Julia Tortolani, LAc MSTOM

As a cynical and skeptical person, acupuncture was in the new agey realm of dream-​catchers, crystals, yoga, and Whole Foods Market. I was cajoled into agreeing to see Jules, which I did, motivated by the desire to honor my promise to my Jules-​enthusiast acquaintances as well as by persistent ulcerative colitis symptoms that had emerged despite my extant medication regimen and my attempts to follow the instructions of my gastroenterologist to «stop being so stressed out.» I might have been willing to make a deal with the devil whilst using crystals and dream-​catchers and doing asanas so, why not try acupuncture?
I’d never tried acupuncture before, so was uncertain what to expect. Jules was thorough and attentive – carefully taking my medical history and inquiring about symptoms and functioning. As a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, some of her questions were atypical for a Western medical setting. The needling itself was not particularly painful, although aware of my newbie status, Jules was vigilant about checking in about pain and sensations.
Over the course of treatment, Jules has remained attentive, concerned, and accommodating. She seems to truly view me as the expert on my body. She listens and offers recommendations (e.g., dietary changes, relaxation techniques, herbs), though certainly not in a dogmatic way. From the beginning I have been impressed by her knowledge and noticed that she will seek additional information if she is unfamiliar with something.
For me, acupuncture has been incredibly relaxing. I actually leave her office much less cynical and skeptical and ride the F train home like I weren’t the hardened native New Yorker that I am. Acupuncture seems to have cured the day-​to-​day aches and pains that accrue. It also improved my colitis symptoms. Jules was not averse to my continued use of Western medical doctors and herself discussed the collaboration of East and West. So I would say that with acupuncture and moxa, a new gastro doc, and a tweaking of my meds, I feel much better. I highly recommend Jules, including if you’re a skeptical newbie.
PS-​I malign Whole Foods, but I actually like it. Kinda. Love-​hate.

Just a fantastic experience all-​around. The space itself is relaxing, fresh, clean, and inviting… but the real star is Julia. Jules is incredibly thorough in not only explaining where she is coming from but also in asking where YOU are coming from in the experience, all of which leads to a highly personalized session. Feeling that warmth and trust allowed me to truly relax and get the most out of our time together. The session itself was really helpful at addressing several issues in my body/​mind. I highly recommend checking this place out… I myself will absolutely be returning in the future.

I am so pleased with my experience receiving acupuncture from Julia! Julia’s demeanor is very warm and inviting, and quickly put me at ease. She is very easy to talk to because she really listens and wants to know about your journey with your own health. After a thorough intake, she took the time to explain to me what her approach would be and what to expect during the treatment. The needling itself was very comfortable. I have seen a number of acupuncturists and Julia definitely stands out as someone who really takes the time to understand her patients. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a thorough and thoughtful acupuncturist, and for anyone looking to try acupuncture for the first time.

Therapeutic and Relaxing!
Great healing environment. Julia explains everything she does in both east and west terms. It’s nice to have someone who understands how to integrate both. The office is clean, quiet and private. Julia asked a lot of thoughtful questions about my condition and my back felt so much better after the treatment. I’m definitely going back for the other conditions on my list!

I had a great experience here. I have a chronic back issue that has been helped by massage and Rolfing, but no matter how many treatments the pain still persisted. I hadn’t been to acupuncture in many years, but thought I would try it again. Julia and I went over my issues before the actual procedures. She asked many questions and seemed ACTUALLY interested in my answers. She gave me some insight into her treatment plan before she started.
I found her techniques to be very gentle, but thorough…
It has been a few days now and not only is my back markedly better, my hips feel more open and my energy level, in general, is just kicked up a notch. I plan to go back again next week.
The office is very clean and colorful, it’s clear the people that work there care for their surroundings.
I felt like I was in good hands from the start. Julia Tortolani is a find in Chelsea.