The Grounded Girl Interview Series Welcomes Johanna Jacobs Acupuncturist at The Lotus Cove Wellness Center

We are so excited to introduce our Grounded Girl for the month of March for Groundedco.

We look forward to sharing with you these amazing women in our community that are empowering and inspiring others.

I introduce to you Johanna Jacobs, Acupuncturist at The Lotus Cove Wellness Center a boutique wellness center that offers a collaborative and holistic approach to women’s health, with a specialization in sexual wellness.

 

 

Hi! I’m JOHANNA!

Groundedco: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business?

Johanna: Aloha! I am Johanna Jacobs. I am a full time Mom to two sweethearts ages 7 and 4, I instruct online classes for Everglades University’s Bachelors of Alternative Medicine program, and I am proudly a part of a beautiful women’s center called Lotus Cove Wellness in Boca Raton.

I have worked with children and families in a school setting as a teacher in a Montessori school from 2000-2011. This was the start of my adult journey as an observer of behavior as well as a guide and role model for children and their families. It was another teacher who introduced me to her holistic physician that steered me towards my academic career and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. There have been several times in my life where I have been divinely guided toward my next venture and The Montessori environment and Traditional Chinese Medicine have both been a blessing in this way. I am grateful for the opportunities!

Since 2005 I have been in practice as an Acupuncture Physician and have concentrated my care and support for women and families. Being a healthcare provider for women through life changes and transitions begins with listening and following my intuition.  Treatment for women’s physical as well as mental/emotional issues requires educating each patient on the importance of self-care as well as using acupuncture and other TCM modalities.  Self-care is the very center of a women’s strength, endurance, confidence and motivation. Preparing a lifestyle guide and/or routine with each patient that suits and supports their specific needs is essential to the care I provide. And I also feel wonderful to refer to the practitioners at Lotus Cove Wellness for complementary support.

 

Groundedco: Why did you want to become a holistic Acupuncture Physician specializing in women’s health and wellness? What’s next?

Johanna:  Everything fell into place following my first acupuncture experience. While at FAU studying psychobiology, during the time that I worked as a Montessori teacher, I was asking to feel more connected to a form of science that offered answers for healthcare concerns that I experienced throughout childhood. As a child I experienced a handful of reoccurring conditions that received little to no relief from antibiotics, humidifiers and nose cauterization.  Thankfully my mother refused the recommendation of having my tonsils and adenoids removed as well as placing tubes in my ears. It was quite an eventful childhood. Lots of missed days of school and visits to the pediatrician. Moving to Florida, maturing, following a healthier diet and overall, simply realizing the power I had to create my own comfort, health and wellness changed me. I was on a better path in my health, in my academic career and on my way toward becoming a holistic physician.

My introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine was gifted to me and my plan to begin studying to be an Acupuncture Physician was quick and easy. I transferred out of a Psychobiology program at FAU to immediately begin the Oriental Medicine program at the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine in Fort Lauderdale.

Specializing in women’s health was me seeking answers for my own benefit and using my experiences to guide other women. I am currently enrolled in a Women’s Herbal Program which I intend to add to my practice. Having a wall of dried herbs and creating remedies for specific care is my next venture.

 

Groundedco: Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?

Johanna: There have been many people along my journey that have influenced my choices and gave me confirmation as affirmations that I am on the right path. School friends and colleagues that have become family are truly my greatest inspirations. I see their growth and success and thank God that I have been guided into these wonderful relationships. Overall, the natural beauty in this world keeps me inspired to keep moving forward. I have been fortunate to see signs and receive messages from above that come to me in moments of enjoying the sky, the ocean, birds, even iguanas. I feel God’s presence and the presence of spirit which fuels me energetically and pumps me with gratitude. Being thankful can certainly bring great inspiration!

Groundedco: What is your favorite way to stay active?

Johanna: Active as in physically active? A good sweat is uplifting and motivating so I stay balanced with several forms of exercise: kickboxing, yoga, walking the beach, bike riding and just playing with my kids. I absolutely enjoy sitting around and vegging but only after hours of outdoor work and/or play. My happy place is the beach. I have had a lot of wonderful moments of appreciation and gratitude while walking the beach.

As far as my practice and staying active in the holistic field I stay busy with keeping conversations open amongst friends and colleagues. Fem City has been a great way to expand my referral list and to support the community and local business. I am an online instructor for two courses, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Principles of Acupuncture, which also keeps me busy and active in teaching the greatness that TCM has to offer. It is wonderful to be a part of educating both patients in my practice and future holistic practitioners in the Alternative Medicine Program at Everglades University.

