Partnership - Not Competition

Written by Jennifer Stukey


As a business owner, I’ve often heard others in business talking about their competition. I have even talked with acupuncture students who say that their business courses are training them in looking at who they are competing with. When engaging in a conversation of competition there is an implied context of scarcity, or a lack of something that we must compete for or have more of something than another has. 

This is not to say that understanding who in the community is offering the same services is not important. Samsung, Apple, and Google all want to know what the other is doing.

But how does this apply to the wellness business? Exactly who is the winner of this competition? The one who can heal the most people, teach the most yoga students, and relax the most stressed-out person?

Our world needs what wellness offers now more than ever. I know that I cannot do it alone. Therefore, it warms my heart to know that I have partners, and other businesses, offering wellness. To know that other acupuncturists just like me are doing the work of healing the mind, body, and spirit.

Over the last 19 years, I have connected with many wellness businesses to create partnerships to serve my patients. I have had amazing conversations with passionate people we are out to make a difference in our community. We can work together, and create win-win situations where we support one another. In turn, we are better able to support you and provide the healing that you, our patients, are looking for.
 
Take a look at your life.  Is there a place where you feel that you are in competition with another person, colleague, business, or maybe even a family member?  What happens if you soften around that and look for a place of partnership?  Understand the other person's goals and desires. Is there a place to see how you can work with each other so that both of you can achieve the outcome you are looking for? Creating a win-win with another not only helps you but you get the joy of seeing another succeed as well. 
 
There is an abundance for us all.  Creating partnership create ease in our lives and our bodies while creating competition creates a tightness and defensiveness that doesn’t allow for the free flow of life to unfold with ease or grace.

Try on the shift from competition to partnership and see how your life shows up newly.
 

Jennifer Stukey

Hello and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you about myself and my practice.

My Chinese medicine practice focuses on women’s health, whether physical or emotional, I am dedicated to helping women live a life of joy and ease.

I have been treating patients since 2004 and have performed over 10,000 acupuncture treatments during this time. I am currently treating patients for Infertility, Menstrual Symptoms, Gynecological Disorders, Headaches, Back Aches, Muscular Skeletal Pain, Anxiety and depression, Insomnia, and many other health issues.  

I continue to pursue education that focuses on women’s health and I observe my patients achieving their goals by the beautiful weave of traditional and complementary medicine.

Prior to receiving my Masters of Acupuncture degree, I earned my Bachelors of Art degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Immediately after graduation, I started the three and a half year Masters of Acupuncture program at the Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly known as Tai Sophia Institute), which is the oldest and first accredited acupuncture program in the United States.

I am a licensed acupuncturist and received National Board Certification through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).  I also have proctored the Clean Needle Technique exam portion of the NCCAOM.

I completed a two-and-a-half-year program in Chinese Herbal Medicine also at MUIH. I hold a 660-hour certification in Chinese Herbal Medicine.  This combination with my acupuncture degree has granted me a Masters of Oriental Medicine. In 2012, I had the honor of becoming a clinical supervisor for the Maryland University of Integrative Health in the Chinese Herbal Medicine clinic.

While in acupuncture school I completed a ten-month yoga teacher-training program at the Columbia Yoga Center in which I became a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level (RYT ® 200). Since I have taught over 1,000 hours of yoga, I am now an E-RYT® 200 which allows me to provide continuing education to registered yoga teachers and lead teacher training programs.

In 2009, I opened and become the CEO of Awaken Wellness, a well-known and thriving integrative wellness center in Columbia.

In 2016, I receiving the SmartCEO Brava Award.  The Brava Awards program celebrates high-impact female business leaders. Brava award winners combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community, and are exemplary leaders of both their companies and their communities. They encourage local philanthropy, mentor up-and-coming leaders, and set their companies on the path to tremendous growth. 

In the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity of doing an internship in the Labor and Delivery unit of NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn. I was able to be present to and support the birthing process of several women with acupuncture, acupressure, and massage techniques. I learned to understand the phases of delivery from a Yin/Yang theory. The training included labor preparation through the postpartum period using acupressure, bodywork, auriculotherapy and moxibustion to support and encourage healthy labor. I also got the opportunity to observe a c-section of twins during this internship.

In 2024, Jen went back into private practice as she transitioned her Columbia Wellness Center to a worker owned cooperative.

I am excited to offer you the power of relationship centered healing. Through my experience as both a patient and as a practitioner, I have experienced the transformational results of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments. At the core of all treatments is respect and compassion. Come and join me in a partnership of observing your life newly.

https://www.JenAcupuncture.com
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