Lynn Teo possesses a unique gift that assures positive energy and nurturing. She is a true healer.
- MP, opera singer
I am here for you.
My mission is to support my community in reducing stress and anxiety, increase resilience and joy, and cultivate a deeper feeling of balance, wholeness, belonging and connection to ourselves and each other.
Lynn has worked in complementary medicine for over 20 years. As a licensed acupuncturist and shiatsu therapist, Lynn specializes in trauma healing, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and chronic conditions. Focusing on cultivating resilience and burnout / trauma recovery, Lynn is completing her training to be a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). She holds an MAOM from the New England School of Acupuncture and a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine from the Pacific College of Health and Science. As well, she is the resident acupuncturist at Foundation House in Portland, ME.
She trained as a yoga teacher in the Scaravelli tradition of Esther Myers (750 hour) and has been teaching yoga, Vipassana meditation and somatic awareness for over 25 years and focuses on teaching embodied practices for radical rest, resilience, and trauma / burnout recovery particularly for helpers, healers, artists, and activists. She brings her background in theatre and clown to her classes, encouraging curiosity and playfulness as a means to cultivate embodied wisdom, resilience and joy.
As a researcher, Lynn has published several systematic reviews on complementary medicine. She holds and MSc in pain studies from Tufts University School of Medicine where she focused on the effect of empathy and mindfulness within the patient-practitioner relationship.
The Nitty Gritty Deets
Education
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Pacific College of Health Science 2022
Masters of Science, Tufts University School of Medicine 2012
Saltonstall Award for Excellence in Pain Research, Education & Policy
Master of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, New England School of Acupuncture (>3000 hours) 2011
Japanese & Chinese Style Acupuncture; Chinese Herbal Medicine
Internships: Boston Medical Center's Neonatal and Pediatric ICU; Pathways to Wellness, Veteran's Clinic and Chinese Herbal Clinic (formerly the AIDS Care Project); NESA Clinic
Diploma of Shiatsu Therapy, Shiatsu School of Canada (2200 hours; now Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine Academy) 2005
Kuzuya Award for Highest Academic Achievement
Bachelors in Fine Arts, York Univerisity 1999 (Acting)
Trainings
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Tara Brach & Jack Kornfield 2023
Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) Practitioner 2023 (Completed course work; Provisional)
Tao of Trauma with Alaine Duncan 2019; clinical assistant & movement teacher 2021-2022 & 2022-2023 cohort
Certificate in Acupuncture for the Cancer Patient, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital 2015
Clinical Assistant, Ms. Kiiko Matsumoto 2008-2012
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – Practicum Training, Center for Mindfulness UMass 2012
Certified Yoga Teacher, Esther Myers Studio 2010 (750 hours)
Certified Thai Massage Practitioner, Thai Massage School of Thailand (Chiang Mai) 2007
Certified Reflexologist, Pacific Institute of Reflexology 1995
Past & ongoing studies with several teachers including: Leslie Booker, Tara Brach, Alaine Duncan, Jonathan Foust, Thich Nhat Hanh, Bhikkhu Analayo, Rhonda Magee, Kiiko Matsumoto, Sharon Salzberg and Jeffrey Yuen.
Extensive theatre, voice & movement training including Authentic Movement, contact improvisation, Body-Mind Centering, Michael Chekhov Technique and Pachinko & Lecoq clown technique.
Certifications, etc
Diplomate of Acupuncture, National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
Maine Licensed Acupuncturist (AC721)
Member, Maine Acupuncture Society
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)
Certified Practitioner Yoga Alliance, Registered Yoga Teacher (500 hours)
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Clean Needle Technique
Certificate Course in Kiiko Matsumoto Acupuncture (150 hours; Turning Point Seminars)
Teachings & Speaking Engagements (selected)
Resident acupuncturist & movement teacher for Waking The Tiger Retreat (Maine), a retreat for trauma survivors offered by Peter Levine's Ergos Institute (October 2021)
Resident acupuncturist at Foundation House, Portland, ME.
Speaker - Maine Women's Conference 2021 (Mindful Approaches to Reduce Stress, Find Balance and Build Resilience)
Mindfulness Teacher for teachers and staff at Reiche Community School (volunteer)
Volunteer
Board Member, Sea Change Yoga (Portland, ME) - super cool organization!
Research Consultant, Somatic Experiencing International (Research Committee)
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine
Research Committee Member, American Society of Acupuncturists
Steering Committee, Year of Living Mindfully Sangha with Jonathan Foust
Fun Facts
I met my husband while teaching English in Japan. We got married at the Nagasaki City Hall on a Monday afternoon.
I love to sing and I'm learning to play the ukulele.
Spent some time in clown school. My clown’s name is Buster. He is 4! He loves to ice-skate on freshly waxed floors. He says... "hallooo!"
My favorite thing to do is be in nature with my kids. We hike and go to the ocean any chance we can. I absolutely love the ocean.
I came out of a 20 year acting retirement to be part of Dee Clarke's The Last Girl (October 2022), a play based on Clarke's testimony on sexual trafficking to the Maine Human Rights Commission in 2014. An amazing advocate, Dee founded Survivor Speak USA. It was an enormous honor to be part of such a powerful project and among the amazing inspiring survivors that were part of this production.