Practitioner Profile

Barbra Esher, AOBTA CI, Dipl. A.B.T., Dipl. Ac.

Ms. Esher became an American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) certified practitioner in 1991 and a certified instructor in 1994. She served AOBTA from 1994-2005, first as a state representative, then continuing to the national board of directors as Membership Director, President and finally Director of Education. She served as Vice President for Internal Affairs and Chair of the Continuing Education Committee for the Maryland Acupuncture Society (MAS) from 1999-2006. Her awards include AOBTA’s Service Award- 1997 & 2002, Fearless Leader Award-2002, President’sAward-2005 and Excellent Educator Award-2005.

She earned a B.F.A. degree from the San Francisco Art Institute and an acupuncture degree from the Maryland Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Bethesda, Md.

After a career as a widely exhibited fine artist, Esher began studying shiatsu and East Asian medicine from 1982 at Iokai in Tokyo, during a cumulative five-year stay in Asia. At the same time, she worked for an American documentary film company doing research and production work and eventually directed footage shots in Japan. She graduated from the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley and completed training in Nuad Thai at the Foundation of Moh Shivagakomparaj, Traditional Medicine Hospital in Chang Mai, Thailand.

She served on the Board of Commissioners for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which certifies Asian Bodywork Therapy, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs. She was also the curriculum coordinator and senior instructor for the Asian Bodywork Therapy program at the Baltimore School of Massage. She travels extensively to lecture and has written for various professional publications for years. She maintains a private shiatsu, acupuncture and herb practice in a historic, funky neighborhood in Baltimore called Hampden and in her home.
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Barbra is a certified trainer in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and a certified coach in Maryland. She loves coaching people, particularly around communication issues and teaches NVC all over the world. More about coaching and NVC  here.

Presently, included in her various other activities are martial arts, yoga, qigong, kayaking, guitar and organic gardening.

Ms. Esher places acupuncture needles for a client at her studio