me build my reputation. By showing up, I mean fully present with them when I am with them.

Patient empowerment: Compassionate ear leads to compassionate care. Listening is first step to understanding. With understanding we build a relationship of trust and with trust comes compliance. I always say to my patients,” You are with yourself 24/7and you are with me 1-2 hours of the week, so who has more power to influence your health (me or you)?” I truly believe that we all have the power to heal our self, sometimes we just need little bit of guidance to find our own way when we are off balance. I emphasize a lot on healthy balanced lifestyle in my practice. I try to do my best to hold the space to help my patients find their ‘strengths,’ their ‘super powers,’ and their insights to their inner light. I keep reminding them that they have the power to heal, I am just a conduit to help them reset.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.matrusparshacupuncture.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matru_sparsha_acupuncture/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatruSparshAcupunctureHealthWellnesClinicEncinitas
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namrata-chansarkar-2097601a?original_referer=
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuFKR_pfkaQ
• Other: http://sdvoyager.com/interview/check-out-namrata-chansarkars-story/

Image Credits
P.C. Dinesh Chansarkar
Joni Conner