Marina Gan- Acupuncturist, Yogi, Mother, Maker, Homesteader

We recently sat down with long-time Ruscombe practitioner Marina Gan for an update on her practice, and what’s going on in her world. Ruscombe has so many creative individuals practicing their healing craft in our lovely mansion, and it’s inspiring to learn how they incorporate a healing presence into their daily lives.

Ruscombe: Hi Marina, let’s start with a little background about yourself and your practice.

Marina Gan: I received my Master of Acupuncture training at the Tai Sophia Institute (Now Maryland University of Integrative Health) and have been licensed in Maryland and in practice for 15 years. My acupuncture practice is informed by nearly 20 years of yoga teaching and practice, as well as study in meditation. I also have a deep personal interest in nutrition and the ways in which we nourish our bodies as well as the deeper less tangible aspects of our ourselves. I am passionate about empowering my clients to understand and learn from their bodies, and I am devoted to helping the people I work with experience greater ease, purpose, and awareness. 

R: How did you come to your specific practice?

MG: I like to say that I experienced the closest thing I can imagine to a “calling”. I had just received a handful of acupuncture treatments from a friend who at the time was a student at the Tai Sophia Institute, in the clinical phase. It was my first experience with five element acupuncture. We had a family friend while I was growing up who was an acupuncturist, so it was not foreign to me, but I had never received anything other than acute one-off treatments. During the time I was receiving weekly acupuncture treatment at Tai Sophia, I was completing my final pre-requisites for an entirely different graduate program, which I was to begin in a couple of months. We planned a short break from my acupuncture treatments while we both did some traveling, and, a series of completely serendipitous and unexpected events led me to feel an unwavering conviction that I needed to change course, and study acupuncture. Within weeks I unenrolled from the program I was about to begin, and applied to acupuncture school. 

Continue reading “Practitioner Profile: Marina Gan”

 In-person Drop-in Classes with Mira Tessman

Fourth Wednesday Evening of the Month 

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM 

March 27, April 24, May 29, June 26, July 24

Mindful Meditation is the art and science of an ancient practice for living with the challenges of these modern times. Each month, we will explore a mindfulness topic and practice skills that support awareness and acceptance of life’s unfolding moments and that offer insights and wisdom to guide our engagement, decisions, and actions. Practicing with like-minded folks on the path together helps us travel much further. Let’s journey on the path together.

No charge

Suggested Donation $10-15

Community Hall at Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center

More info: https://tinyurl.com/3cvah3w9

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

African Proverb

The Eightfold Path of the Buddha’s teachings offer us skills that can guide us towards greater equanimity. As we practice and become more skillful at taming our thoughts and recognizing our patterns of thinking, noticing the stirrings of emotions and body sensations, we are better able to pause habitual reactivity and make more mindful choices about how to respond effectively with greater understanding and compassion.

While a daily mindfulness meditation practice helps us cultivate more skillful means of quieting the mind and body, practicing in community as a sangha helps us to strengthen developing skills and apply them meaningfully in our daily lives and relationships with others.

Free parking lot on the east side of Yellowwood Ave. and free street parking. Follow signs to the “Community Hall” on the ground level off of the parking lot.

Restrooms are located on the first floor hallway. Leave shoes outside of the Meditation Hall entrance. Back jacks, chairs, and small bolsters are available. Or if you prefer, bring your own meditation cushion. Masks are optional and suggested at times when Covid infections are on the rise. If you have cold or flu symptoms, please stay home and take care of yourself.

Please share this good news with others who may be interested.