Get Well With: Kimberly Ross

Part of our mission at The Lanby is to make good introductions. That applies across the board: from top tier specialists, to cutting edge wellness partners, to vetted resources, we put in the work to find the good stuff, so that being a patient doesn’t have to be your part-time job (after all, primary care is our full-time job). Our Getting Well With series is a space for us to make introductions to great minds in the wellness industry. This month, we got to chat with Ora Space Founder & CEO, Kimberly Ross — read on for her insights on treating her thyroid issues through acupuncture, starting a company during the pandemic, and setting boundaries for her mental health.

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Meet The Founder & CEO

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What are your daily wellness non-negotiables?

As a wellness founder, I really try to incorporate daily wellness rituals while also being realistic with myself about what is feasible as a mother and business owner. With that said, sleep, walking (even if it’s just to work or for 20 minutes), and ORA’s Functional Chinese Herbal teas are non-negotiables. My favorite flavors are the Best Digest post-lunch or Calming Chai before bed. Though I can’t live without my morning coffee! 

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You’ve spoken about your personal health issues and how acupuncture was the catalyst for getting better. How have your experiences with your own health translated to how you treat clients at ORA? What do you hope your clients feel after their first visit?

Acupuncture has played an essential role in my personal healing journey because it not only helps to treat the symptoms but also helps get to the root cause. While I personally go to acupuncture on a regular basis for digestive and thyroid issues, I love how acupuncture meets me where I am and each treatment is customized to how I’m feeling on that particular day. If I’m extra anxious or stressed, coming down with a cold or about to get my period, the acupuncture session is tailored to my needs. That level of personalization and customization is really important to me, which is why at ORA we curated a menu not based on addressing specific pain points but based on a personalized and customizable experience. From the moment our clients walk through the door, they’re greeted into a relaxing and calming environment - an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. After sitting down with an acupuncturist to discuss their wellness priorities and health history, they also receive a personalized treatment, because it’s my hope that they not only walk out feeling better, but also feel heard and are given the chance to talk through their needs. 

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What was your biggest hurdle in creating your brand? How did you overcome it? 

We opened ORA on March 5, 2020 and had to close 10 days after because of COVID. Navigating a new brand and brick-and-mortar service business during the middle of a pandemic was by far one of the biggest hurdles. Through the pandemic, ORA became more than an acupuncture space; it became a wellness destination centered around Traditional Chinese Medicine healing remedies and education.  e were very agile during that time and knew our community needed to stay calm and balanced throughout the uncertain times, so anything we could do from a virtual perspective, we did. We launched virtual sessions where our acupuncturists would go through various pressure points that you could do at home, along with lifestyle recommendations, movement and breathwork. During this time, we also launched a highly curated e-commerce experience and started our blog to help provide more ways of self-healing from home. We also opened a space in the Hamptons and were offering  home-visits. 

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Creating your own brand can be a 24/7 job. What are some ways that you make time for yourself? Do you have a favorite self-care ritual? (besides acupuncture, of course!)

It definitely is a 24/7 job! Something that I have learned though is making sure that I set boundaries in order to feel present both with work and with family - that is part of self care for me. That and I love taking a bath with ORA Bath Salts! If I have the time, I will never deny getting a massage for a real treat - something that is coming soon to ORA.

East Meets West

How both practices work together to complement one another.

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The health & wellness industry is constantly evolving. What do you see next for ORA?

I really believe that Eastern medicine is the perfect complement to Western medicine which is why I am so excited about this partnership with The Lanby. I think that by working with Western medical doctors we can enhance patient care and help patients feel better. I see this partnership as only the beginning of catapulting ORA into the direction of working with other Western medical brands and practices to further spread our mission of educating those on Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

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What was most important to you when creating ORA? 

One of the biggest and most important elements of the brand was that we honor the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). While we are delivering acupuncture in a more modern and luxurious setting, the core of our offering is TCM and we want to respect  the ancient practice and make it more accessible, not change or replace it. 

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Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. How have you found inspiration from the ancient practice while also incorporating the new and modern of today’s society? 

Everything we do comes back to the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). While the practice is delivered in a more modern setting as mentioned, everything we do is rooted in TCM and its benefits. Our mission is to educate people on the benefits of TCM and to help people feel better and guide them through their healing journey. With this at the top of mind, we designed our spaces to make the overall experience more approachable as well as have a space to facilitate those educational conversations. From online booking to longer hours (7 days a week, pre and post work!), we aim to make it easier and more comfortable to book your acupuncture treatment! 

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What’s the biggest misconception about acupuncture you’d like to debunk? 

That it hurts! Acupuncture needles are the width of the hair and an acupuncture session is actually very relaxing and is not painful at all.