All hail Christina Hatgis, who somehow magically got my knee to be bendable again! Well, maybe it's not magic. Maybe it's the result of attentiveness and talent and a wise and gentle care. In any case, she's a gem.
Eliza F
Christina really listens and is deeply invested in the whole health and wellbeing of her patients. Her treatments have helped me manage injury, illness, and stress. I leave our sessions feeling grounded, rejuvenated, and with a renewed sense of clarity and connection.
Joanna C
I went to Christina for recurring pulled muscles in my feet, calves and hips. She listened attentively, offering effective exercises to alleviate symptoms and daily practice to prevent future injuries. As a skeptic, I am happily pleased by how successful Christina’s acupuncture is for me.
Daniel W
Christina takes the time to ask questions and really listen, which is rare in today’s healthcare settings. During our acupuncture sessions, she has helped me connect the dots of a larger health picture so I can build real wellness strategies into my life.
Claiborne M
Christina’s deep wisdom and compassion make her the rarest of healers: one who can truly listen and see a patient clearly and fully. When I leave a session with her, I feel calmer and more open, I have a better understanding of my own body and overall system and I have a stronger sense of my own healing process. I would send anyone seeking support for their health to Christina.
Annie P
Working with Christina is the highlight of my week. Nutritionist/therapist/acupuncturist/trainer/friend. She really is the whole enchilada. She can see all the parts of my life and address them together, holistically and inclusively.
Jodie O
Christina is a real gem. Her experience as yoga teacher coupled with her knowledge of acupuncture, means that she treats the whole person. She is such a good listener and a very sensitive practitioner. I trust her implicitly. Over many years, she has helped me with muscular problems, thyroid issues and more. Even when I don’t have a specific problem, I always feel better after a session with Christina.
Nancy B
Christina has so much empathy, calm understanding and a wealth of knowledge that even answering routine questions I found she offered much sage advice. For instance, teaching me that hydration is not just about water intake but more hot liquids, soups and broths. And also to regain some strength after a family health crisis, I might need to eat some steak or cheeseburgers, which I did, and it worked.
Elizabeth H
Every 1-hour treatment session begins with an investigative conversation. Acupuncture, focusing, and bodywork are used to move your energies. Not a “needles in, needles out” approach means that my focus is on one patient at a time, not in running two or three rooms at once in the hour we have scheduled together.
I also work with clients remotely on zoom. Remote treatments are designed to activate the Channel Systems. These sessions can also be tailored to focus on lifestyle modifications, including nutrition, movement, breathwork and meditative practices. Please contact me directly for more information on remote sessions
When I am with a patient I’m looking to facilitate whatever healing they believe they need to be doing, and I use my different skills depending on who they are and what they are coming in with. Some sessions are very physical, others are more energetic and psychological. If someone comes in with pain I can do an acupuncture treatment or massage and relieve the pain, but that pain isn’t just there just because of repetitive stress, it’s also there because of lifestyle: how they think about themselves comes into the session as well. I can use all of my skills to meet the patient where they are, and to provide a truly holistic and thorough treatment.
Often we will start to uncover things and something acute leads to the underlying issues. Patients come in with a physical complaint, but as we work together, they begin to also experience their nervous systems. Symptoms improve, but there is something about the interaction that often feels more important. They feel better not only in their physical body but also in their life as a whole.
Acupuncture is a 4,000-year-old medicine that originated in China. Built on a system of meridian pathways (channels in the body along which our energies (QI) flow) acupuncture invites the body to move blocked Qi, smooth out its flow, and restore balance in body, mind, and spirit. Chinese medicine posits that illness is a result of an imbalance of Qi in the meridians. This imbalance causes pain and illness in the tissues, glands, and organs. Acupuncture addresses these imbalances and through careful intake, we determine the original cause of the imbalance to rectify and gently invite the body back to restored health.
