Subject: August at Oaktree: Health tips from Veronique and more!

August at Oaktree is all about transitions and reset!

In this issue:

✔️ Downtown news: Dr. Vanessa is returning from maternity leave soon! Thank you Dr. Martin for covering her practice! Important clinic updates and transitional care dates

✔️ Acupuncture for Stress – how it helps your body ACTUALLY relax

✔️ Upcoming Wellness Events – Yoga and acupuncture retreat on August 16th with Veronique (details below!)

Whether you’ve been with us for years or just joined, we’re so grateful to be part of your health journey.

Let’s dive in ⬇️

Transitions in Care: Important message from Dr. Martin & Dr. Vanessa!

To our valued practice members,

As summer winds down, we wanted to share a few important updates with you.

First, a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Vanessa's patients from me, Dr. Martin Zollinger. It has been an honour and a privilege to care for you over these past several months while Dr. Vanessa was away on maternity leave.

Supporting you on your journey toward better health has been deeply meaningful, and I’m incredibly grateful for the trust you've placed in me during this time.

My last day at the clinic will be Saturday, August 24th, 2025. Since Dr. Vanessa is scheduled to return on Monday, September 8th, the Oaktree team has arranged coverage to ensure your care continues seamlessly in the week leading up to her return:

● Tuesday, September 2nd and Wednesday, September 3rd – Dr. Katrina (from Oaktree Orleans)

● Friday, September 5th – Dr. Marie-Pier (from Oaktree Stittsville)

Now, a warm hello from me, Dr. Vanessa. I’m so excited to be returning to practice on Monday, September 8th after a few months away on maternity leave. In March, my partner Matt and I welcomed our baby girl Scarlett into the world. She’s now 4 months old, full of personality, curiosity, and constant motion! She already loves to babble (just like her dad!) and roll over every chance she gets. It’s been such a joy spending these first months at home with her.

While stepping away from practice has been bittersweet, it brought me peace knowing my patients, and new ones like you, were in the best hands. I chose Dr. Martin to care for you in my absence because we share the same values when it comes to chiropractic, wellness, and whole-person care. His thoughtful approach, attention to detail, and genuine compassion made him the perfect fit to step in while I was away, and I hope that came through in the care you received If we haven’t had the chance to meet yet, I’d truly love the opportunity to connect with you in person. I’ll be back for a couple of transitional shifts before returning full-time, and if your schedule allows, I’d be so happy to see you during one of these times:

● Wednesday, August 13th: 3:30-5:50pm

● Tuesday, August 19th: 11:30pm-1:00pm

Your health records and care plan will continue seamlessly, with the full support of our team to ensure consistency and personalized attention every step of the way.

And one more important thing! When you come in, don’t be surprised if you’re greeted by my friendly pup, Wesley. He’s been the official Oaktree greeter since he was just 11 weeks old, and he takes his job very seriously - tail wags, smiles, and all. Wesley is wonderful with people of all ages (babies included!) and has been the sweetest big brother to Scarlett these past few months. While he’s loved his time at home, he truly can’t wait to get back to work and see all his clinic friends again.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of your care. Whether you're continuing your journey or just getting started, we’re both so grateful to have walked alongside you.

Warmly,

Dr. Martin Zollinger, DC

Dr. Vanessa Jalbert-Caputo, DC

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Stressed Out? Acupuncture Can Help You Chill. For Real.

By Veronique Savoie,
Acupuncturist Downtown and Orleans

Let’s face it. Life is a lot these days. Work deadlines, relationship drama, news headlines, that never-ending to-do list. Even the fun stuff like summer weddings and group chats can start to feel like too much.

If your shoulders are permanently hunched, your jaw won’t unclench, or you feel like you're running on stress and snacks, you're definitely not alone. As an acupuncturist, I see it every single day. In fact, stress is one of the top reasons people walk into my clinic.

What happens when you’re stressed?

Have you heard of fight or flight? When you're under stress, whether it's emotional or physical, your body flips into "survival mode." That means your sympathetic nervous system kicks in, flooding you with hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Run! Fight! Do something!”

But here's the thing: that email from your boss isn’t a tiger. Stuck in traffic? Not a threat to your life. Yet your body doesn’t know the difference, so it stays stuck in high-alert mode. Over time, that chronic state of stress can wear you down mentally, emotionally, and physically.

You might notice:

Brain fog, irritability, or feeling emotionally "meh"
Tension headaches, neck or jaw pain
Digestive issues (because who can digest properly in fight-or-flight mode?)
Poor sleep or racing thoughts at night
Low energy and burnout
Anxiety that creeps in when you least expect it

So, where does acupuncture come in?

Acupuncture works by calming the nervous system. It gently nudges your body out of stress mode and into your parasympathetic state, also known as rest-and-digest. This helps regulate hormones, reduce tension, and activate your body’s own feel-good chemistry, like endorphins and serotonin.

After even just one session, many people say they feel like they can finally breathe. Their shoulders drop. Their minds stop racing. Some even feel like they’ve had a mini vacation without leaving the table.

What stress support with acupuncture can look like:

Feeling calmer and more grounded
Better focus and less overwhelm
Less physical tension
Improved sleep because your body is actually relaxed
A new sense of emotional resilience, even on tough days

Over time, regular acupuncture can help you change your stress baseline so you're not constantly teetering on the edge of burnout.

It’s not just needles.

I also love guiding patients with simple stress-support tools between sessions, like:

Breathwork and grounding techniques
Aromatherapy or calming teas
Easy-to-follow meditation or journaling practices
Sleep hygiene tips
Nutritional advice based on Traditional Chinese Medicine

You don't have to live in stress mode.

If you’ve been feeling maxed out and run down, acupuncture offers a reset your nervous system didn’t know it needed. And no, you don’t have to wait until you’re falling apart to get support.

Want to learn more? Book a free 10-minute Q&A with one of our acupuncturists to see if it’s right for you. Or jump right in and book your first session. Either way, we’ve got your back (and your nervous system).

Veronique, RAc

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