Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Neims, L Ac.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating from college, I worked in property management and hated it! I developed an autoimmune disorder, alopecia, and was told by doctors that there is no cause or cure, and not much could be done to help. I knew there had to be other options, and after googling around a little I called up a healing center and booked my first acupuncture treatment. I was amazed at how relaxed I felt (I used to have a pretty bad fear of needles). The alopecia took a couple of months to dissipate, but in the meantime, I noticed drastic changes in my mood, digestion, and energy levels.
Acupuncture had such a profound effect on helping my body balance hormones and self-heal that I decided to go back to school to study traditional Chinese medicine. The TCM program takes about 3.5 years, but I loved learning about the body from both the eastern and western healing paradigms. Upon graduating, I worked in a chiropractic office in the Loop for three years while gradually growing a private practice in my neighborhood on the northwest side. After having my son, Levi, last year, I quit working downtown and solely work for myself at Breathing Room in Edison Park. I love being self-employed but also enjoy the support and camaraderie that the other practitioners at Breathing Room provide. We are a collective of massage therapists, chiropractors, functional medicine doctors, and energy healers.
Has it been a smooth road?
The greatest struggle I encountered was learning to remain upbeat and confident during lulls or slowdowns in my practice. Especially during the first year, there are a lot of gaps in the schedule, a lot of ebbs and flows to weather. Like most small business owners, I barely made any money in my private practice during the first year or so, and sometimes I would start to doubt my career choice, abilities, etc. But over time I learned that for every slow week, a busy one was around the corner. It also helped to have some good mentors. Some of the best advice I was ever given was to take advantage of the free time when my work schedule slowed and indulge in some self care. The better I feel about myself, the better I care for myself, the more my practice thrives and prospers. After all, you can only care for others when you take care of yourself.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chloe Neims, L Ac. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
When I first became licensed as an acupuncturist, I really didn’t have a specialty or defined style. Over time I developed a style and specific interests. While I treat anything that walks through the door (back pain, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, on and on), I specialize in women’s health.
TCM has so much to offer women, from puberty, to PMS and menstrual pain, to fertility issues and pregnancy discomfort, on to postpartum wellness and menopause. Most women in our culture think that the discomforts and pain that comes with all of these phases are just part of being a woman, but in China and other Asian countries, a lot of these pathologies are managed through acupuncture, herbs, diet, and exercise. I love helping women achieve hormonal balance through these natural and gentle modalities.
My practice is definitely not limited to treating women. Overall, what sets me apart from other acupuncturists is my use of tui na (Chinese style massage) and cupping in most of my treatments. Many acupuncturists only use needles in their treatments, but I find that by touching people, working the muscles, my treatments are much for effective for things pain related and otherwise.
I’m proud of my desire to keep learning about health and wellness in order to help my clients. I don’t stop at just acupuncture, I am always learning more about vitamins, supplements, herbs, stretches, meditations, anything to help my clients feel better, faster. Ultimately, I look at acupuncture as a tool to assist in my overall goal of empowering people to take charge of their own health and well-being.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity, the beauty of the skyline and the lake. The food.
I hate the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Address: Breathing Room
6565 N. Avondale Ave., Suite 1,
Chicago, IL 60631 - Website: www.chloeneimsacupuncture.com
- Phone: 773-250-1234
- Email: chloe.acu@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Kerramel Studios
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