Elaine has been practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine for most of her life. She performs acupuncture in Paris, and comes to us with a wealth of wisdom on how to keep light and healthy in our bodies, and the advice to never lose curiosity.
♫ Listen Elaine's playlist | ⌨ Elaine’s last google search
Dress, Story MFG
on her morning routine
Upon waking up I use my tongue cleaner and then brush my teeth. I hug my daughter then go and take my Altrient Vitamin C. It can get hectic in the mornings with getting ready for school and getting my apartment ready for work. So, after making sure my daughter is set for the day, I wash my face and I either use my LED mask from Currentbody LED for ten minutes (Celluma Pro when I have more time) while I get my space ready or I put on some sort of treatment mask. For me, it is an efficient use of time to clean and organize while I am helping my skin. After wiping off my mask or taking the LED mask off, I hydrate my skin with a toner essence and then moisturize. For breakfast I usually eat a bowl of fruit with some cinnamon on it followed by Skinade Collagen Drink.
on moving around the world and retaining her curiosity
I was born in Canada but grew up in Colorado. I am a first generation Chinese/American. My parents were both from Hong Kong. So, I basically grew up in a white suburb with malls for entertainment. I couldn’t wait to get out.
I am quite extroverted and I am very curious about people’s lives. I have moved around quite a bit in my adult life, and in each place I have made wonderful friends. Often it is through either work or sport. I spent a few years following the climbing seasons in various places and I met other climbers who did the same. I find if you are curious enough, you can always find a common denominator with someone.
on her path to becoming an acupuncturist
I moved to Thailand after the death of my mother. My eczema was exacerbated by grief, moving, and the tropics. I went to Sri Lanka to study homeopathy, thinking it could help my eczema, but instead I ended up working at two free acupuncture clinics sticking needles into people 8 hours a day for two months. I witnessed people improving and decided to return to the US to get properly trained. It was there I realized that my battle with eczema was intrinsically linked to my emotions. It took many years, but I was able to accept and navigate my allergies and skin issues through herbs, acupuncture, and nutrition. I love acupuncture because it can energetically create new connections in your body.
““Here is what I tell my new patients. TCM looks at the body as a series of meridiens, like highways that connect your whole body. When you are sick, stressed, injured etc., you have a traffic jam. Through acupuncture, we can help unblock that traffic jam so things circulate better.””
Top, Isabel Marant
on her favorite books and gemology
I studied gemology and worked in jewelry before I became an acupuncturist. I even learned how to facet stones. So, when I began to practice TCM, I kind of put that passion aside. I learned recently that stones were used as medicine by the Taoists. Stone Medicine by Leslie J Franks is basically the combination of two things I love; gemology and Chinese medicine. Since I started integrating crystals and Chinese medicine, my work has taken on a different dimension. Other essentials include The New Astrology by Suzanne White, Originals by Adam Grant, Energy Medicine by Jill Blakeway, Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen by Yuan Wang, Warren Sheir, and Mika Ono, Skin Care by Caroline Hirons.
on building her business and her advice
I am ok at business, but getting a business coach was the best decision of my career. I owe a lot to my amazing coach, Jenni Dawes. She thinks much more strategically than I do, whereas I tend to focus on what new treatments etc. I can add. Find someone who understands what you do and who genuinely has your back.
I had the advantage of being in the Pilates community in Paris which led to lots of exposure through fellow teachers. I also met a client randomly at a Rose Bakery ten years ago who connected me to so many people in the fashion industry. My advice would be to try to have more than one skill to offer so you can have access to more clients. If you want to work as an acupuncturist, go to acupuncture school.
on meeting her current husband, moving to paris and identity
I met my husband rock climbing on vacation in Greece. We moved to San Diego to finish my studies and then returned to France as soon as I had my license. I mostly identify as an American/Chinese. I still like customer service and I believe in working hard. I wouldn’t really call myself a Parisien, but I am definitely slowly adopting the habit of being vocally passive aggressive and a bit numb to protests.
