Acupuncture is a core part of our Integrative Fitness™ approach—the intelligent combination of fitness and wellness. Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and backed by evidence-based science, acupuncture gently stimulates key energy points to rebalance qi, reduce inflammation, and support your recovery journey. Whether you’re seeking acupuncture for pain relief, stress, anxiety, insomnia, or headaches, this time-tested modality works across the mind, body, and spirit.

By activating your body’s natural healing systems, acupuncture helps relieve common issues like back pain, neck pain, sciatica, knee pain, shoulder tension, and muscle soreness. It modulates endorphins, improves circulation, and promotes emotional well-being—all while supporting faster recovery and long-term mobility. Whether you’re working toward peak fitness or simply craving more balance, acupuncture is a powerful tool to help you feel your best, inside and out.

Utilize acupuncture at Live Fit Gym to help your fitness journey, whether to calm and soothe stress or address acute pain, musculoskeletal ailments, & more.

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Natural relief through acupuncture: what we treat at live fit wellness

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Acupuncture can help in a wide range of physical ailments. Some even report it helps with their overall energy levels, emotional, & mental release. Used alone or in conjunction with conventional treatments, Acupuncture can help optimize the efficacy of other treatments–used synchronically.

Some uses for Acupuncture include, but are not limited to:

is acupuncture painful?

At our San Francisco acupuncture clinic inside Live Fit Gym, one of the most common questions we hear is: “Will it hurt?” The short answer is—most people are surprised by how gentle acupuncture actually is.

Acupuncture uses hair-thin, sterile needles—so fine they’re often compared to a strand of silk or cat whisker. Unlike injections or blood draws, acupuncture needles don’t cut the skin. Instead, they gently stimulate specific points to trigger the body’s natural healing response. Some clients feel a slight pinch or a dull warmth, while others report feeling absolutely nothing at all.

As soon as a needle is inserted, your body begins releasing endorphins (natural painkillers), anti-inflammatory compounds, and serotonin. These neurochemicals help reduce pain, regulate mood, & calm the nervous system. This is why acupuncture is such a trusted modality for those seeking chronic pain relief in San Francisco, stress reduction therapies, and natural insomnia treatments—without pharmaceuticals.

For many, acupuncture sessions at our San Francisco wellness gym feel deeply restorative. Some even experience an emotional release, especially if they’ve stored trauma, stress, or tension in their body. According to trauma researcher Dr. Bessel van der Kolk*, somatic therapies like acupuncture help reset the nervous system, allowing space for physical and emotional healing to unfold.

Whether you’re exploring needle-based therapies for anxiety, sports recovery acupuncture in SF, or just want to feel more balanced and energized, acupuncture offers a safe, evidence-backed option for both first-timers and longtime wellness enthusiasts

*As stated within the book “The Body Keeps The Score” by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk.

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WHY IS ACUPUNCTURE IN A GYM?

At Live Fit Gym, we believe fitness isn’t just physical—it’s neurological, emotional, mental & cellular. Acupuncture perfectly complements your workout by supporting your body’s recovery, enhancing circulation, reducing pain, & rebalancing stress hormones.

When paired with training, acupuncture accelerates muscle repair, improves sleep quality, & calms the mind—key elements of long-term performance and well-being. It helps regulate cortisol, the stress hormone that can sabotage gains, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (your rest-and-digest state), which is crucial for injury prevention & recovery.

In our Integrative Fitness™ model—the intelligent combination of fitness and wellness—acupuncture isn’t a luxury. It’s a performance tool. Whether you’re lifting weights, managing chronic pain, or seeking emotional resilience, acupuncture helps your body recover smarter, not just harder.

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Meet Your Acupuncturist

Dr. Patricia Kim, L.Ac., DCSM

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Patrica is very passionate about her work in treating various conditions related to pain management,
mental-emotional and spiritual health, internal medicine, facial rejuvenation, women’s health, pelvic floor disorders, digestive issues, and orthopedics/ sports medicine. She integrates the ancient Japanese method of abdominal palpation (Fukushin Kampo) to aid in diagnosis, that is part of her classical herbal training from the Institute of Canonical East Asian Medicine. She is also certified in sports medicine acupuncture and is experienced in pelvic floor dry needling.
For many years, Patricia worked in the demanding field of science research and the fast-paced NYC corporate world, where her health went into a downward spiral. This sparked her journey into self-
discovery, where she was led to a transformative meditation practice that revealed the powerful mind-body-spirit connection and ultimately inspired her to become a healer.

Patricia received her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine degrees, along with a certificate in Medical Qigong from ACTCM at CIIS. Prior to studying TCM, she earned a BA in Psychology and a Master’s in Biomedical Chemistry.

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Acupuncture locations in San francisco

It’s time to try acupuncture to help optimize your fitness & wellness journey. Let’s book you now: