An interview with Rachel Brumberger. Rachel is an acupuncturist and co-owner of Third Space Wellness. Read Rachel’s story and why she and her partners founded Third Space Wellness. Rachel also dishes out her Top 5 wellness tips for women. This interview is a must read for those who want to build an alternative style of business and for women looking to add a greater level of wellness into their lives.
The universe had plans
I met Joy Andrews in graduate school. After both realizing we had some things in common we instantly became friends and often talked about our business ideas / what we would like to do after acupuncture school. Joy and I shared a very similar vision and goals for our practices post grad school. So, we put our heads together and mapped out our concept and business plan on paper. We thought strategically about our values, and the types of people that we wanted to help. We knew we needed and wanted another key player; realizing that yoga plays an integral role in wellness, we recruited Samantha (Sam) Dublin as our Partner. Sam, a friend as well, also brought a unique skill set in helping build community – especially in social media and with blogging.
Now a complete trio, we then got to work and built a type of wellness studio that was missing from the market. We built a place where we actually wanted to work. With our vision, Third Space Wellness was born to serve as a modern wellness practice serving those who were focused on consistently improving and maintaining their own well-being.
Third Space Wellness
“We shared a desire for wellness to be done in a new and different way – not a specialty spa and not a sterile clinic – more of a modern wellness hub that becomes part of your weekly routine and modern lifestyle. We wanted to create a place where people come to receive services and are also empowered to play an active role in finding, improving, and maintaining their own well-being.” http://thirdspacewellness.com/about/our-story/
Wellness Tips for Women
Tip #1 Practice Yoga
When you are doing yoga, there is no where else that you can be. You must let go of all the other things on your to-do list and all of the other thoughts that are racing through your mind. In yoga, you are given permission to slow down, to come back into your body and be present – we women have the opportunity to get out of our heads and back into our bodies. Yoga is also amazing for alignment, which is so beneficial as many women sit at desks all day, and it’s also a great way to improve flexibility and strength. I love yoga because it allows women to breathe on purpose and with intention. It is an incredible movement of art.
Once your body and mind are aligned, it is also so beneficial from a business aspect. It has helped me feel comfortable and strong in my body and quiet in my mind. This has translated into authenticity and personal and professional growth.
If you’re not into yoga pick something else; there is nothing like an awesome movement class to get you back to yourself.
Tip #2 Do not be scared of Acupuncture
Many of us have been introduced to acupuncture as it is a great treatment for chronic and acute pain (golf injuries, knee pain, back pain, etc.). However, acupuncture is truly a whole-body form of medicine and has so many benefits such as helping women:
- On their reproductive journey /Supporting fertility
- Sleep better
- Decrease levels of anxiety and depression
- Decrease stress induced anxiety, OCD
- Suppress auto immune disorder symptoms
- Reduce Pain
- Aid in cardiovascular health
- Decrease symptoms of digestive disorders (IBS, Crones, Colitis)
- Better bladder health
- Helping people breathe better
- Helping those with Neurological health – (people living with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease, for example)
- Reduce migraines
Obviously, not all medicine is right for everyone. And acupuncture is still gaining popularity. However, when you are open and have the right practitioner, I am confident that you will benefit from it.
Remember – before there was Western medicine or Chinese medicine, there was just medicine. Chinese medicine is only called Chinese medicine because people started traveling and introducing one another culturally to different ways of using medicine. However, Chinese medicine didn’t have the title of “Chinese Medicine” until Westerners came along. For over 3000 years, our now coined “Chinese Medicine” was the only medicine used in Asia for hundreds of generations.
Tip #3 Dim the lights & say goodnight to work
An hour before bedtime, dim the lights. The low warm light will allow everyone in your home to begin to slow down, connect with their level of tiredness and enter the sleep mode. This works especially well if you have a young child like I do. Create the possibility that you can stop working after a certain time. For me it is after dinner time. Put away the phone and computer. I promise, the work will still be there, ready and patiently waiting for you tomorrow. Generally, there is not much work that is more important than your health. It is time for us women to stop pulling that second shift.
Tip #4 Sleep
Sleep is key. If nothing else can come together, make sure you are getting enough sleep. It is much easier to build a business or be successful with work when you are taking good care of yourself. Personally, I have noticed a direct correlation to my acupuncture practice and my sleep. If I am tired or not eating well, I will start to slow down in my business. If I take the time to rest and treat my body well, my business will bubble up. As women we are pulled in so many different directions. We must give ourselves permission to fully rest and to take care of ourselves.
Tip #5 Find the tools you need to be brave
If your heart is talking to you, LISTEN! Find a way to try to implement the idea that you have been carrying in your mind and heart for so long. Absolutely go for it. Get the tools you need to be brave, whether that is finding partners or friends to support you, taking classes, etc. Claim and deliver upon the authentic and creative idea that came out of your love and brilliance. Whatever it is, the world is waiting for you. It would be so unfortunate for all of us to never see what you are capable of doing. The world needs you. Promise me you will try.
More about Rachel:
Rachel received her Master of Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine and Post-Master’s Certificate in Women’s Holistic Health from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She completed the Integrative Health Practitioner Training for Hospital Settings at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing.
To read more about Rachel and Third Space Wellness, http://thirdspacewellness.com/
P.S. A shout out to One Sock on Photography, LLC and Jennifer Vallina Photography for the professional images provided.
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Thanks so much for reading!
Hugs & Handshakes, Lauren Rebbel
P.S. In case you missed the last interview with Vicki Almond and her rise from Bulletin Board Mother. Check it out.
