I know many of you have been getting to know Tara and Kat, our other two lovely practitioners at the clinic. We have posted their bios on our webpage and many of you have been receiving wonderful treatments from them. We are definitely coalescing into a harmonious team. The clinic continues to be beautified and organized by Leah, our administrator, and her wonderful touch. The clinic is looking and feeling better than ever!

A few weeks ago, I did a newsletter about myself and shared some of my history and journey towards becoming the practitioner I am today. In this newsletter, Kat and Tara will be sharing stories about their backgrounds and journeys toward becoming community Acupuncturists. It has been a joy for me to get to know them both. I hope you enjoy getting to know them a bit better as well.

Practitioner Bios

Tara Bunch

A little bit about me!

My journey to become an Acupuncturist by way of massage therapist began as a tourist in Peru. I was on a celebratory trip with friends, and on a whim we all decided to get a massage. I went to my appointment with the intention of having a quiet 90 minutes of relaxation. But what I received was so much more. A transformational experience that changed my life. This session was so therapeutic, I thought three people were in the room healing every ache and pain that I had. In the end, I felt such a sense of wholeness and joy. I wanted to somehow bring that feeling to the world.

Growing up, I never knew what I wanted to do or what I wanted out of life. Even as a student at Howard University in Washington, DC I felt like a lost soul. I always had faith that there would be a moment in time that my path would reveal itself. Indeed, on that massage table in Peru, my journey was revealed. The experience was so enriching that at that moment I knew that I wanted to be a part of bringing profound healing to others. Upon my return to the states, I immediately enrolled in school for massage therapy. That education opened my world view to the power of healing touch, spirit and energy. As a massage therapist, I witnessed people soften as they relaxed into a parasympathetic state. I felt their pain leaving the body, and most importantly, saw the peace and serenity on their faces at the end of the session. Yet, I still wanted to do more for the healing of humanity, so I explored what I believe to be the pinnacle of healing, Chinese medicine. My research on schools led me to Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts, here in Asheville. Where I received my Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I fell in love with Asheville immediately. And I am honored and excited to be working with this group of amazing souls.

In my spare time, you’ll find me reading up on Chinese Medicine (the subject is so vast) and on bodywork. I would love to be able to tell you that I hike these beautiful mountains, but that would be untrue. You’re more than likely to catch me on a mid-morning walk on the very flat French Broad River Greenway. 🙂

Kat Harrod

The idea that needles placed in the body could not only move energy, but also bring a sense of well-being and healing, was so far from how I had ever thought about or understood the body. I went to an Acupuncturist, and couldn’t believe it. Not only was the experience fairly gentle, but I felt great afterwards – so calm and centered. This of course fed into my interest, so I began to find books on Chinese Medicine and read what I could about it. One of the things I quickly discovered was that this was not just a system of healing; it was the place where Chinese philosophy (including their understanding of the universe and how the human related to the world around them) intersected with the traditional Chinese understanding of the human body and health.The Tao Te Ching is a pretty foundational part of this understanding. Or maybe a better way to say that is: the teachings of the Tao Te Ching are representative of a way of thinking that is foundational to Chinese Medicine. Either way, it brought me back to the Tao Te Ching, which is where this whole thing had started for me. I loved learning about Chinese Medicine and began considering whether I should attend a Chinese Medicine school to become an Acupuncturist.

Fast forward a few years, and more life experience, and I found myself having some health issues. I decided I would go see an Acupuncturist, since it had been at least a year or more since I had been to one. After seeing this Acupuncturist 3 or 4 times, I was starting to see some big shifts in my health – not only was I feeling better physically, but I had more energy and was feeling less ‘stuck’ in my life and in my mind. I was also going through a lot of transitions in my life at this point and looking for some new direction, especially in regard to work. I wanted to find something that not only stimulated my interest and my intellect, but also allowed me to use my skills to be of service to others. After the powerful impact that the Acupuncture and herbs had on my health, and some self-reflection, prayer, and serious thought; I realized that there was a lot happening in my life that was pointing me toward Acupuncture school. This career path aligned with all of the values and skills that I was looking for in a profession. I knew it was the right time and right direction.

In 2016, I moved from Eugene, Oregon to North Carolina and started studying Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at the Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine in Sugar Grove, NC. I graduated in 2020, and moved to the Asheville area 2 months later. After practicing Acupuncture in Black Mountain and as a mobile clinic for 2 years, I was feeling like I wanted to be with other Acupuncturists and to be a part of something beyond just my own practice. I found the People’s Acupuncture of Asheville and knew it could be a great fit. Working for a community Acupuncture practice was appealing to me for many reasons, but one of the big ones was the sense of being a part of a clinic that focuses on supporting the community by making Acupuncture more affordable and accessible. I am grateful to have found this clinic and to be working with all of you.

Clinic Reminders

• Please wear loose fitting clothes to your appointments
• If you use blankets during your treatments, please bring one from home
• We have appointments available – booking online is quick & easy