Acupuncturist, Zero Balancing Practitioner & Founder of Vital Traditions
Jared Urchek, M.Ac, L.Ac, CZB Jared began his higher education studying nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. It quickly became apparent to him that was not his path, and he transferred to Naropa University in Colorado, where he earned his bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (with foci in Psychology, Environmental Studies, and Eastern Arts). In his studies at Naropa, he was auspiciously introduced to Five-Element acupuncture by his teacher Marlow Brooks, and the Five-Element world quickly took hold of him.
Jared proceeded to enroll in and graduate from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (ITEA) in 2014, where he focused deeply in the study of Five-Element theory, and its clinical application. Special projects during that time also included organizing and running auricular detoxification (ear acupuncture), and clinics for both veterans' groups and the local homeless shelter.
Through ITEA, Jared was introduced to the world of Zero Balancing, a type of bone-centered massage, and continued study to become a certified practitioner. He is now also a certified Faculty member of the Zero Balancing Health Association, which allows him to continue the legacy of this unique touch-therapy work by teaching it to others. He now offers Five-Element Acupuncture, Zero Balancing, and classes, and produces handcrafted medicinal mushroom and herbal products.
Throughout Jared's time in Colorado, he was deeply involved in the world of Permaculture and wild foraging. Ever since, wild foods and medicines, espesically those of the Kingdom Fungi, became a central part of Jared's life work. Spanning from foraging, to medicinals, to cultivation and myco-remediation, he was and continues to be enthralled by the world of fungi and plants and in seeking ways for humans to live harmoniously on this Earth of ours.
Jared also practices Tai Chi (Yang short form), plays around with bonsori bamboo flute, is a Master Level Reiki practitioner, and has been studying and practicing healing arts since 2003. When he's not in the clinic, you can usually find him wandering the local woods in search of beautiful places, native plants, and useful medicinal fungi.
