20 Questions with: Hayley Enright, Acupuncturist

I never tried acupuncture before I met Hayley a few months ago. I heard that it was good for back pains, so it was something I wanted to try when I was preggers. However I never found anyone who spoke English, and there was no way someone was sticking pins into me if there was a communication issue. To be honest, I was very skeptical about how this form of treatment could do anything for me.

At the beginning of my session, Hayley sat and listened to my ridiculous list of marginal ailments, when I had really only shown up for my lower back pain. After this first session, I left feeling oddly calm. My back pain had significantly decreased by that evening. However it was the feeling of utter peace and relaxation from my time with Hayley that turned me into an addict. She is such a great listener and so generous with her knowledge. (I told her about a random digestive issue I have been plagued with for almost three years. She suggested I eat an apple every morning and it worked!!I)

I am so pleased that Hayley has joined us as a regular contributor to MANNA. I look forward to her articles about health and wellness. If you haven’t already read her Paris in The Summer story, be sure to check it out. (It’s one of the most popular on our site!) I met up with Hayley at one of her favorite cafes to ask her 20 questions, so we could get to know her better.

1. Hi Hayley. When we met you told me you actually studied medieval French literature. How in the world does one go from that to acupuncture?
There’s a connection there although it’s subtle—I really like to study ancient concepts! Medieval tales are roughly 1000 years old (give or take a few centuries) and Chinese medicine is 3000-5000 years old. It’s fascinating that ideas or systems that have been around for so long continue to be impactful today. It proves that although we’re adaptable we haven’t changed much, physically or mentally, from our ancestors. I always wonder what that means in terms of our ability to carry forward being human in this burgeoning technological age. So that’s a tangent! Back to your question—for me it’s always been about working with people. I love literature and I thought sharing that with others would be a wonderful career, but I realized even more immediate and of greater concern is the health of the body and the mind. So I became an acupuncturist and I haven’t looked back since

2. Did your studies come in handy in any way for your current profession and life?It’s very handy being able to speak French in France! Aside from that, I learned how to parse different systems of thought and it helped me be flexible in my approach to new ideas and philosophies.

3. Has becoming an acupuncturist changed how you live your own life?Chinese medicine has changed the way I think about the nature of health, happiness, the purpose of life, the world around us…it’s a very philosophical system based on the relationships of things to each other. For example, humans are balanced between heaven and earth, requiring the influence of both to thrive. I feel that gives us permission to live our truth, for when we express ourselves we embody that divine confluence.

4. What kind of problems do people normally come see you for? I’m like a general practitioner, I see some of everything. Back pain, allergies, joint problems, pre- and post-op conditions, gynecological issues, immune disorders, fertility, stress, anxiety and depression, fatigue, sports injuries, skin problems, neurological issues, tight muscles, pediatric concerns, etc. After 9000 treatments, you name it, I’ve probably treated some version of it

5. How exactly does acupuncture help women who are trying to conceive or pregnant?It has a holistic influence on the body, so it does a number of things simultaneously—balance hormones, improve circulation to the uterus, reduce stress reactions. While it’s doing this it’s also working to clear up other health issues (which vary from person to person). The positive side of that secondary effect is that the healthier a woman is overall, the higher the chances she can conceive.

6. Do you treat children? And if you do, don’t the kids tend to freak out when you approach them with shiny needles? Kids do great with acupuncture. The key with the older ones is to communicate. It establishes rapport and shows them they can trust the process. The needles don’t really hurt, and once they’ve experienced one they give the go ahead for more. Often I get asked to take pictures, or even if they can take the needles out when it’s over because they want to participate.

With infants or toddlers, the parents are always reassured to see that getting acupuncture isn’t traumatic. The little ones look at the needles but nobody has ever cried!

7. Are there any side effects of acupuncture?Acupuncture is really safe, especially compared to taking medications. Although occasionally you might have a small bruise at the site of a needle, it’s so gentle it rarely does more than that. In fact, you could say one of the many fascinating things about acupuncture is the side effects! Better sleep, more peace of mind, secondary issues that clear up along with the primary issue. It works with the body rather than forcing it to activate chemical pathways (as in the case of drugs), and that makes it difficult to cause to harm.   

8. I always assumed that acupuncture is an expensive treatment, but your treatment is quite affordable. And you told me something about a group session. How does that work exactly? I’m a great believer in making health care accessible—coming from the US, I never liked that so many people weren’t able to afford any kind of care. So I opened a community clinic and treated people on a sliding scale. In France, accessibility isn’t an issue in the same way, but once a month I hold “low-cost days” where people can get acupuncture at less than half the cost of a regular treatment. You bring a mat or a towel to lie on and chill out with the other patients in the room. It’s very zen—like a group meditation session, really. All kinds of people come: those who have never tried it before, couples on dates, people wanting to help their friends feel better, parents and kids.

