Credentials and Education
Lora Tod is a Michigan Licensed Acupuncturist. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with the combined degrees of Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, in 2007. She has also earned the designation of Diplomate of Oriental Medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM.) Lora holds two additional degrees from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Health Care Administration and spent the first 9 years of her career working in health care administration in Chicago.
Discovering a Passion for Chinese Medicine
Lora found her way to Traditional Chinese Medicine by embracing alternative therapies for her own health. Her passion for it grew through really seeing the impact that alternative therapies and changes in diet and lifestyle could make on many chronic conditions. Lora is excited that her 20th Anniversary of starting acupuncture school in November of 2003, has already passed! While completing over 900 hours of practical training in the Midwest College’s free student clinic in the inner-city of Chicago, Lora treated hundreds of patients with long-term chronic pain and complex internal medicine problems with great results. She has also completed cosmetic acupuncture training in the Mei Zen facial and abdominal protocols and has been a Mei Zen Certified Practitioner since 2007.
Qigong Training and Teaching
In 2020, Lora began studying Qigong with David J. Coon, of Qigong Awareness in Wilmington, North Carolina. While Lora had taken one of David’s seminars before and had studied Qigong steadily two other times in her life, Lora knew she had finally found a Qigong School she loved and has been studying ever since. Now a Level IV, Certified Teacher, Lora loves teaching her weekly classes and also sharing Qigong exercises with her acupuncture patients. Lora has also been studying Qigong healing, which is a technique she adds to acupuncture treatments as needed.
Learn more about Lora’s Qigong classes or register for a class by visiting the Qigong page.
Personal Background and Life Outside the Clinic
Lora spent most of her childhood in Coldwater, Michigan, and after attending the University of Michigan, lived in Chicago from 1998 to 2007, working in health care administration. In February of 2007, her husband’s job relocated them to Houston, Texas, where she worked as an acupuncturist, and they started their family. The family was happy to be relocated to the Detroit area in 2013. In her free time Lora likes to read, go on outings with her husband and kids, and practice Qigong and yoga. In 2025, Lora especially has the goal of improving her flexibility, with a goal of completing at least 100 yoga classes this year, through Hippie Yoga’s Century Club! Travel is also very important to Lora, and she loves that she has amazingly visited 45 states! She also enjoys supporting her kids and their activities, leading the major fundraiser for the Boy Scout Troop, and is an active member of the Gearheads Robotics Booster Club. Return to Balance has also been a proud sponsor Grosse Pointe North and Parcells Band and Orchestras and Parcells Middle School.