Written by Mimi Pollack
SAN DIEGO — Loni Matalon Goldman has very healing hands, which serve her well as an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner. In addition to her hands, she also trains practitioners in Rancho Bernardo. In 2012, she earned an Associate of Science degree in Kinesiology from Santa Monica College. She then continued her further education by earning numerous certifications in fitness and yoga, both in the United States and in Israel, where she was born. She has over 7 years of experience in injury rehabilitation, postpartum rehabilitation, and fitness coaching.
In 2020, Goldman went back to school and earned a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Sciences in San Diego. She also completed extensive internships at UCSD’s cancer and her HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics, treating patients with orthopedic and other physiological conditions. At the Pacific College Clinic, she trained under the guidance of orthopedic surgeons and herbalists. She is an Acupuncture Diplomate with the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and a Certified Acupuncturist with the California Board of Acupuncture.
The above sounds good on paper, but I can personally attest to what she’s telling you firsthand. That’s why I wanted to write about her. Over the four sessions I’ve had so far, Goldman has worked with my body using acupuncture, massage, cupping, and stretching to heal the pain in her lower back and elbow. She is following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a respected healer herself. Her mother’s mentor, Ran Khalif, was a famous Japanese acupuncture pioneer in Israel.
Additionally, Ms. Goldman’s family has lived in Israel for generations and has an interesting background.
Below is an edited version of the interview I conducted with her to learn more about her.
- Who is Loni Goldman? How would you describe yourself?
I’m a passionate Israeli and I don’t hesitate to express my opinion. At the same time, I’m going to challenge my belief system. I love being intellectually stimulated, but most of all I love a healthy lifestyle and being physically active.
- Why did you decide to leave Israel? When did you first come to America? Why did you eventually move here to San Diego? Is there anything else you miss about Israel besides your family?
I left Israel for the first time in 2009, at the age of 23, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. After graduating from Santa Monica College with an associate’s degree in kinesiology, I decided to put my studies on hold and return to Israel to help care for my terminally ill father. After my father passed away in 2015, I decided to go back to school and expand my education. This brought me to San Diego, where I earned a master’s degree in Chinese Medicine.
- Why did you decide to become an acupuncturist? What do you like about your job?
As I was leading my career in fitness training and yoga, I felt the urge to have more tools to help my clients improve their health. I was inspired to learn acupuncture by my mother’s instructor, Ran Khalif. Ran Khalif was a great acupuncturist and pioneer of Japanese acupuncture in Israel.
I love my job because it requires me to learn regularly. Specializing in pain management is a very humbling and rewarding career. Additionally, I enjoy combining my knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology with ancient wisdom and feel like they complement each other.
- What is your favorite activity to enjoy in San Diego?
I decided to move to San Diego due to my love of the ocean and the great weather. The sea gives me a sense of freedom. Surfing has been my favorite sport for many years. When I’m not chasing my 2-year-old son, Kai, I love surfing, hiking, and doing endurance training like running and swimming.
- What do you miss about Israel?
I remember communicating in Hebrew. I miss the Israeli sense of humor, candor, and resilience. I miss the food and great coffee. I miss my last trip to the north and south of Israel.
- How many generations has your family lived in Israel?
My paternal grandfather’s family is Sephardic and has lived in Israel for over nine generations. They first settled in Jerusalem and then moved to Jaffa. My paternal grandmother’s parents immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe before World War II.
Both of my maternal grandparents immigrated to Israel from Greece. My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. He survived Auschwitz as a teenager, was deported to a refugee camp in Italy, and then emigrated from Italy to Israel to fight in the War of Independence.
*
Finally, I can attest that Goldman has a great sense of humor, which is important to me. Dealing with pain is not fun. So if you can find a competent healer who makes you laugh, even better.
Goldman can be reached at matalonroni@gmail.com.
*
Mimi Pollack is a freelance writer based in La Mesa, California. You can contact her through mimi.pollack@sdjewishworld.com.
