iris Martin, L.ac, dipl.om (Pasadena & Carlsbad)
Hi! I am a Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Yoga Instructor, and the founder of VIM. It is my passion to help others feel their best.
I have a background in social services, psychology, and education. After working for nearly a decade with special needs children, I began studying and teaching yoga with the hopes of bringing more balance and peace into my life. Since 2008, I have been teaching a variety of yoga classes from Prenatal to Vinyasa flow in studios as well as in private settings. I have always been an athlete, and played volleyball year-round growing up. My love of movement and sports was a natural precursor to my fascination with and study of the body.
I became inspired by personal experiences receiving acupuncture and decided to go back to school for my Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In acupuncture I have found my true calling and I am blessed to be able to draw from knowledge gained in all parts of my personal and professional life. I focused on pain relief and pain management in school and received an additional certification in Sports Medicine. I studied under amazing teachers learning how to apply different techniques to speed healing time, increase range of motion, and decrease and eliminate pain. This medicine is such a practical tool for athletes and should be incorporated into training plans for optimal performance, injury prevention, and recovery. I love treating pain related to postural issues, ergonomics, and repetitive stress injuries as well.
I graduated from Five Branches University in Santa Cruz and worked for many years in Los Gatos, CA at a family-centered practice treating the full gamut of imbalances such as allergies, migraines, pain, digestive issues, etc. As our lives tend to inform our practices, this clinic also focused on fertility, prenatal, and postpartum care and I was fortunate to be a part of this group throughout my own fertility struggle and IVF pregnancy. Acupuncture was an integral part of my journey and this experience added a layer to my learning and expertise that I didn’t anticipate but am so grateful for. Being able to help patients facing similar challenges is one of the many silver linings of my personal journey. I will forever be passionate about helping women conceive and care for their bodies before, during, and after pregnancy.
In 2021, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. I found myself facing a new set of obstacles and an opportunity to blend my knowledge of eastern medicine with the aggressive but life-saving approaches of western medicine. I am now cancer-free and even more grateful for each day that I am here to love and serve. These “accidental” specialties have expanded me in ways that weren’t accessible before and have blessed me with the ability to more compassionately care for my patients.
In my spare time I relish the young years with my rainbow baby and seek out new adventures. I love reading, exercising, traveling, and enjoying nature.
Dr. Zelina Medina, LAc, Dipl.om (pasadena)
My name is Zelina and I have a passion for healing and wellness. Coming from a lineage of healers, I discovered my life path after recovering from several health hardships including Lupus, addiction, a back injury and more.
In 2007, I found myself stuck in a health and emotional rut. I had been recently diagnosed with Lupus and I felt as though my life and desire to keep living it, was slipping away. I was in the middle of a full blown addiction to drugs and alcohol. My kidneys were failing and my doctor told me that if I didn’t take the medication he was prescribing, I would die. He also said that I couldn’t have kids, I’d be in pain for the rest of my life and that what I had, had NO CURE. I was left feeling incredibly depressed and hopeless.
I didn’t know a whole lot about healthcare then, but taking an immunosuppressant drug (a drug that suppresses the immune system) seemed counter intuitive.
I started researching Lupus day and night and found that most patients who took those drugs were progressively getting worse, and with newer problems. “There must be another way,” I thought. I started on a seriously strict path to sobriety and holistic healing and at the urge of my mother I decided to try acupuncture.
From that very first treatment, I felt a major shift. My faith in recovering was renewed, I felt as though healing was possible. “Why isn’t everyone doing this?” I thought. I was progressing with each treatment, and combined with food therapy, yoga, meditation, and other forms of therapy; my health improved. My labs were normal after just 1 year. I still suffered with flare ups and mental health issues, but continued on my healing journey. That journey led me to explore indigenous practices like sweat lodge and plant medicine ceremonies, from Los Angeles to Mexico and Peru. I began learning spirit healing. I discovered the root cause of my own disease and have explored an astonishing number of modalities for healing, from the conventional to the unconventional. I have learned a lot about the connection between spirit and science for total healing and transformation. I studied the science of Yoga, Fitness, Meditation, Metaphysics, Energy Healing, Soul Retrieval, Plant Medicine and so much more.
I HAVE BEEN SYMPTOM FREE FOR 12 YEARS! I no longer have Lupus and I am thriving in my 40’s. And I’ve been sober for many years. I had a daughter with zero complications and completed 2 triathlons. Anything is possible and I am living proof.
I work by discovering and treating the root cause(s) of disease, which in many cases is/are due to a mind-body-spirit disconnect. Trauma stuck in the body often manifests as pain, discomfort or other health conditions. I often work with women recovering from trauma, autoimmune conditions, women’s health issues, mood imbalances and more. I like to combine different practices that target the Mind-Body-Spirit connection such as guided meditation, food, lifestyle medicine and anything else I feel someone needs.
I am not your typical doctor, I like to listen and I devote my time to you and your healing journey. I meet you where you are. I have gifts to share and my work is unlike anyone else’s. My goal is to help you look and feel great, to remind you of your POWER and to make you feel seen and heard. I lead with compassion and care, while motivating you to level up. I am trauma-informed and certified.
I graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences with my Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2015, and completed my Doctorate program at Emperor’s College in 2018. I completed a Traditional Mexican Medicine course in Oaxaca, Mexico as hosted by the University of New Mexico in 2016, a study program at the Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, CA in 2012, and countless independent studies in holistic health and spiritual well-being throughout the years.
I am an artist at heart and also enjoy creating, singing, dancing and spending time with my daughter out in nature. I love to laugh, read and learn about different topics like Astrology, human behavior, Metaphysics, Spirituality and more.
I am licensed by the California Acupuncture Board and Nationally accredited by The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, with countless other certifications in Integrative Medicine studies.
Hablo Español.