Meet Dr. Joseph Clarke of Elysia Life Care in Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Joseph Clarke.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Dr. Clarke. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I believe that if you are in the work of helping others with their struggles, that it’s best, in order to deeply know the process, to work with someone else through your own. Prior to opening Elysia, my wife, Maria and I were working closely with our meditation and Qi Gong teacher George Falcon. Though I refer to him as a mediation and Qi Gong teacher, George was, as those who worked with him knew, really quite more than that. He had a way of explaining the details of the health process (health is a process, a habit, not a state), in such as way as to create the conditions for you to recognize what you were doing that was not aligned with health, see how you were doing it and change the habit. George is the one who convinced us to open our own clinic and he insisted that it be different. That, rather than feel like a doctor’s office, it should have a sense of community, a home away from home. So, it was that after a year or so of envisioning, planning and working through the practical details; we opened Elysia in June of 2015 with George, Maria, Carla Vidor and myself.

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?
The road has been smooth at times, and bumpy at others. George’s passing in July of 2016 and the adjustment to his absence has been at times difficult. He always said that if you are at your most functional, no matter what you are doing, your experience will feel smooth and easy. We all do our best, in this dysfunctional world we share, to be our most functional. We can always improve; but, I think we do a pretty good job of mindfully navigating the inevitable difficulties inherent in the health field and keeping the road as smooth as possible.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Elysia is a company based on the idea that we can create the conditions to experience profoundly healthy lives. To create these conditions, we use a bespoke approach with each client. Applying, as necessary to meet client goals: acupuncture, herbal medicine, detailed functional medicine reports and programs (including tailored dietary plans), meditative techniques to change mental emotional habits, and yoga therapy to change postural habits. We specialize in wellness (keeping the mind and body free of unnecessary discomforts and pain), fertility, as well as male and female health. What I’m most proud of is that, rather than simply implementing practices and protocols, we tailor each client’s process to meet them where they’re at and help them navigate to where they want to go. This approach ensures that we always put the client’s needs first.

What were you like growing up?
I was born and raised in rural Massachusetts, west of Boston. My family prided itself on being New England intellectuals. Professors primarily, active participants in the community; especially the conservative Jewish community of greater Boston. Though I was the youngest of three brothers (with one younger sister), I spent much of my youth exploring the vast woods and wetlands around the town. Nature always captured me and kept my interest. After a more introverted, academic centric childhood; around the age of 15, my body changed and I became actively engaged and achieved some success in sports; which continued onto my time at University, where I studied Philosophy, Psychology and Religion and played division one Rugby.

Pricing:

• Acupuncture treatments are $125 following the initial visit, which includes a consultation and treatment and runs $212

Contact Info:

• Address: 1821 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 500
  Santa Monica, CA 90403
• Website: http://elysialifecare.com/
• Phone: 424-744-8366
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @elysialifecare
• Facebook: @elysialifecare
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elysia-life-care-santa-monica

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