Meet Michael Lay | Sports Acupuncturist

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

Hi Michael, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind the success of my practice has been a genuine passion for helping people get back to doing the things they love. For more than 24 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with patients from all walks of life—from professional athletes to everyday people dealing with pain or injuries that limit their movement and quality of life. Each patient is like a puzzle, and I truly love figuring out the best way to help each person.

Early in my career I became deeply interested in sports and orthopedic acupuncture because I saw how powerful it could be in helping the body heal naturally and restore function. Over the years I’ve pursued extensive advanced training to continually refine my approach and stay at the forefront of my field. I am continually striving to give patients the best outcomes with the latest treatments for their condition. I also assist in teaching sports acupuncture to acupuncturists from all over.

At Uptown Acupuncture, our focus is not just on relieving symptoms but on understanding the root cause of pain and helping the body recover and perform at its best. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone walk in with pain or limitation and leave feeling stronger, more mobile, and confident in their body again. That transformation is what has driven my work from the very beginning.

What should our readers know about your business?
Uptown Acupuncture was built around a vision of bringing a more advanced, sports and orthopedic approach to acupuncture in Denver. When I began practicing nearly 25 years ago, I saw the incredible potential acupuncture had for treating pain, injuries, and performance issues, but I also recognized that many people were unfamiliar with how effective it could be for musculoskeletal conditions. That inspired me to pursue extensive advanced training in orthopedic and sports acupuncture and to build a practice focused on helping people move and perform at their best.

What sets Uptown Acupuncture apart is our integration of traditional acupuncture with modern sports medicine principles. Every treatment begins with a detailed orthopedic assessment and movement analysis so we can identify and treat the root cause of pain rather than simply masking symptoms. Many people today are familiar with the term “dry needling,” which has become popular in sports medicine and physical therapy settings. In reality, the techniques now referred to as “dry needling” are methods that acupuncturists like myself have been practicing and refining for decades as part of advanced orthopedic acupuncture training.

Building the practice was not always easy. Like many entrepreneurs, it required persistence, hard work, patience, and belief that I was truly doing the right thing. As we approach nearly 25 years in practice, I’m most proud of the reputation Uptown Acupuncture has built in Denver as a trusted resource for thoughtful, results-driven care. My commitment remains the same today as when I started: to continually refine my craft and help people heal, move better, and stay active for the long term.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been many people along the way that have truly helped in teaching me not only sports and orthopedic acupuncture, but also how to treat with compassion while always striving to give my very best.

My first mentor is Whitfield Reeves, L.Ac. who is a sports acupuncturist that offers a sports acupuncture apprenticeship and really developed me on my path down the sport and orthopedic route. He is truly a pioneer in orthopedic and sports acupuncture.

My second mentor is Matt Callison, L.Ac. who developed the sports acupuncture certification program. I had the pleasure of working closely with him, and assisting him as well, as he trains others. He has been invauluable to me as his approach gives me other fantastic tools that can take my treatments to the next level.

Both of these individuals have shaped me into the acupuncturist I am today.

Website: https://www.uptownacupuncture.com/

Instagram: @uptown.acupuncture

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lay-l-ac-nbao-c-sma-7555a83