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Meet Andrea Penagos

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Penagos.

Andrea, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Becoming a licensed acupuncturist was something I fell into by accident. My love for wellness and Eastern practices began when I turned to yoga as a young adult to manage the bouts of depression I struggled with in college. After getting a bachelors degree at USC, I was hired as an administrative assistant at small, busy art nonprofit and simultaneously jumped into a yoga teacher training at my neighborhood studio. I fell in love with yoga so much (and was worn so thin by admin work), that I quit my job and booked a flight to India for a yoga festival and some solo travel.

While backpacking through North India, by chance I found myself on the doorstep of a Tibetan doctor of Chinese medicine in Dharamsala who taught me about traditional Tibetan massage, introducing me to many acupuncture points I use today. My curiosity about the energetic system of the body and new ways to approach healing had been piqued and, unbeknownst to me, that experience planted the seed that has grown into my current wellness practice. Shortly after returning to LA, I enrolled into Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Culver City and four years later graduated with a master’s degree and became a licensed acupuncturist. I’ve been in private practice in Mid City LA for three years now.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Overall, cultivating a private practice has been positive and beautiful experience, but the most challenging part about it is making sure I take good care of myself while taking care of others, which I think is a common theme with wellness practitioners. The busier my practice gets, the more intentional I have to be with my self-care: planning my meals, making sure I exercise and getting at least 8 hours of sleep (well, that’s the easy part!).

Keeping up with all the things a business and a life requires can be exhausting at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love doing this work, and I love being my own boss!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Andrea Penagos, L.Ac. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a licensed acupuncturist and clinical herbalist, I treat a variety of physical and emotional imbalances with acupuncture and herbal medicine, alongside auxiliary modalities like cupping, moxibustion (warming specific points on a person’s body with dried, lit mugwort), and gua sha (scraping the skin with a ceramic, jade or bone tool to increase reduce pain and increase blood flow).

While the scope of issues treated by traditional Chinese medicine is incredibly broad, my specialties include pain management, mental health, women’s wellness, digestive issues, and skin disorders. Whether you’re dealing with a sore back, recurring injuries, anxiety, depression, fatigue, menstrual cramps, acne, stress, stomach aches or anything else in between, it’s likely that acupuncture and herbal medicine can help you get back to your vibrant, pain-free self.

What I’m most proud of as a practitioner is my strong focus on empowering patients with lifestyle tools to care for themselves in the present moment while preventing disease long-term. From a patient’s initial treatment, I highlight the importance of restful sleep, balanced nutrition, regular movement, and stress-management as the foundation for cultivating a long, happy life.

I also pride myself on integrating my yoga and energy healing background to support my patients by offering individualized breath work, meditation instruction, and, if patients are interested, energy work (I’m a trained Reiki Master).

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Clinical Dermatology is a branch of acupuncture I’m diving deeper into as my practice evolves. This summer, I’m taking an advanced course in cosmetic acupuncture and plan to enroll in a TCM dermatology certification course later this year. Skin issues can be as complex as they are stubborn, and I want to make sure I have necessary training to help patients who suffer from chronic skin disorders (or just want to get rid of a few wrinkles) as best as I can.

Long-term, my vision for my practice has expanded as I’ve begun to dream about opening a wellness center in Mid City. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for most of my life and currently practice out of my home office, so continuing to give back to this diverse community in the form of a center offering a variety of holistic health services is a deeper longing I would like to see come to fruition in the next few years (hopefully sooner!).

Pricing:

  • Acupuncture treatments rates range from $90-$120 (include acupuncture, cupping, moxa, and lifestyle counseling)
  • Energy work/Reiki session rates range from $90-$120
  • Herbal formulas range from $20-$40

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Dalila Paola Mendez

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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