Focusing is an experiential, embodied and evidence-based practice of self-reflection. During Focusing, your attention will open up to multiple layers and aspects of embodied experience. Focusing is often compared to Mindfulness, Zen and different kinds of meditative practices. Focusing is a way of cultivating non-judgmental attention to the “here and now” that can be felt in the body and can support and encourage healing. I find that combining acupuncture/bodywork or movement therapy and focusing greatly enhances their therapeutic power. Focusing is a powerful add on for any therapeutic modality. It is often used by trained psychotherapists as well.
Bodywork: As I am trained in both Eastern and Western bodywork modalities, I utilize Moxibustion, cupping, gua sha (scraping), Tui Na, Swedish Massage, postural assessment and exercises as needed for each individual patient.
Yoga: I teach weekly classes at Prema Yoga in Brooklyn https://www.premayogabrooklyn.com/classes
and participate in their Teacher Training program. Email me if you are interested in private yoga classes.
Our first session is $250 including an in-depth, investigative intake conversation and treatment.
This session will be approx 90mins.
Following 60-70min sessions are $200.
I offer a 5% discount on packages of 5 or 10 sessions. These have a 6 month expiration.
If you are experiencing true financial need, please contact me to discuss how we can work together.
I have a limited number of sessions a month devoted to true financial need.
ABOUT ME
Health and well-being are a birthright yet our modern world makes claiming this birthright very difficult. As an acupuncturist, long-time yoga teacher, and certified focusing professional I use tools to support myself, my family, and my patients towards better health and well-being not only for today but for the long term. I am a two-time cancer survivor who actively uses these modalities in my healing. I am committed to supporting others in their healing journeys whether to optimize and tweak health seasonally, to address chronic illness, or to strategize to break habits and create new more healthful ones.
Born in New York and raised in London, England to Greek parents, I am multi-lingual and multi-cultural. I graduated from Princeton University in 1989 and took a winding path into the healing arts. I studied yoga intensively while working in marketing during the 1990s, becoming a certified teacher in 1998. I received an associate’s degree in massage therapy from Swedish Institute in 2000 and co-owned a yoga studio (Mala Yoga) in Brooklyn, from 2007-2017. I became a certified/licensed acupuncturist in 2020 (graduating with the highest academic honors from The Pacific College of Health & Sciences in NYC) and a certified Focusing professional in 2019.
My two greatest teachers are my kids; one is in college and the other is working in Paris. I live in Brooklyn, NY.
Our sessions are 1:1. The first one will be about 90 minutes and involve going over the intake form that you will be asked to fill in before our first appointment. During our first session together we will dive into your health history, determine what your main reason for treatment is, and create a plan together. We explore together the root cause of your illness.
Subsequent appointments are 60 mins.
Treatments include the use of tiny needles inserted along meridians. They may also include moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and massage therapy. Additionally, I offer exercises to help with musculoskeletal conditions and focusing to help get under some of the stories we may have that get in the way of our healing and peace of mind.
Tips for Your Acupuncture Treatments
- Wear loose-fitting clothes that can be easily rolled up above your elbows and knees. Also, you may need to expose your abdomen from your rib cage to the top of your hips, so avoid one-piece suits or dresses.
- Be sure you have eaten at least a light meal within a few hours before arriving.
- Avoid alcohol on the day of your treatment.
- Eat a little something prior to treatment to avoid the risk of nausea or dizziness.
- Avoid overeating immediately before treatment. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated after your appointment
- For best results, avoid strenuous activity immediately following treatment. Set aside enough time so that you are not rushing to and from your visit. Physical strain immediately before or after acupuncture can weaken your body.
- Keep a positive attitude and EXPECT positive results. As we follow through on your treatment plan, look for signs of improvement and take encouragement from them. Build an attitude that expects positive results and knows that profound healing is possible. Your beliefs and expectations have an incredibly strong influence on your body and are a key factor in healing.
Click here to download the forms and email back the acupuncture intake form before our first appointment:
-welcome letter
-acupuncture intake form (fill out)
-hipaa compliance