 

Groundedco: Of all the Treatment Techniques (acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, guasha, cupping, food therapy, herbal remedies, essential oils and injection therapy (B12) that you offer which one would you say is the most beneficial for most women, and why?

Johanna: Oh, they are all equally beneficial because they all share the same intention of moving our vital life force, qi, and blood to support the body’s natural rhythm. I feel like I use that term all the time…” the body’s natural rhythm”. It’s true though! We all have a rhythm, and it is important for us to be mindful of our self-care to nurture our interior environment. And when imbalance is present our choices can alter the internal environment to keep us comfortable and well.

According to TCM there are Four Pillars of Diagnosis for Practitioners to use in practice. I educate patients on what their imbalances present from a TCM perspective. The patient and I chat and discuss how to improve their condition with improved choices in their self-care with emphasis on sleep, food choices, exercise and stress management techniques. I do my absolute best to work with each patient in creating a system that works best for their lifestyle and intentions.

 

Groundedco: What is one or some of the biggest challenges you have had and how have you overcome them?

Johanna: I absolutely love supporting women and families and come across challenges that require me to do some research, check in with colleagues and ask more from patients. I feel confident in all of this. It is the business side that keeps me in a learning pattern. I’m getting better at marketing and putting myself out there on social media which these days is essential to growing your practice and keeping patients in the know.

I have moved my practice around a bit since having my kids but thankfully I have been guided in every step and I am grateful for all those that I have worked with leading me to where I am now with Lotus Cove Wellness.

The biggest challenge for me over the past 7 years has been managing my expectations in business part time as a full-time mom. I know I am not alone in this struggle, so it has been great help to have my friends and colleagues who empathize and offer words of wisdom and kindness in times when I have felt guilt or shame in my choices and/ or not meeting my own or others’ expectations. Thank God for women supporting women groups, friends and colleagues! Men generally are not in full understanding of the effort and drive that woman seize to make it all happen.

Life and my thoughts are easier now since both my children are in school until 2PM but before this I was seeing patients, taking my children to classes and playdates, teaching online while they nap or after their bedtime, keeping the house in order, blah, blah, blah… All in all, a work in progress is a good place to be while in business as a mom. Happy to find balance in our days and I always welcome advice from women who have more life experiences.

 

Groundedco: What is your favorite thing about being a holistic Acupuncture Physician?

Johanna: Oh, easy question! My favorite thing about being a holistic physician is having a holistic perspective to share with patients and offering practical options for improving their health and wellness. And of course, there’s the joy of being a part of patient’s acupuncture experience. Qi sensations are amazing! And the Zen feeling many receive from a 25-minute session opens the doors to great relief, regulation of Qi and blood flow which fosters physical comfort, mental clarity and positive reinforcement for patient goals and intentions.

Groundedco: If you could pick any place in the world to be and stay grounded, where would it be and why?

Johanna: Another Easy one! Hawaii! My mother was born and raised outside of Honolulu, so I have been spending time in Hawaii since I was 2. If you are feeling like you need to be grounded, as in reconnecting to your inner voice, your core and foundation to all things then take a trip to Hawaii and experience the land, the water and the spirit of Aloha.

Aloha means “the presence of breath” or “breath of life”. Aloha encompasses love, friendship, fellowship, compassion, peace and affection. The Spirit of Aloha is real and alive in Hawaii and most people that have visited Hawaii will tell you the same.  Their likeminded views and existing tendency toward centeredness and connection amongst all people allows them to experience the spirit of Aloha in all its awesomeness. I bring Aloha into my acupuncture practice and in basically everything I do. For me it’s an appreciation for diversity and seeing the common thread through all people. Aloha is welcoming!

There are all kinds of people in this world, and we are all connected. I tell my kids this whenever I see that they have been presented with strong opinions of others. Kids develop opinions about others based on what they hear and what they are taught. I want my kids to be accepting, inclusive of others, aware of similarities as well as differences they observe and of course to be mindful of their words and actions…basically I want my kids to be in line with Groundedco!

I can see myself living in Hawaii in the future when my kids are out of school but for now, I love the little beach town that I moved to in 1997. To me Boca Raton will always be that little beach town because I pretty much live in a bubble with family and friends. The beach here is amazing and although there are no majestic, sharp-edged mountains and few double rainbows South Florida beaches allow for that natural connection to being grounded, grateful and blessed.

Groundedco: As a holistic Acupuncture Physician specializing in women’s health and wellness, what advice can you give women that are seeking to start treatment?

Johanna: Come in for a consultation and commit to making positive change! It’s an easy step if you are ready and, in a place, to gain more self-appreciation and self-love. As I stated above, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities are supported by lifestyle choices. And I am ready and available to support any woman presenting with an ailment or life challenge that requires acupuncture and assessing lifestyle choices.