The two of you opened Be Well Katonah, an acupuncture and wellness practice in the center of town at the beginning of 2023, can you share a little about the business and how it’s going so far?
AH: We are an acupuncture and wellness practice offering acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbs with the added bonus of a fully stocked custom Chinese herbal pharmacy in house. We also offer integrative energy medicine, sound healing, and coming soon will be our community style acupuncture, lecture series, and speaker events.
EGH: It’s amazing! Every day we are here together we have a moment of gratitude for the final product. I still can’t believe we did this. It’s been incredible to see the response from the community, and everyone’s reaction when they walk in. We wanted to offer a place where people felt relaxed, safe, at peace and energized all at once, and I think we have achieved that.
How did the two of you meet and what led you to open Be Well Katonah?
AH: Eliza stalked me!
EGH: I am pretty sure I can take full credit for this. My husband and I moved to Katonah in 2018 just before I delivered my twin daughters. I knew it would take some time to regain a work/home life balance but my ultimate goal was to move my practice from the city to Katonah. Over the next few years I kept an eye on local acupuncturists and noticed that Amy was often recommended on public forums. We had a lot of overlap in our professional lives (we even had our private practices in the same building in NYC!). I had one of those major gut feelings that we would be working together but we had never met. Everyone thought I was crazy. I emailed her every year for a couple of years to check in. She had moved her city practice to Katonah in the pandemic and was working out of her home so I knew she would outgrow that space. I just kept on her until finally we met. It was magic! From that first coffee meeting at The Reading Room in town we jumped in full force and didn’t stop.
This is the first time you have both owned your own business, what has surprised you the most so far?
AH/EGH: We’ve actually both had our own separate businesses in private practice for years in the same building in NYC but never knew it. We learned a lot over the years operating our solo businesses, building a practice, etc. but opening Be Well Katonah was a different animal with some surprises along the way. As crappy as it feels to say out loud, we were most surprised by how many people did not take us seriously because we were women. We certainly encountered some “mansplaining” as we worked through different phases of the development and buildout, assuming we knew nothing about business or how things worked. We had a set plan, a vision, and our finances ready to go. In the end, it felt very proud to say WE DID THIS!
What was it like to design and build out your own space in Katonah - what was your initial vision? What was it like to then open your doors to your own clients?
AH: The process was intense yet exhilarating at the same time. So exciting. Our initial vision was to create an inviting space that draws people in and has “high vibes” meaning it just feels really good to be here. We encourage people to come early or stay late and relax in our lounge just to be in the energy of the space. Our initial vision became our reality and we are so pleased with how it came out.
EGH: AMAZING. I have always worked out of other people’s practices so it was really nice designing our own. Our vision has always started as a living room. We wanted the space to feel comfortable, familiar, safe, welcoming, and open. We had a tight budget with our build-out so we had to get creative but we are really happy with the way it turned out. Opening our doors was surreal. The first person came in, paused, took a deep breath, and said “it feels really nice in here.” I love seeing the reaction people have when they come in and how peaceful they look when they leave. It’s been really cool to hear from old patients how proud they are of what we created. We have really felt the love and support, it’s incredible.
What drew each of you to holistic medicine and acupuncture? Was it a field that you always wanted to pursue?
AH: I’ve always loved working with people. My previous career in the theater arts was the catalyst for a deeper search for meaning and self-discovery, which ultimately led me to more metaphysical studies, energy medicine, personal transformation, and sobriety. The desire to help others on their paths was born from this new perspective I now had of my own process. I realized I was called to do the work I do now, helping others navigate the beautiful confines of the human condition physically, mentally, and spiritually. Opening Be Well Katonah has allowed me to fully embrace this work and this part of myself.
EGH: I always knew I wanted to work with people, I just wasn’t sure in what capacity. I found Chinese medicine on my own quest to treat a sweating condition (hyperhidrosis) that plagued me since I was young. I used to be embarrassed to share that but it is what drew me to the medicine and has turned me into the type of practitioner I am. Acupuncture opened my world to different ways of looking at the body and helped me tremendously. I just had one of those gut feelings that this was going to be my thing. I went from a life of fear of touching people with my sweating hands to choosing a profession where I have to put my hands on people. It has only made me a more compassionate, understanding and welcoming practitioner and has allowed me to hone skills that I knew I had deep down but didn’t know how to master. I now consider my “sweaty hands” a gift.
The two of you really seem to get along as business partners almost like Yin & Yang, what do you think makes your professional relationship so successful?
AH: We are like Yin & Yang, that’s a great reference! According to the Daoist principles of Yin/Yang, the two are mutually dependent upon each other, flow into one another, support each other and one cannot exist without the other. One picks up where the other ends so to speak. That describes our relationship beautifully in the way we cover all the details together, who takes care of some things and who takes care of other things and it has been such a great experience. We knew we were connected from the moment we met! I can’t imagine doing this adventure with anyone else.
EGH: I’m pretty sure we had a past life connection. We argue like old ladies, we laugh at the same things, we each have different strengths in business, the whole thing just works.
What advice would you give to women looking to open their own business, particularly in the wellness space?
AH: Claim your space, don’t be afraid to negotiate even if people tell you to just settle. Don’t ever settle, ask for what you want, be nice about it, and don’t settle for anything less.
EGH: Hire Amy to negotiate for you :) Also, trust your intuition on things, lean on your fellow business owners, ask lots of questions, and believe in yourself.
What has changed most for you personally since opening Be Well? Has it been harder to find balance between your personal and professional lives?
AH: Hah! I have no personal life. I love being here so the fact that starting a new brick and mortar business requires so much of my time does not feel overwhelming or taxing. It’s so much fun to be here, meeting new people all the time who walk in and ask questions. This is such a great community and the experience as a new business owner has been very gratifying.
EGH: I can’t be here enough. I LOVE coming into work. The balance can be tricky at times. We are open 6 days a week so we are physically in the space more than we were available in our private practices. The year of “building” Be Well Katonah was hard on my personal life but my family has been amazing and they are really proud to say their mom works in Katonah town!
What are the one or two healthy habits each of you have incorporated into your own lives that you think everyone should try?
AH: Take supplements and SLEEP as much as you can!
EGH: I second that. Plus do one thing that brings you joy every day.
Lightning Round:
Best spot in our area (besides Be Well!): AH/EGH: Don’t make us choose! Although we do have a thing for
Kelloggs & Lawrence we can be in there for hours
Favorite indulgence:
AH: Cupcakes
EGH: Pizza 100%
What business would you most like to see open in our area?
AH: A health food store for organic food and products, or a taco joint (Hello “
Truck” owner in Bedford village, hint hint), or a great salad and sandwich place for lunch.
EGH: I agree with Amy- we really need more food here!
What would you do with one extra hour each day?
AH: 30 minute power nap followed by a 30 minute workout.
EGH: Oh that sounds nice. Honestly I think just sitting quietly for an hour.
