Silver Needle Wellness & Shakuju Therapy! Interview with Robert Ziemanis

Get acupuncture with no needle pokes in Rumson

Asbury Park Press2:26 p.m. EST February 29, 2016

Robert V. Ziemanis owns Silver Needle Wellness, an acupuncture practice in Rumson.

(Photo: RUSS DESANTIS/CORRESPONDENT)

When did you decide you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I worked in multidisciplinary healthcare practices for some time. After seeing that Shakuju therapy didn’t quite fit within the existing business models, I realized that I needed to do this on my own.

Why did you start this business?

I started this business to create an opportunity for me to practice Shakuju therapy and help people improve the quality of their lives. I have seen this medicine do some wonderful things, and I opened my own practice to bring it to the people of Monmouth County. I am here to assist patients in regaining their health naturally, by reducing the need for unnecessary and potentially dangerous prescriptions and surgery. Because needles are not inserted with this style, I can offer it to a wider range of people than would normally go to an acupuncturist. Children, very sensitive people and anyone who is needle-phobic can all receive the benefits of acupuncture.

Were there any challenges that made you think twice about striking out on your own?

Starting this business has been a real stretch for me – it has really taken me out of my comfort zone. I had confidence in my treatment skills, but suddenly I had to discipline and promote myself in new ways, which was very intimidating. The fear of failure is a big challenge. So is sustaining the energy required to build and maintain a practice. There are many facets to learn about running a business, and I am still getting the hang of them all.

If you could do it again, what would you do differently?

I am somewhat of a perfectionist, and I have always tried to avoid making mistakes. So, to not take the wrong action, I took no action. That has isolated me and cost me. To do it again, I would be more proactive. If nothing else, this would challenge me to grow and learn my lessons sooner.

What’s the best business advice you have ever received?

“Practice your craft as if you were putting yourself out of business.” An instructor told me this a long time ago and it has always stuck with me. I want my patients feeling their best with the fewest treatments possible. Anything less is a disservice to those who seek my help.

Acupuncturist Robert V. Ziemanis owns Silver Needle Wellness in Rumson. Here, he treats Amy Novack of New Brunswick. (Photo: RUSS DESANTIS/CORRESPONDENT)

What personality trait helps you the most?

Willingness to learn. Each person brings a unique context that must be understood for me to do my job, and this continuously unfolds as we work together. It is important to stay open to that, and see each treatment as a fresh experience. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn, and my patients are my teachers.

What’s the hardest part of the job?

Though acupuncture is gaining acceptance as a valuable form of health care, there is still some skepticism when I tell people what I do. Many people do not understand that we are highly trained professionals. One needs to be licensed to practice this medicine. They often ask: “If the needle isn’t inserted into the skin, can it work?” Or: “Is it acupressure?” Our word acupuncture is an inaccurate translation of the East Asian term for needle therapy, which includes different types of needles and various ways of using them.

The easiest?

The easiest part of my job is also my favorite part – treating patients. It is very gratifying to see someone who has been held back by the obstacle of pain or disease get off the treatment table and regain part of their life. It is why I got into this business.

What surprised you the most about running the business?

A business takes on a life of it own. You must look after it as if you were raising a child.

Acupuncturist Robert V. Ziemanis (image reflected in the mirror), owner of Silver Needle Wellness in Rumson, treats Amy Novack of New Brunswick. (Photo: RUSS DESANTIS/CORRESPONDENT)

This is a beautiful medicine, and I would like to see more people helped by it. I believe education is very important. I am also interested in pursuing certification as an instructor of Shakuju therapy, so more acupuncturists can bring it to their practices.

In one sentence, tell us why customers should go there.

I bring my passion for this dynamic and elegant medicine to every treatment I give.

What do you love about the community where your business is located?

My community includes a lot of complementary/alternative health care practitioners. We share our perspectives and insights with each other, and I appreciate the mutual respect – the principle that one’s path to health and wellness is a very personal journey.

When you leave work, do you leave the office behind, or are you always in contact?

I separate my business from my personal life, but I always remain available to my patients, in case the need arises for them to contact me.

What do you do in your off time?

You can usually find me out in nature or visiting art museums and galleries. These things nourish and recharge me, so I can be at my best in the treatment room. I also meditate, which is very important. Slowing down and cultivating myself makes me more sensitive and a better practitioner.

When you leave the business behind some day, what will you do?

I consider the possibility of not being an acupuncturist some day, and think about what that would look like. Not much would change. I would probably find another way to help people. I don’t think that what you do is necessarily as important as the heart you bring to it.

Small Business Spotlight runs Mondays. If you’re a small-business owner in Monmouth and Ocean counties interested in taking part in this Q&A, contact business producer Dennis P. Carmody at dcarmody@gannettnj.com.

Photo: RUSS DESANTIS/CORRESPONDENT