Today we’d like to introduce you to Yesika Bravo.
Yesika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As long as I can remember, I have always had an inclination towards helping other people. At a young age, that opportunity came in many forms. I would volunteer with the local women’s shelter, bring toys and clothes to kids in impoverished areas in Dominican Republic and Ecuador, or helping family and friends who felt ill feel better. I remember my mother telling her friends I had “healing hands” when I would offer to massage their aching backs. As I grew older my interests changed and I was consumed in the world of technology for a brief period before being called back towards more medical interests.
I became very interested in the world of Sports Medicine during my last two years in high school. I went on to get my B.S. in Athletic Training from Merrimack College with my sights set on becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon. During my time there I had the wonderful opportunity to shadow the Orthopedic Surgeon, that was affiliated with our school, in the O.R. throughout my senior year. It was a wonderful experience I am grateful for to this day. One reason being, it made me realize I did not want to become an Orthopedic Surgeon! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty amazing and exciting job, in my opinion. However, I saw things most people never get the opportunity to see and I realized this was a very intense and invasive course of treatment for the patients. I knew there had to be a better way! There had to be a way to help people feel their best and possibly even avoid the surgeries all together.
So, I spent the next year after graduation looking for another way to help people from a more holistic approach. I knew I was interested in learning herbal medicine since I was raised on natural home remedies my grandparents would make if I ever felt ill. That’s when acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine came into the picture. I looked for a program, found the New England School of Acupuncture, sent in my application and the rest is history! I found my life’s calling in the wonderful healing arts of Chinese and Japanese Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, and I could not be happier, doing what I love every day!
Has it been a smooth road?
I wish I can say it has been a smooth road, but that would be far from the truth! Getting in to the New England School of Acupuncture seemed like smooth sailing and all signs pointed to it being the right move for me. However, once I started the program it was a different story. Commuting from New Hampshire down to Newton, MA in and of itself was a challenge. There were days I would spend about 12+ hours at the school for my numerous classes. I was newly engaged and planning my wedding during my first year in the program which also added another twist. My husband and I got married at the end of that first year. We only had a week of honeymoon bliss before I was hit by the second year train and was taking on all three of the programs offered by NESA. Being newlywed, taking a full course load, late nights studying and long commutes to and from school do not make for a good combination and can put a strain on any relationship. I ended up making the decision to delay the Chinese Herbal Medicine track for one year in order to give myself a break and reduce some of the stress and tension I was experiencing. Even though that added an additional year to my training, it was probably one of the best decisions I made during my 4 years of Acupuncture School. Classes were tough, clinical rotations were challenging, and board exams were absolutely brutal … but I have to say, looking back, I loved every minute of it and would do it all over again!
After graduating with my Masters in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, there were fewer struggles but they were of a completely different nature. Now I was on my own and had to find my own patients. Thankfully I had officially started my business while I was still in school so the tedious part of starting up a new business was already taken care of. I had done some work with the help of my mom, who has run multiple businesses over the years, to get my name out in the community and let people know that I would be opening an acupuncture practice. Luckily, during this process, I met a chiropractor, Dr. Craig MacFarland, who happened to have a room available for rent in his office. The space was just what I was looking for! Shortly after graduating I had my space up and running, I would say it has been mostly smooth sailing ever since.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Bravo Holistic Healing story. Tell us more about the business.
I started my business, Bravo Holistic Healing, while I was still in school. I had a few certifications under my belt that I could use to start helping people and start to establish a patient base before graduating. I was a Reiki Practitioner, Certified in Auriculotherapy and a Certified Personal Trainer. I had clients here and there as school was the priority and took up most of my time. Upon graduating with my Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine I was able to easily transition into work mode. Bravo Holistic Healing became and is now my growing private acupuncture practice. I still do Reiki Healing and Auriculotherapy in my practice and for some time I was also still doing some Personal Training, but Acupuncture has become the main focus of my practice. One unique aspect about my practice is that I always incorporate Reiki into the Acupuncture treatments to enhance the effects for the patient.
I see a lot of patients with orthopedic conditions, which ties in nicely with my Sports Medicine background.
However, I do treat patients with a variety of conditions from digestive disorders to insomnia, anxiety and much more. I believe one of the things that sets my practice apart from others is my Needle-Free Acupuncture approach where I use non-insertive acupuncture tools instead of traditional acupuncture needles. I use this treatment style for many of my patients who are either needle-phobic or needle-sensitive. I do some treatments completely needle-free or a combination of needle-free acupuncture in areas where a patient is sensitive and traditional acupuncture needling in other areas. This also carries over to my pediatric patient population which also receives needle-free treatments until they are either old enough or express interest in trying traditional acupuncture. I would have to say treating children is one of my favorite parts of my job.
The thing I am most proud of as a business owner, the best part about my job, is the flexibility that comes from running my own practice so that I can spend time with my 16 month old son. I count myself lucky to have such an awesome little guy and some pretty amazing patients who have made this mom-work-life balance so easy. My son has made a regular appearance at the office, since he was 2 months old, whenever I have had a light schedule. He is the best office assistant!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Over the next 5-10 years, I see more people turning to Acupuncture and herbal medicine as their primary source of care for prevention and treatment. In some states, Acupuncturists are already considered, and can be selected by the patient, to be primary care providers. All it takes is continuing to educate the public on all the wonderful benefits these healing arts have to offer. I believe as Acupuncturists we have a big responsibility in the future of our healthcare system. Our approach to care is centered around the whole person and not just the individual concern or disorder that brought them in for treatment. If we continue to do our part in educating the community and providing the best care to our patients, I know we will begin to see a greater acceptance from our colleagues in Western Medical professions and a greater number of patients seeking out our holistic approach for their primary care needs.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6 Mary E. Clark Dr., Unit 8
Hampstead, NH 03841 - Website: http://bravoholistichealing.com
- Phone: 978-999-2449
- Email: yesika@bravoholistichealing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravoholistichealing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bravoholistichealing
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bravo-holistic-healing-hampstead
- Other: bravoholistichealing.janeapp.com
Image Credit:
Jason Kissel
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