About Sonia...

About Sonia F. Tan | About Kim Boivin | About Sonya Scheer

Sonia F. Tan is the Founder & Clinic Director of Red Tree Wellness Inc., a Registered Acupuncturist and a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioner. She is a graduate of the five year Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine program at the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Vancouver. As part of the program, Sonia interned at a hospital in China: Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine - The Second Affiliate Hospital, in Hefei, Anhui, China.

Sonia began her career in health with a Bachelor's degree in Honors Kinesiology, with a specialization in Athletic Injuries, from the University of Western Ontario. After her degree, Sonia worked as a Physiotherapy Assistant & Clinical Trial Coordinator at a sports medicine clinic. Prior to entering health care, Sonia worked in banking as a Commercial Account Officer, after receiving her double-major Bachelor's degree in Economics & Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University. Sonia has also completed many adjunct therapy courses, such as Acutonics® Sound Healing, TCM Essential Oils, Five Element Spiritual Acupuncture, motor point & sport acupuncture, and Dr. Richard Tan's Balance Method that she continually uses in her practice. Sonia was also honoured to be named and be a part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Medical Team, as an On-Call Specialist (Registered Acupuncturist). So how does one go from being a Banker to a Kinesiologist to an Acupuncturist & TCM Practitioner?

Life started out normal for Sonia as a kid who was active in elite-level sports. After completing her Bachelor's in Economics & Psychology, at the age of 21 she went on to have a successful career as a Commercial Account Banker. During this time, Sonia was still competing internationally in elite rhythmic gymnastics. Though she grew up playing many sports, she also battled severe allergies and asthma from the age of 8.

Fate one day lead her to an Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner to seek a natural cure for her asthma, which was affecting her performance as an athlete as she grew older. Success was found, and Sonia continued to receive treatments for a natural cure to her allergies - to this day she has been happily drug-free and symptom-free! Despite this successful experience, and the fact that Sonia grew up in a household of Chinese Medicine, this was still not enough for Sonia to realize what was directly under her nose. Sonia went on to pursue her long-standing interests in sports and health through her Bachelor's degree in Honors Kinesiology. It wasn't until she started working at a sport medicine clinic after her degree, when she realized where her true passion lay: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - the medicine that greatly helped her bring her own health back into balance, in a natural way. Her decision and passion to study TCM was further affirmed during her TCM schooling, when she regained her health from several years of “irritable bowel” problems. Sonia is grateful of this enlightened healing process of feeling whole again, and eating without any restrictions.

Sonia is thankful for the gift of experience that her life has given her thus far. To this day she has been happily drug-free and symptom-free thanks to TCM! Adding to this appreciation is the layer of her blended cultural upbringing. Born in Canada, raised with both Western and Eastern cultural traditions, Sonia grew to appreciate the beauty of both cultures. With Chinese Medicine witnessed in her home, and practised by her Grandfather, Sonia realizes the that the wholeness of the medicine is not limited to what it can heal, but rather in its approach to our overall lifestyle, and how it can help enlighten our awareness of balance and change, in order to achieve and sustain harmony, vitality and longevity.

In following with her experience, Sonia is passionate about helping fellow humans find their pathway back to wellness, and giving the gift of health. Sonia lives in Vancouver with her husband Jeff, and their two big and loveable cats, Meridian and Tai.

Headshot by Michael O'Shea

Kind Words...

“Sonia is amazing! I had some irritation in my lower abdominal before embarking on an 11,000 mile run around North America and Sonia put her expert ways together and sped up the healing process so I was ready to run! I highly recommend her and her clinic. She is immensely talented, dedicated and a beautiful person with a huge heart!”
– Matt Hill
Owner, Run For One Planet

"Sonia is a master at her art. She brings to the ancient art of acupuncture a clear approach as she demystifies the practice for her clients, giving them just the right amount of information they need to know while letting the work do what it needs to do. She is gentle yet disciplined, personable yet professional.
In addition to her acupuncture work, she can give incredible body-mind rebalancing sessions using tuning forks - this was one of the most memorable experiences I had had in years! I was amazed at how profoundly a short 'tune up' (pardon the pun) was able to
affect me positively.
Sonia is a consummate professional who creates an ideal atmosphere for the wonderful work she does, and it is my pleasure to recommend her wholeheartedly."
– Mark Ainley
Principal & Consultant, Mark Ainley Contemporary Feng Shui

“I went to seek acupuncture, because I always get sick every winter, almost every 2 weeks. I was however, afraid of needles. My experience, on the other hand, was amazing. As it happened, when I initially started receiving acupuncture, I was sick with a bad cold just before the appointment. Amazingly, the next day after the treatment, my cold was almost all completely gone, and I felt amazing! I continued with the treatments, finding that not only did I feel so very relaxed after treatments (and it is hard for me to relax), but also, I was not getting sick as often. I am so happy that I sought acupuncture to help strengthen my immunity, and I received a little bit of heaven at the same time. Best of all, Sonia is so caring, she listens to her patients and makes them feel really special and taken care of. You make a big difference, Sonia, and this is not just thanks to acupuncture, this is YOU! Thank you!"
– Alexandra Parreault
President, Personal & Corporate Image Consultant
So Chic Image Consulting Inc.

"I began receiving acupuncture in 2006 in hopes of alleviating shoulder pain caused by dislocations which I experienced in my youth. I was pleasantly surprised to find the symptoms which I experienced reduced after my first few visits. I am a shift worker and Sonia also assisted me to get more quality sleep. The strongest impression which acupuncture has left upon me came after I experienced a workplace accident. My leg was badly broken and required surgery. Also it was necessary for me to take strong painkillers (morphine) as well as anaesthetics. These experiences left me in a lot of pain, and discomfort. I visited Sonia about 1 week after surgery. After our session my pain was reduced, the side effects from my medications were alleviated, and perhaps most importantly my spirits were lifted and I almost felt normal again. Thank you very much Sonia! I have recommended acupuncture to many of my friends and family members, and I highly recommend Sonia. "
– S. W.

"I have seen Sonia for a few health related issues and am consistently impressed by her focus on me as a client, her attention to detail during treatment, her ability and willingness to answer all questions, and of course the results of her treatments. She is an exceptionally caring person whose warmth makes it easy to talk about difficult topics. Thank you Sonia!"
– K. M.



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