The Pulse of Balance

Seasonal Newsletter

From the Tan Academy of Balance team!

Our deeper dive seasonal newsletter with a case study,

events, updates and upcoming learning opportunities!

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IN THIS SUMMER NEWSLETTER:

• Practitioner Case Study
• Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner Cohort 6 mentorship applications are open!
• Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival –  June 21-22, 2025!
• Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) July Learning Lab – July 21, 2025
• BSA Foundations equivalency tests – August 17, 2025
• BSA Refinement General – Foundations and Advanced! Finally coming Monday August 18, 2025.

Summer naturally brings a shift in pace – more light, more connection, more time outdoors. It’s a season that encourages creativity, joy, and togetherness. While there’s often a lot going on, it’s also a good time to slow down and recharge. Whether it’s quiet moments in nature, time with loved ones, or simply doing less – let this be a time to refill your cup and reconnect with what matters most.

We hope to see you soon! 
Martina, Tan Shīfu, Suzanne Lǎoshī and the Tan Academy of Balance Team

See you online, in person, or in the Tan Balance Hub.

Practitioner Case Study

Presented by Laurel Irons, RAc

Laurel is a Registered Acupuncturist, Western Herbalist, Certified Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner, and keen scholar of Chinese Medicine and Metaphysics. After graduating the DTCM Diploma program in 2004, she continued to study various schools of thought and styles of East Asian Medicine, which ultimately led her to Tan Academy of Balance. She joined Cohort 3 of the Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner mentorship, and after graduation enrolled in the first cohort of the Certified Chinese Astrology Consultant mentorship. Laurel is now excited to continue her journey with Tan Academy of Balance as a Team Leader, by supporting new students embarking on theirs!

CASE STUDY

Patient Profile: 40-year-old male.

Chief Complaint: Right-sided wrist and shoulder pain, accompanied by numbness and tingling in the first four fingers of his right hand.

History: 

The patient is a co-owner (with his wife) of a busy high-rise window cleaning business, a physically demanding job he’s held for five years, often working five long days a week. His work involves extensive overhead squeegeeing, climbing ladders and scaffolding, pulling ropes, and using a 50-foot pole. Before this, he worked for a moving company.

He has a history of chronic back, neck, and shoulder strain from his physical work and a variety of recreational sports. While he’s sought treatment (massage, physical therapy, chiropractic) in the past, he hasn’t found lasting relief.

His current symptoms began a few months ago and have progressively worsened. Due to his demanding work schedule, he hasn’t received any prior assessment or treatment for this specific issue, and this is his first time trying acupuncture.

The pain in his wrist and shoulder significantly impacts his daily life: he can only sleep on his back, leading to poor sleep and fatigue. He also experiences pain while driving (due to arm position) and performing fine motor tasks with his hands.

Objective:

Tight trapezius, deltoid and rotator cuff muscles. Tight and visibly inflamed wrist flexors.

ROM: reduced shoulder flexion and abduction over 90°

Wrist: negative Phalen’s test, positive Reverse Phalen’s test (median nerve more sensitive to extension)

Channel Diagnosis:

Right shoulder: BL, GB, SJ, SI, LI (minor)

Right wrist and hand: LI, SJ, LU, PC

Acupuncture – first treatment:

Left: Started with: LR 4 Ashi (x1), LR 4.5 Ashi (x2) – to balance GB and SI at the shoulder, and PC, LU, LI at the wrist. After needling, I asked the patient to move his shoulder to assess symptom changes. ROM improved by about 30%. On wrist movement, some crepitus was noted.

Added KI 7 Ashi (x2) to balance BL (and SJ, LI, PC) then had the patient test his shoulder again. ROM improved by another 50%. The wrist started to feel “warm”.

Left: LI 5, Ling Gu, Da Bai, SJ 5, SI 3

When asked to move his wrist, the patient reported no pain, though the numbness and tingling in his fingers remained unchanged.

Completed the circuit with:

Right: GB 34T, BL 63 (System V, Xi Cleft)

Right: PC 4, LU 6 (System V) Xi Cleft points and LU6 images the BL channel of the upper back (Systems II and IV). Note that I avoided needling directly into the affected areas to avoid irritating them. 

• An Mian 5 to support sleep
• Du 23 to image the neck DU channel.

After his 30 minute rest period, I noted the patient was sound asleep. To ensure he received adequate rest, I waited an additional eight minutes before removing the needles.

Result:

Shoulder: The patient reported immediate, virtually complete pain relief and a 90% improvement in range of motion.

Wrist: Visible reduction in inflammation and significantly less pain were observed. However, nerve signs (numbness/tingling) persist.

Overall: The patient felt more “loose and relaxed” than he had in a long time.

Follow up:

The patient has a full work schedule for the next few weeks, raising concerns about symptom aggravation. Therefore, I booked his next three sessions close together.

I recommended he take short breaks at work to gently stretch and exercise his wrist, and try to limit inflammatory foods. He should be careful not to overextend his wrist. For self-care, he could use self-massage or gua sha on his contralateral wrist (SJ) and ankle (LR).

