Have you had the opportunity to meet our newest acupuncturist and massage therapist, Roisin Thompson yet? We are so excited to have her as a part of our team. Roisin joined JADA back in February (maybe the worst time to start a new job, right!?) and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our studio. Maybe the most exciting part? She’s available weekday evenings! Roisin is treating patients at JADA West and would love to meet you. You can book with her here.
Because acupuncture is such a collaboration between the practitioner and the patient, it’s important that our patients feel 100% comfortable in their very first session. I LOVE Roisin and am so excited to have her as a part of our team, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to get to know her a bit as well! I sat down with her to chat about acupuncture, life, and more. Here's a recap of our conversation.
You’re from Florida, right? What brought you to Minnesota and how long have you been here?
I grew up in Florida and met my husband there. He’s in the Navy, so we’ve moved around a lot. We came here two years ago and since we have a choice this time, we’re planning to stay for a bit.
What brought you to acupuncture?
I have been using acupuncture for my general wellness since I was 19 years old. When I was looking for a career change in my early 30s I realized that every appointment I went to I was asking questions of the practitioner. That interest led me to looking at schools and then the rest just followed.
Why sports acupuncture?
I was a competitive swimmer for ten years and then got my BS in Exercise Science. While I initially went to acupuncture school because I loved how it treated the spirit, it turned out that what I was good at treating was pain. Luckily I had a great professor there who exposed me to some of the leading Sports Medicine work, which improved my basic orthopedic work as well.
Tell us a patient success story:
A graduated college football player was preparing for Pro Day (when the NFL scouts come to watch you work out). He had landed on his shoulder in his final Bowl Game and he was having trouble benching more than 12 reps of the prescribed 250 pounds due to pain. He was also concerned about a lingering high hamstring strain. We worked on those for about 2 months. He was also working with a strength coach, so there was a little back and forth in treatment as it was equally important to preserve his strength. He put up 25 reps on Pro Day. I saw him right afterwards on campus and he was really happy with that result.
What would you tell someone who is new to acupuncture?
To talk to me during the appointment. Some people feel things moving or they’ll feel the points themselves, while other people don’t feel a thing. Whatever you feel, if you have questions or if it’s new, ask me. I have a strict policy of patient comfort on my table, and that goes for being comfortable about what you’re experiencing too.
What does a typical treatment session look like with you?
We start by talking about whatever brought you in and then I’ll do some assessment to zero in on the problem source. Most of my appointments include both acupuncture and some hands on work. I’m also a massage therapist and I find putting the two together brings in better results. We may also incorporate some essential oils or cupping. I try to keep most appointments to an hour, but the initial one can go as long as 90 minutes.
Why did you choose to work at JADA Studios?
It was a lucky connection. Hilary was featured by an organization I’m learning from. We each have relationships with the instructors, so I reached out to her regarding some questions I had about integrating acupuncture into sports teams. She responded and then asked if I was interested in a conversation about joining her practice. I surprised myself and said yes immediately!
What’s your favorite thing to eat?
I don’t know if I have a favorite. I can’t function without my over-steeped Assam tea in the morning though!
Favorite podcast/tv show/movie?
Podcast: Not a big podcast person, but I’ll listen to anything featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, especially when she speaks about creativity.
TV Show: Current or the ones I’ve watched 1600 times? :) Right now I’m binging the Great British Baking Show. It’s a nice and easy one in troubling times.
Movie: hmmmm …. I can’t seem to get rid of my copy of Almost Famous. I love a good honest coming of age, especially with a great character cast.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m a big reader, mostly fiction. Unfortunately a lot of the things I love are paused right now; theater, dance, sporting events and live music, so I’m making do with Twins TV and music live streams. We have a 9 month old puppy, so a lot of time is spent trying to wear him out!