An Hour on Pins and Needles: Blue Heron Wellness

TAKE THE TYPICAL POST-WORK BOOZE FEST, subtract the alcohol, substitute soothing tunes for the jukebox and bar stools for yoga mats, add needles, and what do you get? Blue Heron Wellness' acupuncture happy hour. "We call it happy hour because it's a chance to turn off the nervous system and go into relaxation mode," explains the yoga studio's co-owner, Susan Berman.

» WHAT IT IS: While a traditional acupuncture session is a lengthy proposition -- it takes more than an hour and a half for the first visit alone -- this group version gives people their needle fix in just 45 minutes. That's because Berman and co-acupuncturist Stephanie Judge insert needles only in the ear, which happens to be a universally safe place to poke.

It's also conveniently considered a "microsystem" for the entire body, i.e. you can affect anything from your head to your toes by focusing on the inner section of the ear. So, just five skinny needles (15 fit into the head of a hypodermic) can target all of the body's main organs: the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and autonomic nervous system.

And there's another perk, depending on your proclivities: You get to keep your clothes on.

» THE SCENE: It looks a lot like a typical yoga class, only with fewer folks in stretchy black pants (it's more of a jeans or office attire affair). Participants take off their shoes to enter the room, and sit down on a mat. But then it veers in a new direction when it's time to pass around the alcohol -- in the form of prep pads. Everyone wipes down their ears and waits to get punctured.

» THE PROCESS: Berman and Judge work the room one by one, speaking in hushed tones as they tell participants to relax and take a deep breath before each insertion. "That's how she knows I'm ready for it," says regular Chris Jones, 23. Once you're sporting your 10 needles, you lie down, cover yourself with a blanket and listen to the music and Judge's readings (usually selections about the season).

» THE REACTION: All newbies anxiously ask Berman the same question -- does it hurt? "It's not sensation-free. We want you to feel a little heat," Berman replies. As Lisa Paulo, 30, had her first taste a few weeks ago, she sighed with relief after needle one was in. "Oh, yeah, that's fine. I feel like it's nothing. It's so much worse to get your ears pierced," she said.

After about 30 minutes of meditation, it's time to take out the needles, which all agree is fairly painless. (Although some do need the provided cotton balls to dab at emerging dots of blood.) Then there's a debriefing to discuss everyone's experiences -- some feel warmth, a throbbing sensation or a pulsing through their bodies. One woman's state was clear to everyone in the room who had heard her soft snoring.

» THE CROWD: Some participants are curious first-timers, but the majority are women (and a few men) who have acupuncture on a regular basis and are looking for a pick-me-up between sessions. "It's like a power nap. It's a tune-up for my body," explains Diane Stalter, 56. But it isn't the same experience as having a personal session devoted to a specific issue; the sensation is more one of overall relaxation. And there's a group energy, Berman says: "I can feel a huge difference when everyone's in the space together. It feels like we're taking care of each other."

"We might as well go for drinks afterwards," Jones says of the bond he's formed with his fellow prickees. He's joking, of course. As Berman notes, acupuncture and cocktails don't mix, especially if you want to get the full benefits for your liver, but most people do leave a bit buzzed from the experience. "It's a little hard to drive afterwards," Jones admits. After all, traffic isn't nearly as peaceful as having needles in your ear.

Photo by Marge Ely for Express