We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Rundall recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
That’s a great question. I realized that imposter syndrome isn’t real—it’s simply a concept we can choose to accept or reject. As a practitioner of a medicine rooted in an ancient language that uses symbols to convey meanings, I have the unique opportunity to contemplate each word from multiple perspectives. The English language, on the other hand, is very direct and often confines us to specific concepts.
Using this contemplative approach, I look up the definitions of words and ask myself reflective questions. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an imposter is “a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others.” This clearly doesn’t align with my practice. From there, I turn my focus to what I know to be true about my intentions: I am a lifelong student, constantly learning from my own experiences and from everyone I work with. I am in awe of the human experience in all its forms—mistakes, successes, emotions, setbacks, recoveries, life, death, and everything in between. I am fully human, with nothing to fake or pretend.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, a certified nutrition coach, a yoga instructor, and a photographer. I use these skills to help people navigate life’s challenges, reconnect with their inner resources, and discover their own light. In practical terms, I assist individuals in rediscovering their natural flow through acupuncture, breathwork, and movement. I provide guidance on lifestyle choices that bring a sense of wonder and balance to everyday habits, such as food and nutrition. By tuning into the body’s signals, I help restore a sense of wholeness and well-being.
What I love most about Chinese medicine is the philosophy of supporting the body in the way it asks for, rather than focusing on what might be “wrong.” The human body is an incredibly intelligent system, and its signals have existed far longer than the English language. This approach encourages us to reconnect with the body’s innate wisdom and learn its unique language.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Curiosity. The study and practice of yoga, asana, and philosophy had the greatest impact on me in my early adulthood. The ability to connect with my body and observe my responses to my inner world, in relation to what was happening around me, was invaluable. At that time in my life, I was juggling many different roles and longing for clarity and a connection to spirit. Through curiosity, I came to see myself as both a leader and someone who could follow. It allowed me to understand that I didn’t have to choose one or the other. What a gift.
Courage. It takes courage to recognize the need for a major life change and to act on it. We live in a world where teenagers are encouraged to make decisions about how their entire lives will unfold. I was not someone who knew early on which interest would lead to a successful career. Instead, I followed my curiosity, exploring whatever interested me at any given moment. It was a wonderful way to live! At 40, I decided to return to school to study Chinese medicine. It was terrifying to start again, take board exams, and open my own practice, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I finally feel settled into a lifelong journey of curiosity. All the choices I’ve made up to this point have led me to where I am now and have shaped my current practice. It feels truly aligned.
Trust. Many of the choices we make shape our reality and truth. We choose the lens through which we view the world, the boundaries we set, our daily habits, and whom we trust with our true selves. There are things we can know for certain, and there are countless things we may never know. Trusting in this place of mystery is ultimately about seeking the light in everything. This balance has been a difficult one for me to find, and it will always be shifting.
To anyone on this path of curiosity, courage, and trust: keep going. This body carries the story of your journey—of you, in this time and space, and in all time and space. Linear time is just a concept; you have been, and are, everything you could ever imagine.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Life is interdependent, and I am always open to finding ways to collaborate with others. I love creating workshops that explore different paths to awareness. Right now, I am hiring practitioners who view the body through unique lenses. A new massage therapist will be joining us soon, and I am open to incorporating other modalities at Moon River Clinic. We are all providing tools to help people better understand themselves, and there is no single way to achieve that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moonriverclinic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonriverclinic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moon.river.acupuncture.clinic/
Image Credits
Friends and Lovers Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
