Meet Erik Johnson: Acupuncturist & Beekeeper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erik Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erik, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Between running two businesses (an Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine practice and a beekeeping business), being a father/husband, and still finding personal time to explore/connect/recharge, life is all about finding a good balance. When covid hit, I found myself in the same state of disorder that many of us experienced – my practice was forced to shutdown, childcare and in-person school for my daughters were no longer an option, and I was following stay-at-home orders with my family. In these moments of chaos, I have learned that the best way to regain balance is to focus on the things that I can control and to always keep an open mind about new possibilities. I also made sure to give myself permission to grieve and to honor the varying emotions that came up with all of the abrupt changes in life. Even if I didn’t understand the complexities of my emotions, I still honored them and gave myself space to express them. While I am not suggesting that covid has been a good thing, it surprisingly has opened up more possibilities than I could have ever imagined: my family and I found our dream home in the mountains of Indian Hills and sold our Denver home right in the middle of the pandemic, I expanded my business by adding a new location in Lakewood, I discovered a better scheduling balance with patient care at my offices to avoid any burnout, and I’ve even found a way of carving in a weekday of skiing every week in the mountains. Things are always changing and I find myself still adjusting on a weekly basis, but I can honestly say that the future looks brighter than it ever has before. At the moment, I am still settling into to my new Lakewood office (on the SE corner of Green Mountain) and commuting into Denver on Tuesdays to see existing patients. I am loving the new Lakewood location and especially loving that my daily commute is 40 minutes less per day. That extra time is spent with my family and catching up on new projects that I have been eager to start (like a new line of Bee Propolis salves). I have also been looking for opportunities everyday to work smarter (not harder). That includes not being afraid to ask for help/guidance when needed and seeking out services to help my business and free up more personal time. Life is all about balance. When you can wake up every morning excited to go to work, find plenty of quality time for family and friends, clear space for personal activities/growth, and still feel excited about new possibilities right around the corner, that is my definition of balance. It may not always be easy and there will be plenty of roadblocks along the way, but having that mindset to always look for balance will bring you success in life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love acupuncture and Chinese medicine for many of the same reasons that I love being a beekeeper – both are such an artform and every day is filled with surprises. Twenty years from now, I will still feel like I know absolutely nothing about both of these professions (in the best possible sense). My job is to always find balance and harmony in the work that I do, and my passion shines through in everything that I put my mind to. The path to my success was never an easy one and there were plenty of challenges along the way. I’ve had to throw out the preconceived notions I had about “Success” and create a new definition that worked for me. This new “Balanced Success” is what drives my life and empowers me to create new possibilities each and every day. Whether it is through my apitherapy (bee) products or through the work in my acupuncture clinic, there is an attention to detail and a pride in my work that shines through. I always invite people to come don a beekeeping suit with my in my apiary or join me in my office for a free consultation to learn more about me and these passions I have in life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Covid has certainly put a damper on many activities to do around the city, but these are some of my favorite things: * A concert at Red Rocks, while tailgating in the parking and laughing with friends * Hiking all of the amazing 13ers here in Colorado that often get overlooked because they are not > 14,000ft * Mountain biking at the Apex Trailhead or heading up to Staunton State Park * Paddle boarding at the Chatfield Reservoir or Evergreen Lake * Taking a road bike down the Platte to Cherry Creek Reservoir * Escaping to Devil’s Thumb Ranch for some relaxation and amazing cross-country skate skiing * Skiing at any of the fantastic ski resorts within only an hour or two from Denver * Dining out at some of the most amazing restaurants with gluten-free options: The Post for fried chicken, Turtle Boat for poke bowls, Hyderabad House for ghee roast dosas the length of the table, Roaming Buffalo for the best BBQ in town, Root Down for fresh and fun new American cuisine, and Mac Nation for the most fun and delicious mac and cheese.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A big shoutout goes to Scott David Clift, my life coach at Connexus services. Scott has helped with with everything from processing past trauma to creating new possibilities each and every day in my life. It is so incredible to have him in my life to help me better recognize the mind/body connection and to give me the tools I need to create lasting change.

Website: www.TheRootAcupunture.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therootacupuncture/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRootColorado
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRootAcupuncture
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-root-acupuncture-lakewood-2
Other: My beekeeping business: www.LetsBeeColorado.com

Image Credits
Kimberly Benfield Photography Joshua Trujillo Photography