Ryan Gallagher, LAc, DSOM
Hey there, I’m Ryan.
I’m a doctor of traditional East Asian medicine, and I work as a trauma-informed mindfulness guide
Here are a few of my qualifications:
• Licensed acupuncturist (LAc)
• Doctor of Science in Oriental Medicine (DSOM) degree from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon
• Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC
After providing clients with thousands of acupuncture and herbal treatments over the years, I’ve shifted my focus toward mindfulness guidance. I no longer offer acupuncture or herbalism; instead, I support your process of transforming mental-emotional difficulties through effective, individualized mindfulness sessions. For more on my sessions, click here.
I also lead small groups in meditation and Qigong (which is a form of mindful movement).
Scroll down to learn more about the two primary influences on my approach: polyvagal theory and the meditative arts.
Polyvagal Theory
So many of us find ourselves feeling “too up” or “too down.”
“Too up” means we’re stuck in a fight-or-flight state. We’re anxious, agitated, on edge, worried, uneasy.
“Too down” means we’ve collapsed into a state of numbness and despair.
When we’re chronically “too up” or “too down,” we’re in “protection mode.” Our body and mind are in a survival state. We’re trying to protect ourselves from a perceived danger.
Of course, these survival responses are very useful if we’re actually in a life-or-death situation…But they’re problematic if we’re not. We’re anxious and depressed and we don’t even know why!
The reason is that we’ve “forgotten” about the other mode of our nervous system: connection.
“Connection mode” refers to the state our body and mind are in when we feel calmly and safely engaged with our life. It’s here, in connection mode, that we can access states of ease, security, belonging, wholeness, and vitality.
This protection-connection framework is known as polyvagal theory. I’ve made a video on the subject here, and I’ve written a series of articles found here.
I apply mindfulness practices to this polyvagal framework in order to help you safely release your “survival energy.” And I help you “remember” how to make connection mode your home.
This approach stems from my many years of exploration in the healing arts, including my training in Alaine Duncan’s Tao of Trauma system, which combines polyvagal theory; the Five-Element Theory of Traditional East Asian Medicine; and body-based therapies.
The Meditative Arts
I’ve been studying and practicing meditation since 2004, when I began a multi-year residency at a Buddhist monastery.
To me, stabilized attention is the most important skill that a person can develop. When our awareness is stable, we start seeing things more clearly. And when we see clearly, we make wise decisions—decisions that serve our well-being and the well-being of those around us.
In my sessions, I help you hone this skill of stabilized attention—in particular, the capacity to really “listen” to your body. Becoming deeply attuned to the body’s messages is an essential part of the healing process—there’s so much intelligence in your physiology!
And I guide you in applying mindfulness—the capacity to keep in mind things that are beneficial. In particular, we work on “remembering” how to access “connection mode.”
It’s important to note that we don’t need to be sitting still in order to train the mind. Qigong is a form of mindful movement, where you practice immersing your awareness in the body as you engage in a variety of postures and exercises.
While I don’t incorporate Qigong into my sessions unless requested, I do offer an online Qigong course called Elemental Movements, which you can find here. And to receive a free Qigong instructional video, simply click here!
Intrigued? Learn more!
Check out some of my articles:
