Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Martin.
Hi Iris, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Yoga Instructor, and the founder of VIM. It is my passion to help others feel their best.
I have a background in social services, psychology, and education. After working for nearly a decade with special needs children, I began studying and teaching yoga with the hopes of bringing more balance and peace into my life. Since 2008, I have been teaching a variety of yoga classes from Prenatal to Vinyasa flow in studios as well as in private settings. I have always been an athlete and played volleyball year-round growing up. My love of movement and sports was a natural precursor to my fascination with and study of the body.
I became inspired by personal experiences receiving acupuncture and decided to go back to school for my Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In acupuncture, I have found my true calling and I am blessed to be able to draw from knowledge gained in all parts of my personal and professional life. I focused on pain relief and pain management in school and received an additional certification in Sports Medicine. I studied under amazing teachers learning how to apply different techniques to speed healing time, increase range of motion, and decrease and eliminate pain. This medicine is such a practical tool for athletes and should be incorporated into training plans for optimal performance, injury prevention, and recovery. I love treating pain related to postural issues, ergonomics, and repetitive stress injuries as well.
I graduated from Five Branches University in Santa Cruz and worked for many years in Los Gatos, CA at a family-centered practice treating the full gamut of imbalances such as allergies, migraines, pain, digestive issues, etc. As our lives tend to inform our practices, this clinic also focused on fertility, prenatal, and postpartum care and I was fortunate to be a part of this group throughout my own fertility struggle and IVF pregnancy. Acupuncture was an integral part of my journey and this experience added a layer to my learning and expertise that I didn’t anticipate but am so grateful for. Being able to help patients facing similar challenges is one of the many silver linings of my personal journey. I will forever be passionate about helping women conceive and care for their bodies before, during, and after pregnancy.
In 2021, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. I found myself facing a new set of obstacles and an opportunity to blend my knowledge of eastern medicine with the aggressive but life-saving approaches of western medicine. I am now cancer-free and even more grateful for each day that I am here to love and serve. These “accidental” specialties have expanded me in ways that weren’t accessible before and have blessed me with the ability to more compassionately care for my patients.
In my spare time, I relish the young years with my rainbow baby and seek out new adventures with my husband. I love reading, exercising, traveling, and enjoying nature.
Alright, 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?
Covid was an interesting thing to navigate as a relatively new business owner. I realized that people needed to prioritize their health more than ever and they were really seeking this kind of care more actively. This reinforced what I already knew to be true. Preventative and alternative healthcare is the future. After the initial shock and fear, I felt that our services were very necessary and helpful for people during that stressful time. As an essential provider, I then moved into a place of gratitude that I could give people a space to come to help bolster their immune systems, treat mental health issues, chronic pain, get pre and postnatal care, and more.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I absolutely love working with women who are trying to conceive. This is definitely a passion because of my personal experiences. I love being a part of the success stories and seeing women through their pregnancy. I am also very passionate about postpartum care as I feel there is more emphasis, information, and services around getting and being pregnant. It is so important to be supported when the baby arrives as well, as this is a time when there are hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, many body changes, mood instability, and so forth. It can be very isolating for new mamas. I like to co-create a postpartum plan with expecting moms so that they have the space and time in the early weeks to connect with their babies while knowing that they have support around getting back on their self-care game.
I am proud of the connections I build with my patients. They know that I care very much about how they are feeling and doing and that I take my role as their provider seriously. It is very easy and common to feel like a number at various healthcare practices. I want my patients to feel like I know them and am invested in their success.
I am also so proud of the team of amazing women I work with. I started the practice in Pasadena in 2019 and then opened the second location in Carlsbad in 2022. I have been so blessed to find such talented practitioners to complement Chinese Medicine. In Pasadena and Carlsbad, we offer Massage Therapy, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and Private Yoga Instruction. The foundation of Vital Integrative Medicine is Customized Wellness. This means that we provide treatment plans for patients detailing a comprehensive approach to healing which includes multiple modalities. Some are offered in-house and we also refer out to a trusted network of practitioners in the community. My own path to healing has involved a team of practitioners and approaches and that is what I strive to provide for my patients. Some other modalities available at the Pasadena location include reiki, cranio-sacral therapy, and cosmetology. It is so fun to work and connect with these brilliant women and build programs for patients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vimheals.com
- Instagram: vim_heals
- Facebook: Vital Integrative Medicine
