Marcus Tenaglia, LAc

Marcus Tenaglia (he/him) earned his Master of Acupuncture with a specialization in Chinese Herbal Medicine from National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). He considers Qi work to be foundational to the practice of Chinese Medicine and his approach to treatment is centered on his long-time Qigong, Medical Qigong, and Qigong Tuina practices.

Marcus began studying Qigong in 2006 with Wesley Hsue, and began his Chinese Medicine education studying Neigong, Medical Qigong, and Qigong Tuina with Stephen Schleipfer in 2012. In 2017 he began offering Medical Qigong sessions and Qigong workshops and classes to the public.

Many years of energetic practice have led Marcus to the perspective that the physical, emotional, and conscious aspects of our selves all inform one another—any ailment or dysfunction in any of these can affect or be affected by all the others. Marcus finds that, often, one must look to the levels of emotion and consciousness to truly resolve difficult health issues, and his combination of approaches is meant to respond to these needs.

Regardless of the level(s) treated, Marcus’s approach is always to restore the free and appropriate movement and qualities of Qi; his treatments encourage movement, stillness, release, or support according to what is needed. Throughout treatment, you are invited to feel your experience with relaxed, unforced attention.

Acupuncture

Marcus selects points to encourage the qualities of function appropriate to your needs. Points may be located away from the area of discomfort. Treatment may incorporate Medical Qigong and Qigong Tuina, with your comfort and response guiding the session.

Qigong

Qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”) is considered an internal energetic practice (often called an internal martial art) that brings together the physical body, the breath, and awareness through both movement and stillness. Qigong develops relaxed and appropriate functioning within the body, mind, and emotions. Through practice, you develop sensitivity to how you function and learn to cultivate qualities such as ease, stability, connected movement, and a relaxed mind. Marcus teaches Qigong as a progressive practice, with exercises that develop alongside your experience and provide ways to support your wellbeing in daily life.

Medical Qigong

Medical Qigong applies skills cultivated through Qigong practice to individualized treatment. Within the framework of Chinese medicine, Marcus works with the functional qualities of organ and channel Qi, including their relationship to emotional experience.

Treatment often takes place with his hands off the body, though touch may also be used. The aim is to tonify where deficient, release where stagnant, and regulate to encourage the self’s natural ability to heal and respond. Medical Qigong is often helpful for engaging emotional patterns that have become habitual physical patterns within the body.

Qigong Tuina

Qigong Tuina (pronounced “chee-gong twee-nah”) is a gentle, hands-on form of Chinese therapeutic bodywork. Marcus uses attentive touch and subtle movements of tissues and joints to work with their functional and energetic qualities. Treatment responds to areas of restriction, excess activity, or insufficient support, with the aim of helping the body move, rest, and function in a more integrated way. You participate by noticing your experience
with relaxed attention.

Personal Statement

I fell in love with Chinese Medicine long before my education in it began—it has helped me through physical trauma, emotional turmoil, and personal growth in ways I could never have anticipated and for which I will always be grateful. My early experiences as a patient of Chinese Medicine were so personally profound that I was inspired to study to be a practitioner. My hope is that I can help you find some part of the health and joy that I found as a patient. My goal is to welcome you as a whole human, with acceptance, without judgement, and to help you be your happiest, healthiest, most integrated self.

I use various acupuncture needle and point stimulation techniques and am happy to work within your needs and preferences for types and strengths of needling. My Qigong Tuina and Medical Qigong training allow for work to be done with non-insertive techniques if needed. Let’s find what works for you!

Outside of clinic, Marcus loves backpacking, sandwich eating, Qigong, problem solving, board games, and Autumn weather.