9. When I came to see you my back was hurting a bit. However I was also really stressed about life issues and left your table feeling like I was floating. What is that about?That was you experiencing the meridians and organs coming into balance. There’s a lot happening in the body at every moment. When the lines of communication are cleared among cells and tissues, it’s common to feel that “ahhh” sensation. It’s a level of consciousness we rarely experience in our daily lives but I love that it’s available as an experience to us. To me it shows the power of this body we walk around in. It’s so intelligent and capable, even when it’s not running perfectly it’s still doing a million and one things to support you. I am awed by that every day.

10. You also  talked to me a bit about Chinese medicine. I am not sure how Chinese medicine and acupuncture work together. Dumb question I know—can you explain please? Great question actually! Acupuncture is a component of Chinese medicine, which also includes cupping, gua ssa, dietary therapy, herbs, tui na massage, and lifestyle counseling. Additionally I use essential oils, and practice craniosacral, a gentle light touch therapy that helps balance the spine and brain. They’re all ways to boost body-mind health. I recommend different combinations of them based on what the patient needs.

11. Does acupuncture hurt? Thankfully no! I couldn’t do it if it did. You might feel some go in or you may not. Occasionally one might feel pinchy. The needles are only as wide as a hair, and I have a gentle technique.

12. It is quiet impressive that you moved here and set up a successful private practice. For other women dreaming of starting their own business can you give us five tips for setting up a private practice abroad? Try to assimilate to where you’re going. Learn the language as soon as possible so the culture can open itself to you. Be active socially, creating networks is important not just for business but also for your personal life. Find a niche—do you offer an unusual service, or will your foreignness serve you? For example, being able to speak English in Paris is useful since there are so many expats here. But don’t let that get in the way of integrating to the native culture. Explore—what you discover may lead you to new entrepreneurial or life paths.

13. Now to get a bit more personal. Okay we know you might not want to reveal your secrets but I have to take advantage of how giving your are with info and ask where do you like to hide in the city for peace and quiet when you aren’t treating patients? Going outside is refreshing. I love the parks and just walking around the streets. When a pick-me-up is in order taking a stroll in the beautiful parts of town usually does the trick. Buttes-Chaumont is a wonderful park to take my dog, chill on the grass and breathe in the green smell. If I need physical activity, Paris Yoga Shala has a gorgeous studio, a huge room with a massive skylight. When I want to sit with a cup of tea and a croissant there’s an adorable café up the street called Chez Troquette. If peace and quiet can only be obtained by a good cocktail in a swanky bar, La Conserverie may not always be quiet but the cocktails will make you feel at one with the world

14. Do you have a favorite book about France? Emile Zola’s Germinal is just fantastic. It’s a fictional account of miners in the late 1800s in the north of France based on actual events. The conditions they endure are absolutely crushing. You’ll never think about laborers the same way again. I really appreciate the way protection for people is built into the system here, and it’s thanks to these kinds of stories, in part, that France has such a strong socialist bend.

15. Most memorable meal in France? Christmas dinner last year. An architect friend who moved to Berlin invited six or seven of us to her place for an amazing seven-course meal. I was the only vegetarian but she had prepared a special plate for me at every course. I can’t speak about her architect skills but if they’re anything like her culinary skills, she’s an artiste. Everything was fait à la main, from the blinis to the pureed soupe aux legumes, to the vegetable napoléon to the raspberry bûche de Noël. We had planned to catch the midnight mass at Notre Dame just for the experience of it, but at midnight we hadn’t yet made it to the last course. I almost had to roll myself home. I’ve never eaten so well or so much in my life.

16. Five words that best describe your life? They could all be bundled into one—lucky. I grew up in a place that permits women to pursue education and make choices about their lives. I met the love of my life in high school and we’ve been together ever since. I managed to find a delightful career which allows me to meet wonderful people and find fulfillment in helping them. I have a dog who is so cute, friends regularly threaten to kidnap him. I live in one of the most amazing cities in the world. I’m healthy.

17. Four places you always take your out-of-town visitors? I have a few great places, but you will have to stay tuned to my column to find out. 

18. Three mistakes you will never make again here?Mostly assuming anything administrative can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. Everything here in Paris takes at least three times as long!

19. Two things you miss from your home country? Chocolate with peanut butter. Such a great combo, so hard to find in France. Being tan—I’m from the Gulf coast of Florida and we have the best beaches in the US, along with all the sunny days you could ask for to enjoy them.

20. And finally, one thing you will miss the most if you ever move back to the States? It would be a long list…there’s a certain openness in the way people listen and engage in conversation, it’s beautiful. The architecture. And of course, the cheese!

Images by Ajiri Aki

Hayley Enright is a licensed acupuncturist and has performed over 9000 treatments. She is available for private and group sessions. You can contact her and learn more at www.acupuntureinparis.com.