Top, Isabel Marant ; Pants, Alaïa
Top, Isabel Marant
““I met my first husband when I was 20 years old and divorced 8 years later. When I turned 28 years old, I had a realization that If I were to stay in this marriage, my soul was going to die. Even though I chose to leave the relationship, divorce sucks. Being married at such a young age really shapes your personality. It took me years to shed off that identity and to find out who I was. Even 20 years post-divorce, I can still remember the loss of hope when you end a marriage. But, I can honestly say, it was the most courageous thing I have ever done. So for those of you going through it, know that you will suffer, but in the end, you will get through it and have fun again.””
Dress, Story MFG
on aging, eating and caring for her body in her 50s
After having a kid at 41, your body gets kind of shell shocked. At this point, I want to keep my joints healthy and work out enough so I can still rock climb. I get massages at least twice a month, and I see a coach/magnetiser once a week. I try to do some sort of pilates or my chi machine everyday. I also take supplements (Thorne’s Vitamin D, Seed’s Probiotics, Four Sigmatic’s Chaga Elixir and Wunder Workshop’s Golden Glow). I have noticed that if I have eaten something that did not agree with me the night before, I will gain some weight the next day. I’ve been following Plant Paradox’s way of eating for the past few years, and been stable since. Taking Yin Power from Sun Potion has greatly improved my digestion. I am convinced it has helped me ease into menopause gracefully, and kept me regular.
You have to pay attention to how your body is changing. Take care of your skin and try not to compare yourself to other people. If you can accept what is going on and make an effort to take care of it, you should be fine. I never wore makeup or dyed my hair, so for me beauty was never in some form of modification. I guess acceptance and effort are my keywords.
on her beauty and health routine
I don’t wear makeup. I double cleanse at night using de Mamiel Restorative Cleansing Balm and then Biologique Recherche Lait VIP O2 (a common myth is that washing with micellar water is enough at night.) The wash off cleanser has to have a pH between 4.5 and 5.5, which is the pH of your skin. I spray with Avène water and then another type of spray that has herbs, flower water etc. (I love May Lindstrom Jasmine Garden or Jordan Samuel Skin Hydrating Mist) I always use an essence toner (like Forlle’d Hyalogy P-effect Refining Lotion) to lock in some hydration. Some nights I will use some Copper peptides (NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum CAIS2) and other nights I will use an acid exfoliator (like Biologique Recherche P50W). I finish off with a moisturizer (I use Drunk Elephant F-balm Electrolyte Waterfacial) and a few drops of Vintner’s Daughter’s oil. I also have started integrating eye serums and have finally found a few that work for my sensitive eyes. I mask several times a week (I like Bioeffect hydrogel imprint mask, Susanne Kaufmann’s Enzyme Mask and Glow Mask, May Lindstrom’s Honey Mud and Summer Fridays’ R + R mask.)
Top, Isabel Marant
on staying up late and doing pilates at midnight
I enjoy the silence. I spend most of my day talking and thinking about people and then after work, I am with my family. So, my down time is really when most of the world is asleep.
on rock climbing and inspiration
I like the concept of lightness. Through my work, I often have the goal of making people feel a bit lighter in their bodies. This pertains to physically as well as mentally. I have been rock climbing for nearly 30 years and in a way, climbing is the pursuit of feeling light and skilled enough to climb a route without falling. You have to be focused to remember all your moves and to keep moving forward. (Also, I have scoliosis and at 14 years old, they put rods in my back. I am fused from T10 to L4. So running sports were never easy for me. Rock climbing allowed me to be athletic outside.)
on her everyday and climbing style
Tomboy chic. I buy Isabel Marant, Supreme, Loewe, and whatever my fashion clients pass my way. I used to be sponsored by FiveTen many years ago when I was competing and climbing all over the world. I still wear their climbing shoes. For clothing, I climb in E9 and I only use Petzl harnesses and quickdraws.
elaine’s favorite places in paris
Best restaurants: Ogata, Bar Martin, Dumpling Queen, Guimi House
Best parks: Place des Vosges, Jardin d'Acclimatation, Jardin des Tuileries
Best museums: Musée de L’Orangerie, Centre Pompidou
Best chocolate stores: Patrick Roger, Jacques Genin
Best shopping: the beauty section at the Galeries Lafayette on the Champs-Élysées, Besides Kimchi, Dover Street Market Perfumes
Sweatshirt - Supreme ; Pants, Isabel Marant ; Boots, Loewe ; Purse, Chanel ; Coat, Max Mara