We first met Dr. Sakshi (sock-she) walking our kids to school each morning. We had no idea at the time, that she was a master of acupuncture and wellness. She was kind enought to tell us more about her mission and practice.

What can you tell us about your background and how did your journey into acupuncture and holistic wellness begin? 

My husband and I owned Red Poppy Tea & Hookah Parlour for 15 years. Our LoHi location closed down in 2020 with the pandemic. Both of us had completed hot yoga teacher training in 2011 and I got my prenatal yoga certification when I was pregnant in 2013. I was teaching at Belly Bliss in Cherry Creek when they hired an acupuncturist to the staff. She has since moved away, but she was so passionate about her career and confident that she could treat any medical condition. Everyone who saw her said she did amazing work so I thought I would try it out. Even before my first visit, my husband said that he could see me becoming an acupuncturist and we did some research and there was an acupuncture school a couple miles away on Colfax & York, Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I had actually been contemplating going back to grad school, but wasn’t sure what field I would want to pursue. I was pre-Med at University of Iowa during my undergrad, so I had a passion for medicine, but I had not even thought about Eastern medicine as an option. Anyway, I had my first acupuncture treatment and absolutely loved it. I took a tour of the school the next week and just the smell of the herbs and moxa was so grounding and healing. I saw the students in their lab coats treating patients in the clinic and I knew this was my path. I would still be a business owner and be able to treat patients in my own practice, which was important to me. The first book I read on TCM was like reading poetry and as an English major I really appreciated the way they described the functions of the body. I went on to complete over five years of grad school, starting with a Masters of Science in Acupuncture in 2017 and then a second Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Herbal Medicine) at CSTCM in 2019. I opened my acupuncture practice in 2017. I finished my doctorate in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs last year through Five Branches University. I love to learn and I love science so this medicine allows me to do everything I am passionate about, while helping people heal and change their lives for the better. Everyday I feel so lucky to have found this career.

What services do you provide at Fire Lily and how did you come up with the name?

I do a thorough intake on the first visit to determine what patterns are happening in the body and then I make a diagnosis and provide treatment using a combination of acupuncture, bodywork, herbs, and supplements. If a patient is interested in taking herbs I will fill a herbal prescription for them to take home and continue the healing process. I have an onsite apothecary with CBD products, topical pain relief products, various supplements, essential oils, etc. I do some bodywork with back treatments that may include cupping and gua sha, which break up adhesions in the fascia, reducing inflammation and bringing circulation to the tissue. I may also have dietary and lifestyle recommendations and exercises or stretches to complement the treatments.

The name is a funny story, my husband and I came up with that name for a hot yoga studio. Our first business together was the Red Poppy, so we came up with Fire Lily as an idea if we were to open a hot yoga business. When I was thinking of names for my practice I remembered this name and it felt appropriate. A fire lily is an Asian name for the orange tiger lily and I liked the reference to the Fire element. 

For anyone who has not yet dipped their toes into Eastern medicine, and may feel apprehensive, what would you want them to know beforehand?

Chinese medicine is so amazing, the way they describe the functions of biology and pathology is very poetic and just made sense to me. As I said, I was an English major in college, so I immediately felt an understanding of the concepts beyond just basic science. It’s hard to convey, but it just clicked. Chinese medicine is also a complete system of medicine, so we can treat everything. Because it is a holistic practice of medicine we work on rebalancing the body as a whole. Once we find the pattern of disharmony we can bring the body back into balance and everything starts feeling better; sleep, digestion, emotional health, chronic pain, allergies, migraines, hormonal balancing, you name it. In Western scientific terms we are increasing circulation and reducing inflammation in the body. Not only are we treating current health conditions, but we are preventing further issues from popping up in the future. Even after all these years, seeing the results always feels like magic. In terms of the needles, they are teeny tiny and I am needle sensitive myself so I am very gentle. You will leave the treatment room feeling blissful and relaxed. There is nothing quite like it.

How often do your clients come in for treatments?

Acupuncture works cumulatively and gains momentum with each treatment. New patients come weekly for the first few weeks and once we start to see some major results we scale back to biweekly and then monthly maintenance treatments. Patients usually find immediate relief in their first session and as we continue to work together the body heals and rebalances. It takes time to unfold chronic patterns, but we are also able to prevent future issues from arising. 

You recently moved your practice to Old South Gaylord St. How has the neighborhood embraced you?

I have been practicing in the Wash Park area for seven years and living here for the last ten years, so I feel right at home here on South Gaylord. I am able to bike or walk to work and my husband and daughter pop over to visit if they are strolling around the park. My last office was on South Pearl Street just down the road so it was an easy move. I love being able to serve my local community and connect with the families in the area that we have gotten to know over the years. Being on South Gaylord is so lively and fun with all the wellness businesses that have opened up recently and the street-wide events such as the Firefly market and Trick-or-Treat Street.

Are there any plans to collaborate with the other wellness minded, woman-owned businesses on your block?

I have some lovely practitioners in my building and I am working to create some wellness events in the future with a few of the businesses on the street. In the last few years a lot of wellness-minded businesses have opened up here on the block and I’m excited to see how we can collaborate together in our community.

Who would benefit most from your services?

Everyone! I have been treating my daughter since she was two years old. We are human and we all have various health concerns throughout our lives. This medicine can treat all manner of illnesses and prevent future issues from arising. Oftentimes patients come to see me when they have exhausted all other treatments with their Western doctors. It’s amazing to see them find relief when they have been suffering for so long. But I always encourage people to come in before they reach that end point. My doctorate was focused on integrative health care and I love cross-collaborating with other doctors and medical practitioners to find solutions that can benefit the patient together. 

What can we expect from you in the future?

I am hoping to bring more awareness to the benefits of acupuncture and alternative medicine to our neighborhood and continue to serve our local community. I recently expanded my practice so I have plenty of room to grow and take on new clients.

How do you spend your free time?

I love to be in nature with my family; hiking, biking, swimming. I enjoy practicing yoga at Tula Hot Yoga. I love good food and a cold glass of white wine. I love to read and meet with friends from my book club. I have fun working on art projects with my daughter. I love to travel and explore the world. I am also a big advocate of self care and make sure to take the time to heal myself so I can give back to the community and to my family.

Thank you so much, Sakshi, for taking the time to let us in on your story and how you landed in this exciting career. We look forward to seeing much more of you now that you’re on Old South Gaylord Street. If you’d like to learn more about Fire Lily Acupuncture & Wellness, visit firelilyacu.com.