Acupuncture? And the point is...?

I'm back! After a little rest from blogging, I am back and ready to go! The last couple of weeks have been filled with experiments in de-stressing, relaxing, exhaling, just letting it go! You know what I mean?

In fact, I did something I've never done before. I tried acupuncture. Yep, I decided to give it a go and see what the point was. Pun absolutely intended!

Because I am cheap, I signed up for "Group Acupuncture." When I told John this he asked, "Does that mean that you sit around in a circle and the doctor says 'Okay everyone take a needle and poke the person to the right of you'?"

He's funny, but that was not it at all. I went into a dark room with five big chairs set around the room, all but one filled with quiet people. The chairs were a cross between a living room recliner and a lawn chair. I went to the empty one, sat down and leaned back. The acupuncturist, Cynthia, came to me and started whispering. She looked exactly like a hippie professor from Berkley. At least what I think a hippie professor from Berkley would look like.

"Robbie, I am going to start."

She showed me the needles, long and thin, and I promptly closed my eyes. No need to witness this.

As she did her thing, I felt very little except some pressure in my ears when she inserted the needles on the edges. That was weird. She finished and instructed me to lie still for an hour.

So as I sat there and listening to the Oriental music, I kept thinking that I would feel something. But I didn't. I prayed. I made a grocery list. I tried to breathe. But then she put on ocean sounds. Lots of waves crashing. It wasn't soothing. I just needed to use the restroom.

At 55 minutes I called her over to de-pin me so I could excuse myself. She did. Again, I felt nothing.

As I got into my car, I decided that the whole thing had been a waste of time. But I was glad I tried it.

THEN...I got home. As I was walking into my living room, I almost collapsed. My legs became jello and I felt this overwhelming urge to sleep. It was as if I'd taken a sleeping pill and it kicked in. I don't know when I've been more relaxed.

My friend Denise told me that I should do this every couple of weeks. She's done it and it changed her brain chemistry, built up her immune system and relaxed her.

So I am going to try again. It is good to keep an open mind about sticky situations like this, even if the point evades me. I can't be pinned down yet about my opinion on acupuncture, so don't needle me about it yet. (Sorry, but I had to.)

If you have an opinion or tips on acupuncture, I would love to know about it. Until Thursday, be blessed and CHOOSE JOY!