Kim Ross is the founder & CEO of ORA, an acupuncture destination in NYC with locations in NoHo and UES, offering a meditative escape through the healing power of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
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What does self-care mean to you?
Self care means doing whatever fulfills you the most to feel your best, and be your best self. It is important to understand, however, that this may look different to everyone, and may change everyday – and that’s ok!
How do you know when you’re feeling stressed or burnt out?
I always know when I’m stressed or burnt out, because my stomach starts acting up! This is my body’s way of telling me to slow down and take care of myself. During this time, I always ensure I’m taking plenty of deep breaths, get acupuncture regularly, eat warm cooked foods, limit alcohol and caffeine (I usually sub this out for ORA’s Best Digest Tea), incorporate ways to get my body moving, and making sure I get plenty of rest by going to sleep early.
Do you have a regular self-care routine? If so, what does it look like?
I definitely have a routine and my go-tos when it comes to my self-care regime, but between juggling being a mom, wife and entrepreneur, I am absolutely more nimble and know that everyday can be a different adventure. That said, my morning and night routine consists of reading books with my daughter in bed when she wakes up and goes to sleep. I also make sure to get in some form of movement everyday – some days that’s just walking to work, others consist of a more formalized workout. Every week, I also make sure to get in my acupuncture session (it’s a must for me!), and I love getting a manicure on Friday’s to kick off the weekend. No matter what, I always end my day with ORA’s Calming Chai Tea and Yina skincare routine to keep my skin looking fresh and energized.
What bumps you off your self-care routine and how do you get back on course?
For me, traveling always affects my self-care routine, but it’s something that I’m definitely working on! In order to help me get back on course once I’m home, I always order groceries in advance so that my fridge is stocked with healthy go-tos, and I’m not enticed to order in. I also always schedule a workout for the first morning I’m back home in order to reset myself and kickstart my normal routine. Lastly, I always try to avoid making any evening plans the first few nights I’m back home, so I can make sure I get a restful night’s sleep to be fully prepared for the week ahead.
Where do you go for inspiration, ideas or tools for self-care?
I get a lot of inspiration from walking around in New York City. I love to check out new neighborhoods, see what new store openings are happening, and explore their products and services. Like many, I also love to scroll through Instagram – social media is such an easy platform to access new and exciting information in a digestible way, and I’m always discovering new brands, products and services there.
What do you think you need to improve in terms of your self-care practice?
I am currently working to start incorporating meditation in my daily self-care practice. One of the things that I love most about acupuncture is that it brings me to a deep meditative state, but outside of acupuncture, I have always had a difficult time meditating. It’s a work in progress, but it’s something I’m making a priority this year!
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