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.
Dream On
2 hours ago
