Conversations with the Inspiring Olivia Fellus, L.A.c, Dipl.OM

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Fellus, L.A.c, Dipl.OM.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Olivia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The inner mechanisms of the human body always fascinated and humbled me. I grew up watching hospital documentaries. With rapt attention, my eyes keenly followed the doctor’s unwavering hand, entering the intimate tapestry of organs laid out before her, poised to remove foreign masses or untangle constrictions and restoring flow within the body. I knew it then. I wanted to become a surgeon. After earning my undergraduate degree in Russian Language and Literature at UCLA, I moved back to my hometown in San Diego and completed my post-baccalaureate premedical studies at SDSU. I took the MCATS and was deeply entrenched in the application process whilst simultaneously taking an EMT course.

During this entire process, I spent time volunteering in hospitals. As I watched doctors hurriedly flitting about from room to room, seeing crying patients wheeled into operating rooms, my senses overwhelmed with the all the chaotic energy, I felt a strange disconnect. This unsettling feeling persisted, yet I buried it and resolutely plowed onward with my goal, refusing to quit. Meanwhile, I was becoming more and more unhappy. It was only during one of my first yoga sessions that I felt a shift within myself, having the courage to admit to myself that I was too sensitive for the hospital environment, and decided to pursue a holistic healing path more in line with my truth: Chinese Medicine. I was enthralled with this 2,000-year-old life philosophy: of the mind, body and spirit connection between disease processes, and how each organ and system is intimately related to another, existing in a delicate yet dynamic balance. The ancient Chinese philosophical view of man being a conduit between heaven and earth strongly aligned with my own views as reflected by my Jewish upbringing, that humanity has a direct effect on the environment and in turn is affected by the environment; that the human body is a tiny world, reflecting the microcosm of the universe. We are all connected. I learned that the insertion of thin acupuncture needles into various points of the body reestablishes the body’s natural healing abilities by unblocking stasis and restoring flow. It was not long into my 4-year intensive medical training that I realized I indeed was becoming a surgeon.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey towards becoming a healer is never smooth, and any doctor, surgeon, psychologist, reiki master, or yoga instructor will express the same sentiment. This is because as a healer one is naturally required to face his or her own shadow. You cannot heal others unless you endeavor to heal yourself. In my case, I had many opportunities to meet many of my own self-limiting beliefs and overcome self-limiting behaviors throughout my path, especially in regards to self-love. I have found that, paradoxically, retrieving all the parts of myself that I had once abandoned as unworthy, helped me reach a place of deep self-acceptance. By embracing all facets of myself, whilst striving to improve, has helped me cultivate self-love. In turn, I am better able to understand and help others. Therefore, I find that the patients who thrive the most are the ones who are willing to look within, and feel their pain. The next step is having the courage to show up and do the work to release that pain, whether it be physical or emotional. My advice for young women pursuing a path in healing is to be kind to themselves and to practice honesty, especially self-honesty. It is so much easier to lie to oneself. Being truthful to oneself (with respect and sensitivity towards others) is the most healing balm. You deserve that for yourself.

What should we know about Ascend Healing? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I own and operate a private Chinese Medicine practice in East Village, Downtown San Diego, called Ascend Healing. I am double board certified (in California and nationwide) to practice acupuncture and herbology. I treat a variety of ailments, from physical pain from chronic or acute injuries to women’s issues such as hormonal imbalance, anti-aging, digestive issues, and depression/anxiety. I tend to specialize in treating emotional issues and cultivating self-acceptance. I utilize a variety of healing modalities within my acupuncture treatments, including moxibustion, Chinese herbs, massage, essential oil aromaacupoint therapy, visualization, crystal therapy and more. In my treatments, I endeavor to instill within my patients a deep feeling of comfort so that they can let go of the outside world for a while and just be. I also endeavor to convey genuine, unconditional acceptance and compassion towards all who enter my clinic. My greatest wish is for each person to leave the treatment feeling nourished and truly heard.

I also have a raw herbal apothecary and have created my own unique personal line of topical herbal healing salves, which are available for purchase online. I have taught workshops centering on the art of self-healing, and I am passionate about educating others and empowering others to heal trust and heal themselves, through Chinese Medicine. My salves come with instructions on the method of application, utilizing various acupuncture/acupressure points on the body in conjunction with topical herbal therapy, to help alleviate pain, digestive issues, anxiety, etc, based on the function of the particular salve. My most popular salve is my MOON COLLECTION, inspired by the full moon and the different emotions this time of month tends to evoke. My moon salve is a wonderful compliment to one’s meditation practice, or before bedtime. My wish is to teach others that they have all the tools to help alleviate their own suffering. Granted, outside support is healthy, at times essential. Man is not an island, and reaching out to others builds community and soulful connection. But how empowering is it to know that you can have your own back in times of need?

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Yes, I do feel that there are opportunities in media for women, especially in regards to self-empowerment via entrepreneurship. There are many women creators who are opening up small businesses in their chosen line of work. Being a small business owner has its challenges, and there is much adversity out there. I feel that the more we network with and support one another in our mutual growth, the more we can thrive! I am blessed to be surrounded by strong, business savvy, creative and supportive women in the healing arts, with whom I can relate, brainstorm, and share ideas. At the end of the day, we are all striving towards the same goal: helping others to heal, and infusing more brightness into the world. I personally feel empowered when seeing other women shining their light. It inspires me to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1050 Island Ave
  San Diego, CA 92101
• Website: www.ascendhealing.com
• Phone: 6199878967
• Email: lvfellus@gmail.com
• Instagram: ascendhealing
• Facebook: Olivia Fellus, L.A.c, Ascend Healing

                                                                  Image Credit:
Joni Conner, Monique Feil

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