Christine is a Licensed Acupuncturist and the Acupuncture Director at Pulling Down the Moon, a fertility-focused integrative complementary medicine center in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Christine holds a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. She has been a Board Certified practicing acupuncturist since 2004.

She has studied Chinese Tai Ji Quan at Wu Dang Mountain and Gong Fu at Shao Lin Temple in China. In addition, she studied Chinese herbology at the Beijing University of Traditional Medicine in 2003. She is a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor in the Iyengar method and has been practicing for over 20 years.

Christine focuses on helping people achieve maximum, lasting wellness by giving them the tools to heal themselves. She believes that health can be improved by using traditional methods of moderation and balance. Christine has helped support many couples on their journey to conceive.

She believes it is important to address both the body as well as the mind and the spirit, especially while trying to conceive. When Christine is not treating patients, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sweet daughters, listening to all kinds of music, strolling through the Chicago Botanic Garden and reading. Christine@pullingdownthemoon.com

Christine is a Licensed Acupuncturist and the Acupuncture Director at Pulling Down the Moon, a fe... Read More

Tanya Findlay (ERYT-200, RPYT) is driven by a passion to make yoga safe and accessible for everyone. Her style of teaching is dynamic and fun, making anatomy come to life through movement.

She began teaching in 2010 and has since undertaken extensive Hatha yoga teacher trainings, as well as many specialized trainings including the Amala School of Yoga’s Prenatal and Postnatal training. During this teacher training, Tanya met Beth Heller (of Pulling Down the Moon), who was facilitating a discussion and practice around Yoga for Fertility. It was as if her two worlds (yoga and infertility) had collided!

Tanya is a mother to 2 IVF miracles, a daughter and a son. She is especially grateful for the YFF series, which provided a first-time success rate for retrieval and transfer of her second born (compared to the 3 rounds it took to conceive her first, not having gone through YFF). She looks forward to supporting and empowering women to overcome their own fertility challenges at Pulling Down the Moon and on the Fully Fertile App!

Tanya@Pullingdownthemoon.com

Tanya Findlay (ERYT-200, RPYT) is driven by a passion to make yoga safe and accessible for everyo... Read More

Hi, I’m Jen. It’s nice to meet you!

My journey into healthcare began in my teens after watching a family member struggle to find help in the western medical world. I knew there had to be a different way to find relief and move towards real healing.

My first love is Nutrition and I earned a Masters in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health. I am still a foodie and love to cook. I believe in the power of plants and food as medicine.

I am a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago. A rigorous program of over 3000 hours, with over 500 clinic hours. My background includes training not only in acupuncture, but in a wide array of Chinese medicine modalities. I am licensed by the state and recognized by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and a certified NCCAOM Herbalist.

I have enjoyed specializing in women’s health and fertility care in my private practice and I am thrilled to continue to support this community in this integrated group practice. I consider it an honor to walk alongside my patients’ on their journey towards better health.

Hi, I’m Jen. It’s nice to meet you! My journey into healthcare began in my teens after watching ... Read More

Cassie is a certified Yoga Instructor who trained at Urban Breath Yoga in Saint Louis. She is also a certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor, with an additional 95 hours of instruction through Amala School of Prenatal Yoga and her Yoga for Fertility training through Pulling Down the Moon. As a way to offer personalized instruction and build relationships, Cassie prefers to keep her classes small. She employs Kriya yoga, including Hatha Yoga — involving body, breath and mind.

Cassie’s most recent focus is in Yoga for Fertility, and her classes can help you prepare your body and cope with the stress and emotions of the fertility journey. Her own journey led her to acupuncture, nutrition and chiropractic care — a holistic approach that helped her conceive her two sons. Cassie credits teaching Yoga for Fertility classes with truly helping her to heal, and she hopes to provide a supportive environment where students know they are not alone in their fertility journey.

Yoga has been a constant in Cassie’s life since college, providing a healthy, supportive outlet. She believes that it’s possible for anyone and everyone to reap the benefits of yoga. Thanks in part to her calm, friendly demeanor, Cassie’s students frequently say that they’ve forgotten the stresses of the day for a while and go home feeling relaxed. That equals success in yoga terms.

When Cassie isn’t in the yoga studio, she’s balancing life with a family of four and her career as a sales engineer. She loves spending time outside, whether she is cycling, hiking or skiing. Cassie has a passion for cooking — from gourmet meals at home to fancy meals on family camping trips. She lives with her husband and sons in the northwest suburbs of Chicago but stays true to her St. Louis roots as a die-hard Cardinals fan. Cassie@Pullingdownthemoon.com

Cassie is a certified Yoga Instructor who trained at Urban Breath Yoga in Saint Louis. She is als... Read More

Kelsi Karch (she/her) decided to become an acupuncturist after feeling a desire to help people in a more profound way. Kelsi has always been interested in the differences and similarities of humanity. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and she dreamed of a life in the spotlight. But years in the restaurant industry taught her that she genuinely loves helping people and she received her Master of Science Traditional Oriental Medicine in 2017 from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Kelsi has spent the past several years as a general practitioner and has experience treating numerous conditions. Throughout her career she has volunteered at a rehab facility, worked in community style acupuncture, and works with Pacific College supervising acupuncture students at the Chicago Women’s Health Center and Tapestry 360.

Additionally, women’s health and fertility has been an area of great interest to her and she marvels at how effective this medicine can be to treat and regulate a menstrual cycle. Kelsi utilizes acupuncture, moxibustion, diet and lifestyle suggestions to bring the body into balance.

After becoming a mother in 2015, she became more personally involved with how beneficial acupuncture and herbal medicine can be to experience a healthy pregnancy.

Kelsi hopes to someday perform on stage again and loves to sing Karaoke with friends. She also enjoys spending time with her daughter and volunteering at her school.

Kelsi Karch (she/her) decided to become an acupuncturist after feeling a desire to help people in... Read More

Sydney Stefanik, LMT (she/her/hers)

Sydney became a Licensed Massage Therapist through William Rainey Harper College, and went on to become fertility massage certified through the Integrative Care for Fertility Institute. Sydney’s warm and approachable personality helps create a safe and nurturing environment where clients can process life at their own pace, free of judgment and full of comfort.

Her primary focus is on providing individualized care tailored to each client’s unique needs while encouraging their goals. “I believe in fostering open communication, encouraging [everyone] to be their own advocates through introspection, and truly listening to their bodies. Each body holds its own truth, and I am honored to support my clients on their journeys in fertility, reproductive wellness and beyond!”

Having personal experience living with PCOS, Sydney understands how female reproductive health can impact daily life. Through her own journey and the challenges life presents, she has learned the importance of maintaining balance among emotional, physical, mental, social and spiritual health. With a passion for learning, she is excited to expand her expertise by completing training in prenatal and postpartum massage in the coming year.

When she’s not at work, Sydney cherishes time spent with loved ones and furry companions: Chip, her 11-year-old pitbull; Persephone, her 6-year-old long-haired diva cat; and Haineko, her very sassy 2-month-old kitten. Sydney also enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons with fellow TTRPG enthusiasts and indulging in her addiction to The Sims by exploring the latest expansion packs.

Modalities: Fertility Enhancement Massage, Therapeutic Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Friction Techniques, Joint Mobilizations, Trigger Point Therapy

Sydney Stefanik, LMT (she/her/hers) Sydney became a Licensed Massage Therapist through William ... Read More