Today we’d like to introduce you to Callista Lay.
Callista, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my own clinic by a stroke of luck. The quote: “Man plans and God laughs” is very fitting for how I got to be running my own clinic in the West Loop of Chicago.
I’ve been a practicing chiropractor for 6 years and started working in chiropractic clinics 16 years ago. I am no stranger to the field but my journey to running my own practice has involved working out of two separate clinics both in the suburbs and in Chicago. After 4 years of working under the energy and identity of other doctors, I found that I was missing something. I felt practice life had left a lot to be desired and I honestly, didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere financially or personally. I made the very brave decision to once again face leaving another practice to explore my options, marking the 3rd time I would “starting over”. It was in this exploration that I met a man named, Dr. Joel Rieff DC. He had been the lease holder of Genesis Chiropractic Wellness Center for many years but found it time to let someone else take the reigns.
In April of 2016, I moved to Chicago, by the end of April, I was interviewing with Joel under the false idea that I would simply rent a room from him to build a business out of, but as luck would have it he wanted me to take the clinic on entirely and make it my own. Not even 1 month into a new life of city living, I was facing taking over a clinic and running my own business. I don’t think I could have found a better location and a better network than the one I have here in the West Loop, if I had tried. When I think of my story and how I got where I am today, I believe the universe really had my back. Good things really do come to us when we remain open to opportunity.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe the biggest obstacle I faced is one many women face; confidence. I had the skill set and knowledge but the belief that I could really do it was what waivered the most. Starting your own business is terrifying, but the empowerment and reward from watching yourself build and blossom something that is truly yours, is unparrelled. The self belief I really had to fake some days and some days I had to call my parents or my partner crying just to be reassured that this was temporary and success would come. It really does take a support team, emotionally, and in some cases financially, to see a business blossom.
My biggest advice would be to believe in yourself and your abilities as a woman and entrepreneur. Being unique and having “out of the box” ideas is exactly what this world needs. There is no rule book or one way to be successful, so don’t compare yourself and journey to another’s. The only thing you need to overcome is your own doubt, because once you believe in yourself and know your worth, others will too, and trust me they will pay for your services without pause, when you believe you are worth it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Genesis Chiropractic Wellness Center – what should we know?
I’m a chiropractor by degree. My work centers around healing in all it’s forms and I would like to believe that I embody the archetype of healer. We’re most known with local businesses in the neighborhood for the fire cupping therapy we offer, as well as for the Reiki healing sessions I preform which incorporate an intuitive reading. My work includes chiropractic, acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy, massage therapy and Reiki healing I find while, I can and do enjoy offering body pain focused care, I much prefer to work in the realm of mind body spirit healing.
I believe the fact that we do more energy based services, focusing more on the overall wellness and emotional health of our clients is what sets us apart. I would say the feedback after sessions is what I’m most proud of. When I’ve work with clients where I do the healing work that involves an intuitive reading, I find most often clients state they find they understand themselves in a deeper way and they feel more peace around topics that may normally agitate them. One of my favorite quotes from a client was that, after a session she felt her “soul had been healed”. It was beautiful and I’m extremely grateful to help see people feel that type of release from their burdens.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I’ve always been inspired by Frida Kahlo, more so her quotes and inspirational statements. If you know her history you know she had led a very physically painful life post a severe accident, as well an emotionally painful life yet she speaks about pain and suffering so eloquently. I really admire and find her braveness to be inspiring. Reading about her and her work, has at times, filled me with the understanding that our emotional expression is what makes us woman so powerful. When we know who we are, how we feel and what we want, there really is nothing that can stop us.
Additionally I’ve always been inspired by Grandmother, she was a single mom in the 50’s when no one else was. She had a difficult journey as a woman in that era but she maintained her sense of pride. She always looked good leaving the house, she worked and worked hard as a nurse/flight attendant and she raised my mother who is equally as passionate and motivating as my grandmother was. The women in my family taught me no matter what happens to you and the trauma’s you endure, if you accept and love yourself, there is nothing anyone can take away from you. I think that thread of self understanding and self empowerment has weaved a large part of the tapestry of my life.
Pricing:
- Self pay services range from $40-$120
Contact Info:
- Address: 1169 W Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60607 - Website: www.genesischiropractic-chicago.com
- Phone: 312.491.8100
- Email: callistalaydc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesischirochicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesischiropracticwellness/
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