Fort Myers Acupuncture Massage, owned by acupuncture physician Brian Healy, DOM, has been a well-kept secret until now. Previously serving Iona and the communities of Sanibel and Captiva as Sanibel Wellness since 1994, Healy has been specializing in treating musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, as well as headaches, migraines and gastrointestinal disorders, since he became a licensed medical massage therapist in 1994. 

Healy’s patients have been enjoying the benefits of his varied background as a holistic primary care physician with training in medical massage, Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Ayurvedic principles, orthopedics, western biomedicine, vibrational medicine and technologies such as laser therapy, electrotherapy and therapeutic ultrasound. Many have also come to appreciate his more than 30 years of teaching experience as certified Kripalu Yoga teacher via ongoing classes, workshops and retreats in several styles of yoga and meditation. 

“There is no one-style-fits-all when it comes to aiding the body in what it’s capable of doing—healing itself,” says Healy, who first discovered the benefits of yoga in 1987 while participating in a four-day retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lennox, Massachusetts. “I was blown away by the wealth of wisdom that the science of yoga offered. I returned as much as I could to do long weekends of seva, a Sanskrit word associated with the facet of yoga meaning selfless service. I wanted to to become a teacher of the Kripalu style of yoga and learn to live a holistic lifestyle.”

Healy’s migration to Southwest Florida from Westchester County, in New York, began in 1993. “My mother had just rented a house for a year on Sanibel. The Berkshire Mountains, where Kripalu is located, are very cold, so the island’s natural beauty and the warm Florida sunshine were particularly attractive,” recalls Healy, who not only started teaching yoga on Sanibel, but also decided to go to massage school so he could combine the two in his practice.

In 2009, he closed his office and decided to enroll at the East West College of Natural Medicine, in Sarasota. “I was determined to find every possible methodology to help people feel better and live pain-free. Overall, I felt called to help people live a happy and fulfilling  life, which I can do as a result of my varied background and experience working with thousands of people over the last three decades. Also, I can get good results because I spend time getting to know my patients and customizing the treatment to the individual,” explains Healy, who is in the process of setting up a special room in his office where he can do yoga therapy sessions and work with his patients on deeper issues.

Yoga therapy is the specific application of yogic tools—postures, exercises, breathwork, meditation techniques and more—to address an individual’s physical, mental and emotional needs. Yoga therapists such as Healy have in-depth training to help assess and keep their clients safe. They work with individuals to address specific goals while considering any limitations. 

Fort Myers Acupuncture Massage is located at 16680 McGregor Blvd., Ste. 2, in Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-437-9355 or visit FortMyersAcupunctureMassage.com. See ad, page 43.