I have been needling for years but have had no formal training. Can I go straight into Level 2 ?
Although you have some basic informal training you would be well advised to familiarise yourself with the ASAP guidelines for safe acupuncture practice .These are made available to all course participants or may be obtained by contacting ASAP.
It is assumed that anyone attending Level 2 has a minimum of 1-2 days of prior formal dry needling training. I do not police this at all but in terms of meeting APA ,registration board, insurance indemnity insurance training requirements , inservices, or informal instruction in clinic is probably not enough.
All higher level courses(dry needling plus and others) assume Level 1 type knowledge eg preventing pneumothorax, points to avoid in pregnancy, management of syncope, stuck needle , sterilisation requirements for intra articular needling etc
I am pregnant. can I do the course?
There are issues with the practical component as pregnant bodies are more sensitive generally than other bodies.
This often means that your practical partners are unable to do as much practice on your body as you are on theirs.
Depending how pregnant you are there may also be some regional techniques that are not able to be precticed at all by your parnters.
In summary being pregnant will not interfere with your own learning process but will limit the learning experience of theose working with you on the course.
We generally suggest that,in fairness to other participants that you do the course whilst not pregnant.