StillPoint Acupuncture Healing Arts is the Chinese Medicine practice of Leslie Mentel. 

StillPoint’s origins can be found in New York City in the late 1980’s - Tai Ji classes and visits to a Chinatown herbalist were my introduction to the Chinese Medical Arts. 

After a three-month stay in India, I completed training in Trager Psychophysical Integration. Trager is a gentle, nurturing, hands-on approach to healing that I now integrate with Chinese bodywork. trager

In 1998, I enrolled in the New England School of Acupuncture, in Boston. I graduated three years later, with a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In addition to the dual track in  Acupuncture (Chinese and Japanese styles) and Chinese Herbal Medicine, I studied Classical Chinese Medicine and Craniosacral Therapy. I have National Certifications in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, and am licensed in New York and Massachusetts. Note: NESA is now part of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. new england school of acupuncture

My acupuncture career began in a Boston public health clinic, and then continued in Fairport, NY and at FF Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, NY. I opened my own clinic in 2005, and was a founding member of Rochester Community Acupuncture.

Since 2006, I have been a Tai Ji student of Robert Loce. My studies at Rochester Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan include Yi Lu, Er Lu, 19 Form, various Qi Gong sets, as well as spear and kwan dao forms.

From 2005 to 2007, I did advanced level training in Tui Na and Orthopedic Acupuncture with Tom Bisio and Frank Butler, in New York City. internal arts international

In 2010, I completed a year-long Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification program, with Matt Callison, a specialist in orthopedic, musculoskeletal approaches to acupuncture. I was a teaching assistant for the program in 2011. sports medicine acupuncture

I then embarked upon some explorations that took me back to the roots of Chinese Medicine, with the intention of integrating this ancient wisdom tradition into a contemporary clinical practice.

In 2010, I was invited to participate in a three-week retreat at Jiashan Monastery, in China. Under the guidance of Heiner Fruehauf and his teachers, I was immersed in a process of healing based on Confucian and Daoist teachings.  classical chinese medicine

In a two-year advanced program with Jeffrey Yuen, I deepened my knowledge of the history and clinical practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Jeffrey is a lineage holder in two Daoist traditions, and is a highly regarded teacher of Chinese Medicine. jeffrey yuen

At the same time, I began a study of the Nei Jing, Classical Chinese Acupuncture’s pre-eminent text, with Ed Neal, MD. neijing studies

In 2015, I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training with Francois Raoult at Open Sky Yoga. My first class with Francois was in 1989, so this has been a journey back to my early studies in body, mind, and breath. open sky yoga

I followed this with a week-long "breath-centered immersion for hands-on Yogis", with Leslie Kaminoff. This was an inspirational exploration of the diaphragm, ribcage, and core body structures, as they relate to the breathing mechanism. These newly-learned hands-on skills and client exercises, have given me more tools for working with conditions such as asthma, COPD, panic/anxiety disorder, as well as the general (dis)stress response to life. yoga anatomy

In 2016 and 2017, I continued my studies with Tom Bisio, completing a four weekend study in Zang Fu Tui Na as well as Craniosacral Therapy. These are both grounded in the Osteopathic tradition of subtle listening and palpation of different rhythms and motions of the body. These are interpreted and presented, by Tom, within the framework of Chinese Medicine.

In 2022 I decided to deepen my experience with and understanding of craniosacral therapy. One of the teachers with the most experience in Biodynamic CraniosacraI work is Michael Kern, who is based in London, England. I enrolled in the foundational program of his organization the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, and completed modules 1-5. Working directly with Michael and his depth of knowledge, and experience garnered from over 40 years in the field, was richly rewarding. His book, Wisdom in the Body, is a very accessible read. Because of the logistics of doing ongoing studies in London, I decided to find someone closer to home that I could build on the foundation that Michael helped me acquire. Fortunately, I have found someone in Ithaca, NY and am engaging with her in individual mentoring and sessions as well as workshops. michael kern

StillPoint was a founding member of RocAcupuncture, a regional group of acupuncturists. Our mission was to encourage collaboration within the profession, increase community awareness about Chinese Medicine, and establish professional relationships with other healthcare providers.