Our Story
We have been practicing acupuncture and prescribing Chinese medicinal herbs on the central coast since 1994. Alana's practice is primarily in Santa Cruz and Neil maintains offices in Santa Cruz and with Dr. Michael Contro, M.D. in Los Gatos. We both have an emphasis on treating infertility, and we also treat a wide variety of health concerns including general gynecology, allergies, anxiety, digestive disorders (including IBS and GERD) and stress management. Neil has a further interest in treating pain (musculoskeletal pain and headaches) and Alana has a further interest in anti-inflammatory and gluten free dietary lifestyles.
Neil Bernardi-Wright
L.Ac., FABORM
Neil has spent the last 40 years investigating various systems and philosophies of both well-being and health maintenance. His interests have included a variety of dietary systems (macrobiotics, raw food, and vegetarianism, to name a few), as well as mind/body systems such as yoga, tai chi and meditation. In particular, it was chi gong, with its system of flowing movements similar to tai chi that lead him to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He graduated from the Master's Degree program at the Five Branches Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1993 and passed both the California State and National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists (NCCA) exams a few months later. Having a chance to study with the faculty at Five Branches, who are all from mainland China, gave him an opportunity for a solid grounding in the traditional Chinese medical framework on health and the causes of disease, both as it has been practiced for thousands of years and how it intersects with modern, “Western” medical practice.
Since receiving his license, Neil has been fortunate to study extensively with Dr. Richard Tan, a renowned acupuncturist from Taiwan, and have had the opportunity study Tong point acupuncture with Susan Johnson. His practice started out focusing primarily on pain management (musculoskeletal and headaches/migraines), autoimmune disease, allergies, stress management, anxiety, sleep disorders, and health maintenance, and he still maintains a strong interest in these areas. Several years ago he developed an interest in working with male and female infertility issues, and this currently makes up a significant part of his practice.
Alana Ramey-Bernardi
L.Ac.
Alana is one of Santa Cruz’s most established licensed acupuncturists and functional nutritionists, as well as a certified micro and nanoneedling therapist. She specializes in anti-inflammatory and gluten free dietary counseling, as well as women’s health, fertility, and menopause. She was born and raised on the Monterey Bay and has been lovingly caring for her patients in Santa Cruz since 1994.
Mira Malcolm
Mira is a massage therapist who brings together multiple therapies and specializes in women’s reproductive health.
Mira learned the healing arts from a very young age. She was raised at the Esalen Institute, a spiritual healing retreat center in Big Sur, California, where healers surrounded her. She had great influence from her parents growing up, who own and operate multiple spas, teach yoga, and are massage therapists.
When Mira turned 18, she spent a gap year traveling in India. She studied meditation in Kerala, trained in energy healing in Dharmsala, and earned her first Yoga Teachers Certification (Sivananda). Since then, Mira has received a second Yoga Teacher’s Certificate, trained in Ji Gong, sound healing, and breathwork. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College in Psycho-Somatic Practices Centered Within the Female Pelvis. She has trained as a birth doula, became a licensed massage therapist, and is certified in the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®. Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® supports digestive and women’s reproductive health. This includes fertility challenges, pelvic organ prolapses, pregnancy, amenorrhea/painful menses/PMS endometriosis, fibroids, GERD, and more.
With these numerous skills, Mira combines her knowledge and experience to improve clients’ health and well-being. Mira looks forward to sharing her passions, exuberant heart, and healing hands with you.
Learn more about Mira on her website: miramalcolm.com
Shannon Arrechea
Shannon completed her massage training at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. There, she learned to approach massage as something sacred – a place where profound healing can occur. Having trained for many years as a meditator and yoga teacher, Shannon brings to her work a deep presence and an innate compassion. Shannon teaches yoga at Santa Cruz Yoga and Pleasure Point Yoga.
Sessions with Shannon are a combination of the long flowing strokes that Esalen is known for and the slow, deep-tissue work known as Deep Bodywork. Her compassionate, presence-based touch and extensive knowledge of the body and its anatomy create a powerful method for soothing the nervous system and inspiring the body to find its way back to harmony and balance. She also offers pre-natal. To learn more, visit: shannonarrecheamassage.com
Brian Shoen
Brian has been doing bodywork since he was a small child when he was the designated family “back-rubber”. He deepened this interest when he began seriously studying martial arts as a teenager and found it beneficial for injury prevention and recovery. Brian then decided to take the professional plunge and graduated from Maui School of Therapeutic Massage (MSTM) in 2011 with an 800 hr diploma in Integrated Medical Massage. Brian went on to serve as a faculty member at MTSM along with several other massage schools where he taught a variety of academic, bodywork, and movement classes. A dedicated lifelong learner, he has continued his education through a wide range of workshops and advanced training in both Eastern and Western manual therapy and movement therapy systems:
CAMTC California Certified Massage Therapist
NCBTMB Nationally Certified Massage Therapist
Medical Massage Certification - LMT Success Group
Rocktape Rock Doc - Functional Movement Therapist (Basic and Advanced)
BREATHE certified breath coach
NASM certified personal trainer
Level 3 Certified Trainer, Athletic Development and Performance Training (ADAPT)
FAKTR (Functional and Kinetic Training with Rehab) Certified
Shoshin and Zen shiatsu certified
Jin Shin Do certified
Learn more about Brian on his website: https://resolvemedicalmassage.massagetherapy.com/
Our Philosophy
Patient commitment
We realize health care decisions are rarely made lightly, and this includes choosing a health care provider. We offer free consultations so you can have a chance to meet us and discuss your situation and needs. We do our best to explain what Chinese medicine has to offer you and welcome any questions you may have. For established IVF patients, we make ourselves available 7 days a week including holidays for pre- and post-transfer treatments, this way these treatments can be done as close as possible to the time of transfer.
Integrative medicine
All medical systems have their strengths and weaknesses. It is the responsibility of the provider to realize the limits of their style of care and discuss this with the patient. What this means for you, the patient, is that there may be times when we will suggest you check in with another provider about some particular issue. It is also often the case that eastern and western medical systems are complimentary- they fill in each other’s weak spots. This can be particularly true for fertility patients. There are insights into reproductive issues that western medicine can provide that can shorten the treatment time. By working together you may get a positive response sooner.
Patient involvement
Knowledgeable patients get well sooner and stay healthy longer. We explain what we are doing and why and welcome any questions you may have. We usually offer lifestyle suggestions (dietary, exercise, and stress management amongst others) that can help with your situation. These are offered as suggestions- they are not requirements for care.
You
We enter into a partnership of care with you in regards to your health. Because Chinese medicine looks on each individual as being complete and whole, not a collection of individual parts, this partnership includes the physical, emotional and mental aspects of your health.