I am a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (fancy name for “acupuncturist”). I teach people how to use acupuncture, meditation, yoga and somatic release work for themselves and for their people.
Ryan Bemis, Executive Director, Crossroads Community Supported Healthcare
Bilingual Spanish
client-centered
Trauma-informed
“I have found yoga, meditation, and acupuncture to be some of the best ways to heal myself and support people in my community as we all face trauma, injustice and increasing social isolation. We’re all searching for freedom. We don’t have to do it alone. These tools can help us build resilience even in the darkest of times and places.My intention is to create safe space for you to cultivate your own inner connection, and help you step back into your power. ”
Ryan draws from a variety of techniques for patients including scalp, auricular, “Tan” style, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Japanese. His technique is extremely gentle, but he also offers Trigger Point therapy and Dry Needling for appropriate clients. Ryan offers care for a variety of health conditions including pain, mental health, addictions, digestive, neurological, gynecological and genitourinary problems. As a somatic healer and resilience coach, Dr. Bemis integrates a variety of modalities into sessions with clients as part of their recovery from trauma and chronic illness.
Clinical Experience
Ryan serves as our acupuncturist at Crossroads, and has provided more than 30,000 treatments working with refugees, veterans, and everyday people of the borderlands through our Barefoot Acupuncture Movement.
His past experience as an acupuncturist includes working with active military soldiers at the PTSD Warrior Resilience Center and the Interdisciplinary Pain Management Clinic at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX. Prior to working as an acupuncturist, Ryan worked as an addictions counselor at Hooper Detox Center in Portland. He completed internships in Portland at Project Quest, and Outside In.
Qualifications
Ryan is US nationally certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and licensed by the state of New Mexico as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine.
He received his education in acupuncture at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, OR and Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, NY.
Ryan is a NM state medical board certified supervisor for behavioral health and harm reduction programs utilizing ear acupuncture.
Ryan is also a certified Trauma Tension Release Exercise (TRE) provider, Heroic Coach and a Kundalini Yoga instructor.
“My sleep is more restful, my mental balance is improved, my emotional well being is enhanced, my energy level is high, and my creativity is improving! Oh and recently my libido is quite heightened! I appreciate Ryan’s bedside manner. He is thoughtful, compassionate, awesome listener and he always makes me feel special, always! Thank you Ryan for introducing me to this amazing ancient healing way!”
Google Review, Patient of Ryan Bemis
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Meet Ryan
Born and raised in Wyoming, Ryan enjoys living in the southwest and loves to hike, camp and ski. He spends his time away from work mostly playing trucks with his 5 year old son, dancing, yoga, playing the harmonica, and volunteering.
Ryan Bemis, DOM, RT is co-founder of Crossroads Acupuncture and serves as Executive Director, teacher and acupuncturist for our non-profit organization.
Click above to take this Free Master Class with Dr. Ryan Bemis on the use of acupuncture for refugee and incarcerated populations
Ryan has over 25 years of experience working in community health and outreach. He learned about acupuncture while working in the addictions recovery field. In 2011, he moved from Portland to start the first-ever community acupuncture clinic in Las Cruces. In 2013 he turned Crossroads into a non-profit organization and donated the clinic to the newly formed Crossroads Community Supported Healthcare.
Teaching experience
Ryan originally moved to the borderlands to teach providers how to apply basic acupuncture techniques like the NADA Acudetox ear acupuncture protocol. He specializes in teaching meditation in local jails, and community acupuncture in Latin America. He is a Registered NADA acudetox trainer and has trained over 500 health workers in the border region and in Latin America including providers at University of New Mexico Hospitals, Catholic churches, prison care, US federally qualified health centers, addictions programs and indigenous health programs in the Q'eqchi', Taos Pueblo, Tarahumara, Mescalero Apache Acoma, Ysleta del Sur and Navajo communities.
Social Entrepreneur
Ryan has co-founded our international Barefoot Acupuncture Education programs, offering free education for volunteer health promoters offering care within underserved neighborhoods in the border region as well as Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Since 2021 he has been consulting with local corrections programs in rural New Mexico to bring comprehensive recovery services, including acupuncture, into the jail systems.
Join Ryan in Guatemala
Feb 8-15 2026
Roots and Bridges
A Weeklong Immersion into Grassroots Healing, Acupuncture, and Cultural Solidarity in Guatemala
“I sought out mentorship from similar acupuncture projects for health promoters in Central America and Africa.
They encouraged me to focus on sustainability by training the local people. So that’s what I did.
I stepped out of just being a healer, I pivoted out of the rescuer role, and handed over the tools to the people.”
— Ryan Bemis
2018 Commencement Address, Graduation at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Listen to Ryan’s commencement Address at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine’s Doctoral and Master’s graduation ceremony
public educator
Ryan is a writer and a public speaker and educator. His writing has been published in America Magazine, Medicinal Roots Magazine, Latina Lista, Frontera List, AcuTake and J&M Reports. He is a regular presenter at national and international acupuncture and public health conferences. In 2018, he offered the keynote address at the commencement ceremonies for the graduating Master’s and Doctoral class at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine.
Affordable group classes:
@ Dwell Yoga Las Cruces, NM
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How can we release deep tension and trauma stored in your body? This is a trauma-informed class to help you safely do this work. Dr Ryan Bemis will teach you simple mantras, movements and breathwork to incorporate into your journey towards balance. These exercises will prepare your myofascial fascia and nervous system to reset and release in the form of a gentle shaking. Acupuncture will be offered as an optional final touch, with a guided meditation leading you into a place of inner peace. Kundalini is the yoga of awareness, and this class is designed to help you on your path towards self-realization. All levels of experience in yoga and physical ability are welcome. Dr. Bemis will be available to offer you a free consult, as well, if you are interested in learning more about getting acupuncture.
Online
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Tension and trauma can lurk deep within our muscles and nervous system muscles, and can contribute to our emotional highs and lows, and impact our entire health. Our crazy world leaves us with pain, depression, anxiety, overthinking, difficulty focusing, fatigue and autoimmune illness.
How can we safely and gently learn from, work with, be with your big & powerful energy, and at the same time release old stories we cling to so we can be our most resilient self? How can we hold space for ourselves, and everyone else in the crazy world, as we feel the feels of up and down, all the intense and subtle, sometimes even overwhelming energetic, mood and emotional states in between?
At this online, workshop, Crossroads Acupuncture will raise funds for our Barefoot medicine movement in Guatemala, where we work with survivors of genocide. Donate whatever you can: $10 or more, to support the modern day heroes we support through our non-profit organization. Facilitated by Ryan Bemis, you’ll be step-by-step instructions in Trauma and Tension Release Exercises (TRE).
You’ll leave with new tools for you to safely co-regulate your nervous system through movement, breathing, and stillness on your own, on a regular basis. Most people experience deep relaxation, feeling grounded, and increased mental clarity.
We offer this as a trauma-informed, non-judgmental space. You may log in anonymously if you choose to do so, or keep your camera turned off during the exercises.
This class will be offered online with a zoom link provided prior to the class.
Are you feeling shook up by the crazy world out there? This workshop is designed for you! Learn more…
Clinical supervisor, consultant and coach
Ryan has worked as a policy and public health program consultant and advocate for the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association and other public health and addictions programs. He is certified as a supervisor for New Mexico behavioral health programs that utilize ear acupuncture. He also offers consultation, mentoring and coaching services for acupuncturists, doctors, therapists, and church leaders working within community clinics. He assists providers and administrators with project development, business planning, non-profit support, entrepreneurship as well as policy advocacy and legislative assistance.