An ecological resin divider wall separates the patient consultation area from the waiting room.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

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Visiting a doctor can be an uncomfortable, even frightening, experience. Those blank walls and that funny, antiseptic smell in the waiting room don't make it any more inviting.

Imagine, instead, a doctor's office where the soothing scent of aromatherapy candles greets you in a space specially designed to put the mind and body at ease.

That's what patients experience at Life Gate Chiropractic, 6720 E. Camino Principal, where feng shui principles and environmentally friendly materials come together to create a relaxing atmosphere in the waiting room and beyond.

It's not your average doctor's office, but then again, Life Gate Chiropractic's Jonah Yakel isn't your average doctor. Yakel practices flow chiropractic, a physically gentler form of chiropractic medicine that focuses on mental and emotional, as well as physical, stress.

When Yakel and his wife, Jeni, opened their Tucson practice in December, they wanted the physical office space to reflect their approach to medicine, so they turned to feng shui — the ancient Chinese philosophy of organizing an area in a way that improves balance and flow.

"Because of the technique I use, it was important to create an environment of safety where people could come in and immediately start releasing stress," Yakel said.

With the help of local feng shui consultant Sheri Bootman and interior designer Gerrie Durkin, the couple transformed the space from plain blue walls and carpet to its current, more inviting state.

Since the Yakels wanted an office that was environmentally friendly, they chose carpet made from recycled materials, paint with no volatile organic compounds, and pieces made from renewable resources, including bamboo chairs and window blinds.

Inside, dark furniture, red flowers and accent lamps stand out against light-colored walls. A clay fountain, plants and carefully selected artwork are strategically placed throughout the waiting and administrative areas and in the chiropractic adjustment room.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the space is the ecological resin divider wall that separates Yakel's patient consultation area, located in what Bootman called the "clarity" zone of the office, from the waiting room. Embedded with visible blades of beargrass, it's transparent enough to let light through yet dense enough to provide privacy.

"I feel like it's made such a difference," Yakel said. "No one walks in this office without saying something."

While feng shui principles and environmentally sustainable design don't necessarily have to go hand in hand, they complement each other nicely, Durkin said.

According to Durkin, people who use feng shui and "go green" in their homes often sleep better and see a reduction in allergies and other health problems. She added that people who use renewable resources in home décor are also "being good stewards of the planet."