Kassandra Lau
Don Lightner is but one of dozens of holistic health practitioners, body workers and yoga instructors unexpectedly orphaned when the Providence Institute, after a decade of providing services, went out of business last November. But while others are still scrambling to rebuild their individual practices, Lightner and his Kimon Wellness enterprise, specializing in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, shiatsu and massage, are doing just fine.
"I've actually been able to expand into what was (the institute's) community clinic. I also brought in an architect to help redesign the space. It's now more warm and inviting." Lightner admits he has to do more of his own paperwork and set his own appointments, but the loss of the institute has helped him to expand and network in different directions.
"We now have a full herb pharmacy with prepared Chinese medicinals." While not incompatible with western medicine, Chinese medicine has a long history that Lightner says is "vast and powerful." While he admits preparing and using some of these herbs can be somewhat complicated, Kimon Wellness also offers prepared tinctures, tablets and powders that can be used topically. Some of the diverse things Chinese medicine can be used to treat include post partum recovery, bone spurs, colds and flu and chronic bronchitis.
Lightner shares his practice with wife Heather Walker, a licensed massage therapist, as well as a student intern from the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine where Lightner received his training and is a teacher and academic dean.
Visit 3400 E. Speedway Blvd. #206, TannoKimon.com or call 979.3983 for more information.
