Conversations with Cinamon Kimbrough

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cinamon Kimbrough.

Hi Cinamon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My love for anatomy began at age 11 when I joined my dad during a continuing education course for dentists. He took his group, the WGSTD (Cranial/Holistic Dental Group), on an excursion to the University of Wisconsin’s Anatomy lab. The professor there was incredibly enthusiastic and inspiring. Before we even went inside, he asked, “Do you want to see someone with 100 gallstones? A smoker’s lung? A healthy lung?” He dispelled the “eww” factor of cadavers and ignited a lifelong passion for anatomy within me. This interest led me into illustration in the late 1980s and eventually down the path of Craniosacral Therapy and Chinese Medicine.

I grew up on an organic farmette with raw goat’s milk, organic gardening, and organic chickens, eggs, and cows while helping my parents with their holistic dental office and seminars. Today, that setup might sound idyllic, but to a young daydreamer, it was labor-intensive and far from the excitement of the “cool townies.” Our medicine included supplements, homeopathy, craniosacral therapy, AA/Al-Anon, hymns, psalms, and spiritual readings. At 18, I decided to diverge from this discipline to become a graphic designer and illustrator in Chicago. I designed for festivals such as the Chicago Latin Film Festival and Jazz Festival and nightclubs like Shelter, House of Blues, and Excalibur.

However, balancing my health and motherhood took its toll. Around this time, I read Yvon Chouinard’s book, “Let My People Go Surfing,” which prompted me to reassess my life. Graphic design, once my passion, seemed like a wasteland and failed to provide the lifestyle and health I valued. My extraordinary sons, who are extreme athletes, were healed through my dad’s expertise in osteopathic craniosacral therapy and homeopathy. Like a prodigal child, I returned to my roots and enrolled in massage school (Cortiva Chicago School of Massage 2007) as craniosacral therapy shifted from osteopaths to body workers. I spent five years learning from my dad, and I was also nurtured by the incredible chiropractor and neuroanatomy professor, Julie Kotiw. She gave me free reign to use these modalities and we had amazing results.

Reconnecting with craniosacral reignited my love for anatomy. I started resonating with the Acupuncturist at Dr. Kotiw’s office leading me to pursue acupuncture degrees from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine (2015) and six years ago, the Phoenix Institute of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (2023) for a master’s degree. In my practice, I blend craniosacral work with Chinese Medicine, which has been particularly beneficial for patients with needle sensitivities. I was also supported by fantastic leaders and chiropractors, Julie Kotiw, Bahia Al-Salihi and Dr. Lisa Rose, who helped me develop my first illustrated book for acupuncture students, integrating fun yoga poses and color coordination to the five elements.

I continue to illustrate and collaborate with practitioners and self-care experts, just as my parents did. I am passionate about bringing alternative therapies to patients for home use, organizing inspiring events that promote healthy living, and illustrating the body’s incredible healing abilities. Phoenix, with its magical atmosphere, is an ideal place for these events. Arizona’s own Yoga instructor and neuroart guru Tali Lehavi, yoga/dance instructor Katy Hembrough, AMAAZ, Dr. Alan Chung, and Dr. Sarah Doerr have been crucial in fostering mini workshops and a wellness community. through my years here. Our valley is brimming with amazing self-care instructors and practitioners, creating a rich environment for natural health. Recently I am honored to be teaching holistic therapies for Stomach Cancer Patients to do at home for both caretakers and patients with Hope for Stomach Cancer.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been an interesting one, as it has been very winding, narrow, unique, and full of surprises. What saves me is my most powerful emotion: curiosity, love of nature, and my connection to the ” sacred breath of life”. I think Asian medicine has been helpful in explaining life’s flow. Working in this field and within the meridians of people trains you to balance life. When I read The Yellow Emperor one day, I resonated with this philosophy, no matter what. “… it is good to exercise, to stay open and unsuppressed (physically and emotionally)… stretching exercises to loosen up the tendons and muscles… stay active to prevent the pores from closing and qi stagnating and… breathing exercises to keep lung energy full, clean, and quiet.”

The most challenging struggle was balancing real family life, relationships, and financial responsibility with my studies, practice, and moral compass. All these fluctuate and flow with different frequencies. Aligning my own frequency to mesh with these certainly is a lifelong pursuit.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I created this book, INTERACTIVE MERIDIAN YOGA POSES: TO ASSIST IN LEARNING TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE MERIDIANS AND ESSENTIAL ACUPUNCTURE POINT CATEGORIES sold on ETSY as a pdf and Amazon for print.

It’s a creative and colorful illustrated acupuncture and yoga student guide that is visual, kinesthetic, and educational. This assists in the learning of the Traditional Chinese Meridians and the essential acupuncture categories that acupuncture students need to memorize.

I love how it connects me with people around the world and we get to share our journeys with either the love of yoga, Asian Medicine or Natural Medicine. I was so surprised talking to people from Korea, Lithuania, Netherlands, Spain, Canada as well as the United States. Art truly breaks down barriers to connect. If anyone can’t afford the pdf, I of course send a complimentary one. I know I appreciated the donated pdf in my learning experience. I also learn from my buyers and that creates the community I yearn for. We are moving our meridians, connecting and learning from each other. It fuels my love for anatomy and makes living fun.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe in living the medicine, holding space for yourself and others, and finding the breath of life within and outside to keep it fresh, exciting, and inspiring. I look around for motivation. My sons teach me through their extreme sports that you must do things a million times to get them right, then you refine them. My grandson teaches me that movement and joy are always available. Phoenix allows me to meander in nature with my favorite mountains to keep me vibrant and healthy as I meander and ramble about my day. Very grateful for this extraordinary place.

Pricing:

• 19.95 Book in Print (Amazon)
• 10.00 Book in Pdf (Etsy)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meridianninja.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meridianninja/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/listing/867962847/pdf-file-interactive-meridian-yoga-poses

Image Credits
Pics 3 and 4: courtesy of Hope for Stomach Cancer (https://stocan.org/)
Pic 8: Photograph by Katie Hembrough