Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Noelle Martin.
Angela Noelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ever since I was a young child, I can remember being really curious about health and wellness. I used to get recurring ear infections and had to take antibiotics often. I remember being an inquisitive child and asking the doctors why I was sick and what I could do to prevent getting sick (in little girl language, of course). As a teen and young adult, I struggled with acne and I remember the doctor prescribing many medications. I didn’t like taking the drugs, even then. I think on a subconscious level, I knew that they weren’t good for my system. I asked the dermatologist if there were any dietary changes I could make to help improve my acne and he said there was no correlation between diet and acne. That didn’t sound right to me, so I started investigating on my own. I realized certain foods seemed to aggravate my skin, while others didn’t. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the beginning of my interest in natural medicine, using food as therapy.
Fast forward 10+ years, I was 9 years out of undergrad and still thinking about health and wellness. I started researching going back to school for Massage Therapy. Around the same time, I had been waitressing for a few years and my back pain was flaring up. I started going to an Acupuncturist for the pain and after a series of treatments, I was 100% better. I started talking with my Acupuncturist about going back to school and she became my mentor. I realized that Chinese Medicine really made sense to me, with it theory rooted in Yin/Yang (balance) and the 5 elements. I have my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and I am a nature nerd so I felt, I was right at home with continuing my studies in Chinese Medicine.
More recently, I moved my 10 year-old Boston practice to Acton, MA, where I work close to home. I’ve expanded my services to health and wellness coaching as well. I love having this additional service and being able to serve more people.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business has its’ challenges. I graduated from Acupuncture School with very little business knowledge. Being from a family of small business owners, I felt that it was in my blood. I learned the basics from watching my parents and the rest was self-taught.
The biggest piece of advice I can give any woman starting a business is quite simple; believe in yourself. Know that the more confident you are, the more people will appreciate you and what you have to offer. Don’t ever fall for scarcity mindset. Know that there is an abundance of business for everyone and there is no need to compete when you are doing the work you were created to do. Work according to your standards and don’t compare yourself to other business owners in your profession; it takes too much energy away from creating a flourishing, successful business. You must work hard but know the difference between hard work and burn-out. Burn-out stifles your creative genius and will get in the way of having abundance in business.
I always get my ideal clients (the ones who are compliant, excited and committed to work with me), when I am practicing passionate self-care. For me, that means saying ‘NO’ often to commitments that are exhausting or simply, that I don’t want to do. I make sleep a priority and don’t schedule early clients. I know when my ideal time for clients is. I spend a lot of time outside in nature, because that is when I recharge and feel my best.
This took 10 years of learning and there is, undoubtedly, still more learning to do. It is tempting and exciting when you’re first starting out to say yes to everything, at least it was for me. If I could impart this experience with other women, perhaps they could save a lot of time and stress. Because in the end, we work so that we can have fun and enjoy life, right?
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Acupuncture of Boston at Healthy Channels – what should we know?
I have my Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which means I’m a Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist by training.
I never really had a specialty, but I did enjoy working with Women’s Health in the beginning of my practice and so I’ve had many fertility clients. I also see many pain patients, which I enjoy because acupuncture is so adept at relieving pain.
When a patient comes into my office, they get so much more than acupuncture and herbs. I can do all the acupuncture in the world on someone, but if their lifestyle is not healthy or their diet is aggravating, their leaky gut symptoms, I help patients navigate through finding a diet that will work for them. I also use supplementation in addition to herbs in my treatment plans. My approach is very holistic and I think that’s why patients appreciate coming to me.
Lately, I’ve been called to return to my roots and work with women again. I’ve expanded my services to include wellness coaching, to help women step into their power and gain confidence. The service is rooted in Chinese Medicine and I use the state of health as a baseline when I start to work with these clients. These clients come out of my programs feeling like they’ve shed a million pounds of fear and resistance and have the confidence to ask for what they want — more money, healthy boundaries and better relationships. My work as an acupuncturist is rewarding, but seeing these women shine and feel powerful is epic!
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
My parents taught me independence and autonomy. When I was 8 years old, my dad taught me how to use the washer and dryer and I was responsible for my own laundry. They taught me to be responsible for myself and my actions. They also worked hard in their businesses and I think their philosophies on work really rubbed off on me. I always had a job of some sort since I was 16. My parents told me that if I wanted money, I had to work for it.
I had many types of jobs until I became an acupuncturist; retail (my mom’s store and many others!), restaurants, surveying and drafting maps for my dad’s company, house cleaning, landscaping, barista, camp counselor, just to name a few. There was never a job too small. I also have my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, so in my early career, I taught kids and adults about the ecosystem and led many tours through the various ecosystems, including caves!
My Grandfather went to the same undergrad school as me, The College of Environmental Science and Forestry, in Syracuse, NY so my roots in loving nature and science go deep!
Pricing:
- Acupuncture, Initial Session: $160.
- Acupuncture, Follow-Up Session: $90.
Contact Info:
- Address: 525 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 5
Acton, MA 01720 - Website: http://www.AngelaNoelleMartin.com
- Phone: 617.824.0910
- Email: angela@acupuncturebostonma.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excitedlivingboston/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snowangelanoelle
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bostonacupunc
Image Credit:
Susan Symonds of Infinity Portrait Design
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