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Meet Your Team



We are an integrative wellness center offering acupuncture, orthopedic acupuncture, neuromuscular massage, cranial sacral therapy, rehabilitative movement, and customized nutritional and herbal prescriptions.

All of our modalities will help you heal and, when used together, will speed up recovery time. With your consent, we work together as a team to discuss your treatment plan and how best to support you.



Dr. Jamie Bender



Orthopedic Acupuncture, traditional acupuncture, and Herbal Consultations



Dr. Jamie received her doctorate in Orthopedic Acupuncture and Classical Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences. After many years of searching for her life purpose, Dr. Jamie found a fascination with the miracle that is the human body.


Her passion for healing led her down a 20+ year path of studying neuromuscular therapy, yoga therapy, nutritional therapy, herbal therapy, corrective exercise, acupuncture and Chinese medicine. This pathway in life keeps her endlessly fascinated as there is always more to learn about the body and each person presents their own unique puzzles to solve.


Jamie graduated from the Crestone Healing Arts Center with 650 hours of massage therapy training in 2000. In 2002, she completed her yoga teacher training at The Mount Madonna Institute and her certificate in herbal studies from The Northwest School of Botanical Studies.


A traumatic knee injury shifted her attention to orthopedics and injury rehab and furthered her fascination with helping the body heal. She then began studying neuromuscular reprogramming (NMR) and exercise rehab. After 10 years with an injury rehab practice, she went back to school to continue her studies and to complete her licensure in Acupuncture and her Doctorate in Orthopedic Acupuncture and Classical Chinese Medicine.



Akari Takahashi



Orthopedic massage



Akari, a former dancer, transitioned her passion for movement and body awareness into a fulfilling career as a Massage Therapist. As an Upledger Institute Certified Craniosacral Therapist, Akari skillfully integrates Orthopedic Massage into her treatments. Her therapeutic approach is a unique blend of the Graston Technique, Frederick Stretch Therapy, Active Release Therapy (ART), and Kinetimethod. This array of techniques allow her to precisely assess, address, and support each client’s journey towards ease.


Akari's passion for Massage lies in helping individuals forge a deeper connection with their bodies, emotions, and spirit. She firmly believes in the synergy of these elements, understanding that a harmonious balance leads to an ecstatic life. Her goal is to nurture your body with the care and attention it deserves, aiding in your journey towards that freedom.


When not practicing bodywork, Akari can be found either living it up in a dance studio or scavenging through the town in search of the best hidden hot springs.



Eva Larson



Acupuncture, herbal and nutritional Consultations



Eva Larson, L.Ac. is a California board certified acupuncturist and herbalist with over 10 years clinical experience. She has specialized advanced training in several areas of health and wellness including nutrition, digestive disorders, pain management and women’s health. She is passionate about nutrition, exercise, cooking and human biology. She uses acupuncture, herbal medicine and whole food nutritional therapy to solve complex health problems that often seem hopeless. It’s important to Eva to be valued by her community as an established, effective resource and an integral part of your healthcare team to help you achieve your goals.


She is warm and non-judgmental and willing to meet you where you are. She loves working with people who are motivated to make changes, committed to the process and prioritize their health and wellness so that together we can uncover and correct the source of what is bothering them.


Eva studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego and graduated in 2007 with a Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTOM). She was drawn to acupuncture after suffering with eczema for much of her life and finding little to no relief through western medicine. After just a few acupuncture treatments, herbal therapies, and recommended lifestyle changes, her eczema symptoms largely vanished and she began to explore everything else alternative medicine has to offer.


When not in the clinic Eva can be found swimming in the bay, jogging the streets of Alameda, curled up with a book but more often than not, in the kitchen



Kate Balison



Office Manager



Kate is who you talk to when you call Stepping into Wellness and who greets you at the front door. She loves people and is excited to chat with you about everything from booking your next appointment to what show or book you're currently loving.


She is from the small town of Brisbane, CA but has called Oakland home for most of her adult life. She studied Communications at San Francisco State University and has had a wide variety of jobs throughout her career. After years of navigating different industries she realized the one thing that all her jobs had in common was helping people. This discovery lead her to her newest passion which she is currently studying for - Hypnotherapy!


Kate prioritizes spending the time with family (this includes her three kitties) and spending time in nature above all. If she's not doing either of those things you can find her doing something with her hands whether it be painting, writing, gardening or any sort of crafting.