Friday, April 23, 2010

Big Prick on Campus

Okay, I admit to having a little fun thinking up a heading for this post but sometimes I just can’t help myself. When I read this story by Pete Pichaske in the Laurel Leader about the plans for the TAI Sophia Institute to morph into a full blown university I immediately thought back to my first acupuncture treatment.

Once you get over the idea of being pricked with tiny needles it’s actually pretty awesome.

Bob Duggan and Dianne Connelly started the Center for Traditional Acupuncture in Columbia in 1975 in the American City Building in Town Center. For awhile they also operated a coffee shop and bookstore in the space that is now the Lakeside Café.

“In 1980, the couple began teaching acupuncture, and six years later was accredited to bestow Master of Acupuncture degrees. New clinics were added, enrollment grew and offerings were further expanded to include master’s programs in Herbal Medicine and Applied Healing Arts.”

In 2000 they changed their name to the TAI Sophia Institute.

In fact my acupuncture treatment was with one of their graduates, Karen Johnson, who operates The Acupuncture Alternative out her home in Columbia in the Village of Kings Contrivance.

In 2002 they moved out of Town Center to a new 32,000 square foot facility in the Montpelier Business Park near Maple Lawn.

“Tai Sophia now has its own library, herb dispensary, meditation garden and herb garden. It has 20 treatment rooms for patients seeking acupuncture, massage, nutritional counseling and craniosacral therapy (manipulation of the spine and skull). It has a network of clinics, including locations in Silver Spring and Baltimore, and, like any budding university, financial aid and admissions offices.”

They are now planning to “become the first university based in Howard County — and the first “wellness university” in the country.”

I wonder if they’ll field any sports teams.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder what their mascot will be?

Anonymous said...

While you're there, don't drink the kool aid.....

Anonymous said...

"Follow the watch with your eyes as it swings back and forth. You'll find your eye lids getting heavy...."

Seriously, if this...stuff...really worked, wouldn't we all be doing it? I mean, like a couple thousand years of history indicates...FAIL.

Anonymous said...

Actually, this stuff has worked for thousands of years.....just not in Europe or the new world. We are johnny-come-latelies when acupunture and eastern holistic wellness is concerned. Once we grasp the techniques for reducing stress, improving our flexibility, improving our eating habits and concentrate on wellness, we will relieve ourselves of a huge number of self and societal induced illnesses.
Go Sophia!
HH

Anonymous said...

Anon 1 05, maybe it works as a deterrent. If you don't eat right and exercize, you'll have to visit the place where they stick pins through your skin. eeech.

Seriously, though. How do you know the pins are clean?

Freemarket said...

"How do you know the pins are clean?"

I would rely on Peter Beilenson to protect me. I would not ask the service provider any questions.

Anonymous said...

You know the pins are clean because they come in individual packages that the acupuncturist opens in front of you. Jeez.