Beyond The Smile: Meet Deb Martin

Maris Dental Studio Patient Spotlight

From a Colorado mountainside to holistic health in Fort Myers...with a little Argentine Tango along the way.

Holistic Health Educator, Community Builder and Argentine Tango Dancer

What do stronger bones, a mountain cabin and Argentine Tango have in common?

Deb Martín.

And once you start talking with Deb, you realize those things aren't nearly as unrelated as they sound.

It Started on a Mountainside

Deb was born and raised in Colorado and spent her first 50 years in the Denver area. Part of her childhood was spent on what she describes as an exquisite piece of land on the side of a 10,000-foot mountain, where her father decided to build his dream cabin.

That mountain cabin is still part of Deb's life today.

Her first career, however, took her well beyond Colorado. Deb worked in the corporate world, traveling and training people around the world. She loved the challenge, but over time her interests began moving in another direction.

For the past couple of decades, her focus has been holistic health and a question she continues to explore today:

What can we do for our own health when we understand our bodies better?

Quite a lot, Deb believes.

A Move They Didn't Expect

In 2007, Deb and her husband, David, moved to Fort Myers.

Florida wasn't exactly the original plan.

Their real estate investments brought them here during the real estate downturn, and what began as a move to manage those investments became home.

That same year, Deb and David founded Lotus Blossom Clinic, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice in Fort Myers. Nearly 20 years later, they're still here.

Many people hear “acupuncture” and immediately think of pain. And yes, pain is a big part of what brings people through the doors at Lotus Blossom Clinic.

But Deb says that's only the beginning.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a much broader reach. At Lotus Blossom Clinic, they work with people dealing with concerns ranging from neuropathy, stress, anxiety and grief to neurological conditions. They also provide integrative support for people experiencing side effects from common cancer treatments.

That broader view of health is a big part of what has kept Deb curious all these years. There's always something else to learn, research or share.

Deb wears several hats at the clinic, including business and marketing, but these days you'll also find her researching, writing and bringing people together around something she has become particularly passionate about.

Bones.

The Bone Club You Might Actually Want to Join

Osteoporosis may not sound like the beginning of a fun get-together.

Deb would disagree.

She facilitates a women's osteoporosis group based in part on Great Bones: Taking Control of Your Osteoporosis by Dr. R. Keith McCormick.

And this isn't your typical book club.

The women dig into the things that can affect bone health, including food, exercise, hormones and lifestyle. They trade recipes and activities, share information about practitioners and, most importantly, learn from one another.

For Deb, that's a big part of the point.

It's not simply about telling women what they should do. It's about helping them understand their options, ask better questions and become active participants in their own health.

And Deb says they're seeing their bones improve together.

Curiosity Is Part of the Job

Deb's interest in health doesn't stop when the group ends.

Researching and writing have become another important part of her work. She regularly digs into holistic health topics and turns what she learns into articles for the Lotus Blossom Clinic Health & Wellness Library.

One of her favorites explores Lion's Mane mushroom and the brain. Her research and writing also venture into topics such as bone health, food as medicine, emotional well-being and integrative approaches to health.

For Deb, the research seems to come back to that same question:

What can we learn that might help us live better?

Then There's the Tango

If you really want to see Deb light up, ask her about Argentine Tango.

She and David are enthusiastic dancers, both as a couple and as part of the larger Tango community.

But for Deb, even dancing has found a way to connect back to health.

Argentine Tango can range from highly athletic dancing to movement adapted for people with physical challenges. During a recent stay back in Denver, Deb has been assisting with Tango for Parkinson's classes, where people living with Parkinson's are able to experience the movement, connection and community of Tango.

It's a pretty wonderful intersection of the things Deb cares about most.

Health. Movement. Learning. Community.

And, of course, dancing.

So What Does Deb Wish More Women Knew Sooner?

Maybe it's that our health isn't something we have to simply watch happen to us.

Deb's work, her osteoporosis group and even the way she chooses to spend her own time all seem to come back to the same idea: learn about your body, keep moving, stay curious and surround yourself with people who help you keep going.

For Deb, that might mean researching the latest topic in holistic health one day, helping a room full of women learn about their bones the next, and dancing Argentine Tango with David after that.

And somewhere in between, there's still that cabin on a Colorado mountainside.

We'd say Deb has found quite a few things worth smiling about.

Want to Know More About Deb?

Lotus Blossom Clinic
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Holistic Health
Fort Myers, Florida

Phone: (239) 277-1399
Website: lotusblossomclinic.com

You can also find Lotus Blossom Clinic on Facebook and Instagram.

Interested in Deb's work?

→ Read Deb's article: “The Mighty Mushroom: Lion's Mane”

→ Explore the Lotus Blossom Clinic Health & Wellness Library

→ Learn more about the Great Bones Book Club & Food Tasting

→ Read Deb and Dr. David Martin's article, “Empowering Cancer Care: Natural Therapies to Support Healing