Dear Maeve and Ebb & Flow students,Firstly Happy Christmas and New Year, I hope you all enjoy time with your friends and family over the holidays. I would like to send a message to say a thank you from the bottom of my heart for attending the lovely yoga flow Earth into Summer hosted by Maeve in July, and to anyone who supported the fundraiser that I did not meet that evening, thank you also. The funds from this charity yoga flow were 100% donated to the non-governmental organsition (NGO) Acupuncture Relief Project Nepal. Where we provided free primary care using Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to a rural community 2 hours south of Kathmandu affected by poverty.Having an impact on so many patients’ lives, health, and well-being would not have been possible without each one of you taking time and energy on a Friday evening in July to attend the event in Tralee, and the extraordinary support I received before I left Ireland in September. The twelve weeks I spent volunteering for Acupuncture Relief Project Nepal has been the experience of a lifetime, and I know from the bottom of my heart how lucky and privileged I am to have had this opportunity. It has been eye-opening and challenging, but also filled with memories of laughter and love. It has also made me even more proud and thankful to be from Ireland, where we are safe (weather wise!) and have a good healthcare system. As when I was in Nepal we experienced and survived an earthquake in November, that measured 5.7 on the scale. Sadly 153 people died and there were 109 aftershocks. It has been a pleasure getting to know the people of Nepal, learning about their culture, religions and working closely with local staff. As the four interpreters were local from the rural village Bajrabrahi, where the clinic was located. It was also very rewarding knowing that the NGO has given local people employment and also a chance for the interpreters to work in a field that they get to speak and improve their English 6 days a week. As they are all young and in their 20’s, with lots of dreams and aspirations to travel and work in English speaking countries for better opportunities. I have lerned an extraordinary amount and have grown as an acupuncturist and TCM practitioner. However, I know I will always keep learning on this new path!The experience was nothing short of extraordinary. In that 12 weeks, I treated a 498 patients—more than I would typically have see in an entire year back home!! The depth of learning went beyond the number of patients.What made this journey truly remarkable was the diversity of cases I encountered. From familiar conditions like knee and back pain to ailments like De Quervain syndrome, stroke sequelae, and allergic rhinitis, each patient’s story was a testament to resilience and the power of healing. I plan to return to Ireland the end of March next year for a friends wedding. This friend is a friend from first year in school, so we have been close friends for over 15 years!Once I return home, I hope to open my own Acupuncture and TCM practise under the name Suaimhneas Natural Health. What is Suaimhneas? Suaimhneas is an Irish noun for calmness, relaxation, serenity and tranquility. The aim of acupuncture as a treatment is to get to the root of the cause of imbalance in your mind, body and spirit and our primary goal is to bring the person back to balance with a proactive approach. With my Irish roots I thought an Irish word would be fitting for the treatments I wish to provide, by searching and treating the root cause of imbalance and the person as a whole, not only assessing their presenting complaint or symptoms. With my Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments I look forward to providing a feeling of calmness, relaxation, serenity and tranquility.Happy Christmas and New Year again, you have all helped make a positive impact on so many lives this year! Take care,Suzanne – Suaimhneas Natural Health.