I anticipate he’ll need repeat visits before his nerve symptoms resolve. Once his acute symptoms subside, I’ll consider Jueyin-Shaoyang III-VI to help him achieve deeper rest and relaxation.

BSAP Certificate Mentorship Applications Opened on June 1, 2025!

Written applications are required for entry into all TAB mentorship programs.

Applications to join the next intake of the Certified Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner (BSAP) Mentorship Program open now! 

BSAP Cohort 6 begins with Level 3 – September 13-14, 2025

Applications open – June 1, 2025
Application deadline – July 31, 2025

Questions? Email us at hello@tanbalance.com.

GOOD TO KNOW: You can apply to the BSAP Certificate Mentorship program whether or not you have already written the BSA Foundations (Levels 1 and 2) exam.

If you haven’t yet taken the exam, you may receive “conditional acceptance” with full acceptance granted upon successful completion of the BSA Foundations exam.

Every applicant must pass the BSA Foundations Equivalency Exam in order to join the BSAP Certificate Mentorship. This exam assesses competency and application of BSA, and additionally is a standard base of knowledge for the Cohort to launch from.

Ready to take the BSA Foundations exam on August 17, 2025? 

For exam registration links and instructions email hello@tanbalance.com.

Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival this past weekend!

June 21-22, 2025

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the BSA Acupuncture Tent at the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival this past weekend!! 

Our amazing volunteer BSAP Certificate alumni offered treatments to paddlers from around the globe, helping them maintain their balance and stay race-ready. It was a privilege to demonstrate BSA skills in action and immerse ourselves in the festival’s vibrant energy once more, We had numerous returnees sharing the thrill of their amazing results last time!

A BSAP Alumni and missed out this time? No problem! This is an annual event that usually occurs on the 3rd weekend in June. We’d be thrilled to have you volunteer with us next year, and patients love hearing you talk about your outreach and experience. Block off the dates, watch for our upcoming volunteer call and join the fun!

https://concorddragonboatfestival.ca/

For more information, email hello@tanbalance.com.

July Balance System Acupuncture Learning Lab

July 21, 2025

You’re invited to the Learning Lab with Tan Shīfu, Suzanne Lǎoshī, and Adam! This will be an open-format session focused on Q&A, offering a fantastic opportunity to ask all those questions you’ve been holding onto. Step into our relaxed, supportive virtual learning space, come curious, bring your questions and deepen your understanding!

Who should join? Students interested in diving deeper into Balance System Acupuncture, channel theory, holography and Classical Chinese medicine.

PREREQUISITE: A minimum of BSA Levels 1 and 2 (Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) Foundations – Level 1: Single Systems + Level 2: Multiple System balancing) through Tan Academy of Balance (in person or webinars) or an equivalent course through another provider.

Join online for one hour from wherever you are!

We’ll begin promptly at 1:00 PM Pacific time on July 21, 2025!

Fee: free for premium members of the Tan Balance Hub (the private Tan Academy learning community). Coupon code is in the Tan Balance Hub Activity Feed. 

Non-premium members $8.99. Register on the TAB Hub through the Events tile.

* Please note: CEUs are only available for those who attend Learning Labs live online and complete the feedback survey.

* Learning Labs are recorded and available on the Tan Balance Hub Members Area. 

Sign up as a premium member for free access! 

Email hello@tanbalance.com for more information.

BSA Foundations Level 1 and 2 Exam

August 17, 2025

Are you aiming to become a certified Balance System Acupuncture Level 2 or applying to the BSA Practitioner Certificate Mentorship Program that starts this September? If so, you must pass the BSA Foundations Level 1 and 2 equivalency exam.

Your last opportunity to take this required exam is August 17, 2025 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Pacific Time.

To register for the exam, please email hello@tanbalance.com.

BSA Refinement General – Foundations and Advanced

August 18, 2025

Finally another refinement course!

This is Tan Shīfu’s first Balance System course she ever taught, and it’s finally back with the General refinement to kick us off! Save the date, and look for more info coming soon!

Stay connected on the Tan Balance Hub!

Stay Connected. Stay Informed.

Join the Tan Balance Hub private side of the community to stay in the loop with exclusive updates, recordings, member-only discounts, and the latest announcements. The app is programmed to deliver silent notifications and has no algorithms. Most importantly, it’s your space to ask questions, get support, and continue learning alongside fellow practitioners. Your community is here for you—come be part of it.

Tan Academy of Balance students and alumni comments about what they like about being Tan Balance Hub members:

️  ★ Feedback and support from teachers, advanced students, and alumni 

️  ★ Tab Teaches recorded videos for adjunctive learning

  ★ Weekly quizzes

  ★ MEMES

Continued Learning Resources

         Books

Tan Academy of Balance Books

Dr. Sonia Tan authored this book as a reference textbook for BSA Levels 1+2: Single + Multiple Balance. It is an essential clinical reference.

Available in English, Spanish & International French!

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~ Inspiring Confidence ~ Creating Balance ~ Motivating Evolution ~