You don’t have to be “sick” to start feeling better with acupuncture and bodywork

What if you didn’t have to wait until you’re “really sick” to feel better? We sit down with Dr. Cynthia Ann Hayes-Hurst—Dr. Cindy—whose journey from critical care and emergency medicine to a doctorate in acupuncture reshaped how she helps people heal. After decades watching preventable issues turn into crises, she built Serendipity Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork to meet folks earlier, with care that blends physical medicine, nutrition, and movement in ways that fit real life.

We break down the myths around acupuncture and share why it’s not just about needles. Think nervous system regulation, improved circulation, pain relief, and calmer stress responses—supported by acupressure, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and everyday nutrition shifts. Dr. Cindy’s whole-person approach spans body, mind, and spirit, and it’s designed for everyone: newborns building strong foundations, adults juggling stress and posture, and older adults focused on mobility, sleep, and independence. If something feels “a little off,” that’s your cue—not a reason to wait.

You’ll hear practical ways to start: simple daily habits that boost energy and ease pain, plus how a short, budget-friendly visit can help you test what works for your body. We also share details on Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day on October 24, a welcoming chance to try treatments, ask questions, and get a feel for integrative care with zero pressure. Want to learn more or book time with Dr. Cindy? Call 772-521-3638 or email [e-mail], and explore Serendipity Massage & Acupuncture online. If this conversation sparks ideas for your health, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps more neighbors find care that actually fits.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:03):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, GarfieldBowen.

SPEAKER_02 (00:21):
Welcome to Good Neighbor Podcast Live.
Are you looking for acupuncturephysician?
Well, one may be closer than youthink.
Today, the good pleasure ofintroducing to you Dr.
Cynthia Ann Hayes Hurst withSerendipity Therapeutic Massage
and Bodywork.
Dr.
Cynthia, how are you doingtoday?

SPEAKER_01 (00:41):
I'm good.
How are you?

SPEAKER_02 (00:42):
I am well.
I am well.
We're excited to learn all aboutyou and your uh practice.
Tell us about your company.

SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
My company is serendipity therapeutic massage
and body work.
I didn't know that I was goingto grow up to become an
acupuncture physician.
I started the company 20 yearsago after finding out that a lot
of the patients that I saw inthe hospital in critical care
and emergency medicine had a lotof conditions that could have
been treated before they endedup in a hospital.
So I wanted to do something thatwould give back to my community

(01:11):
and improve the health ofeveryone around me.
So I worked both jobs for quitea long time.
I've been a respiratorytherapist for more than 30
years, um, 35 years, and then Iwent back to school for
acupuncture in 2014, and I gotmy doctorate, which is the
highest level of educationavailable for Eastern medicine.

SPEAKER_02 (01:30):
Wow.
You've been keeping busy.

SPEAKER_01 (01:34):
I have.

SPEAKER_02 (01:35):
Listen, what are some of the myths and
misconceptions in the industry?

SPEAKER_01 (01:40):
Myths and misconceptions, you have to have
something wrong with you inorder to go seek care.
The best time to go seek care iswhen you start to notice
something being off, or you wantto prevent having anything
happen in the first place.
A lot of times we think that thetime to go in is when there's an
obvious problem.

(02:00):
But a lot of times you'll knowsomething's a little bit off
before that.
It's better to go when you firststart noticing things being just
a little bit off so that you canprevent having any catastrophic
care needs and improve yourhealth.
So through acupuncture andoriental medicine, we look at
diet, lifestyle, foods, um, bodymechanics.
There's a lot of other thingsthat we look at.

(02:22):
Um, the environment that youlive in, the way that you deal
with stress.
Um, we work on the body, mind,and spirit.
We use your own body's energy tohelp balance you so that you
have a happier, healthier,optimally wonderful life.

SPEAKER_02 (02:39):
Now we we know that marketing is the heart of every
uh business.
Um how would you describe yourtarget audience?
Who you think could reallybenefit from your services and
how do you attract them?

SPEAKER_01 (02:54):
The target audience is actually from newborns to
120-year-olds.
Anybody could benefit fromacupuncture.
When you're little, you'rebuilding and and growing and and
nurturing your body, what youwhat you got, your constitution.
And as we get older, we'retrying to maintain that and to
keep it strong.

(03:14):
And in our later years, we'retrying to just to improve what
what we have going on so that wecan be happy and healthy and
have a good quality of life inour in our senior years.
So everybody's my targetaudience, and it's usually word
of mouth.

unknown (03:32):
Okay.

SPEAKER_02 (03:32):
Have you ever thought about doing your own uh
podcast?

SPEAKER_01 (03:37):
I have thought about it, but I like being a guest on
other people's podcasts.
It's a lot of work to find abrand new person to talk to all
the time.

SPEAKER_02 (03:46):
Okay, that that that's true, that's true, that's
true.
Now, uh, when you're not so busyrunning a business, what does
Dr.
Cindy like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_01 (03:56):
For fun, I like to travel.
I have a big family, I have 10kids and uh eight grandkids, and
I do advocacy and education.
I'm an international speaker.
I like to combine my educationand learning with my travel time
and family time so I can get themost out of it.

SPEAKER_02 (04:16):
Yeah, a lot of time when people think of
acupuncture, they think of beinga pincushion, so to speak.
And uh we're just about out oftime, but I want you to tell
listeners one thing, if this isone thing they should remember
about serendipity, therapeutictherapeutic uh massage and body

(04:36):
work.
What should they remember?

SPEAKER_01 (04:39):
You should remember acupuncture isn't just needles,
it is physical medicine, it'snutrition, it's movement
therapy.
It's good for people before youhave a problem, it's good when
nobody can figure out what yourproblem is.
Um, and it's good for brand new,you know, from infants all the
way to transitioning um at theend of life care.

(05:00):
So it's a wonderful thing toadd.
If you had 20 minutes and$20,you could try it out.
Um we have acupuncture andherbal medicine day coming up on
October 24th, and you're welcometo come to the clinic and
experience it for yourself andsee what you think.

SPEAKER_02 (05:14):
Now, our listeners here have um one word on their
lips right now, and that's howhow can they get more
information on serendipity,therapeutic, massage, and
bodywork?

SPEAKER_01 (05:27):
They can call the office at 772-521-3638, or they
can email at the only resortspa, t-h e
o-n-l-y-r-e-s-o-r-t-s-pa atgmail.com.

SPEAKER_02 (05:46):
Is there a website or physical address?

SPEAKER_01 (05:49):
There is a website, serendipity, massage, and
acupuncture.

SPEAKER_02 (05:54):
Okay.
Listen, uh, Dr.
Cindy, it's been a pleasurehaving you on the show.
We wish you and your businessthe very best moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 (06:02):
Thank you very much, Garfield.

SPEAKER_00 (06:08):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gnplive.com.
That's gnplive.com or call eightseven seven nine three four
three three zero two.