Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sasha Ormiston, founder and owner of Nurture and Flo, located in Victoria, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Hello! I am a Registered Acupuncturist in Victoria, BC, and have practiced for almost ten years. I am a working mother to two incredible children (Florence 5, Boden 2). I am lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who has helped me achieve my dreams. Over the past ten years, I have worked to grow my practice to what it is today, a dream practice that not only supports and cares for my patients but one that also fulfills me on a daily basis too. Although I treat all concerns - my practice primarily focuses on pregnancy support, post-partum care, hormonal and menstrual health, emotional support and stress relief, and rejuvenation acupuncture and skincare.

This past year after my clinical practice reached its peak, I knew it was time for me to achieve a lifelong goal of opening a wellness clinic that created an environment that encompassed all the things I was passionate about with health with an incredible team of health professionals. And so, I opened Nurture and Flo in June 2021 - a boutique health clinic offering patient-centered care from skilled and compassionate practitioners in a really beautiful environment. We offer Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Registered Massage Therapy, and Clinical Counselling.

Tell us about yourself

Growing up, I have always had a strong passion for health and wellness, a big heart to care for the people around me, and wonder for the magic of the more esoteric and spiritual practices I learned about. All of these things landed me on the path of being a Registered Acupuncturist which has evolved into a practice that largely focuses on fields that greatly inspire me:

  • Hormonal and menstrual health
  • Pregnancy support
  • Postpartum care
  • Facial rejuvenation/natural beauty
  • Mental and emotional support

A lot of these passions arose from my own experiences as a mother of two and my own journeys in pregnancy and postpartum.

I am inspired in so many ways to do the work I do. Each day in the clinic, my patients inspire me with their resiliency to show up for themselves, put in the work, and strive to be the best versions of themselves. I am so grateful to support them in that. I am also inspired by my kids and family to be able to create something successful and sustainable. As a woman in business and as a mother, it is important to me to create a balance between work and family life. I want to show my kids that you can chase your dreams and create success in your career while still being a great parent. It isn't always easy, the balance is always tricky to find, but it is incredibly rewarding on so many levels.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Opening Nurture and Flo has been such an accomplishment, and I am so proud of the work that we have done to support our community and the positive feedback we have received. After only seven months in, we received Gold awards from the Community Votes campaign for Best Wellness and Beauty Spa and Best Massages. Additionally, I personally received the Platinum top awards this year for the second year in a row for Best Acupuncturist in the city.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

It's a never-ending grind, and there is always growth that can occur and work to be down. My biggest lessons have been in creating boundaries and delegating work to others to make sure I am not burning out are pushing myself too hard. When it is something you are passionate about and inspired by, it is easy to be overrun by it, but you are expending energy at the end of the day. You need to take care of yourself too.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do something that inspires you and fills your heart; if you are creating a business based solely around something to fulfill others rather than yourself, then it will be pretty easy to burn out and lose the joy that can really make your dreams become a reality.
  2. Connect with your community of similar businesses or practices. Build connections over the competition, and you can create some amazing colleagues that can offer insight and help as you grow. There is room for all of us!
  3. Jump fully in once you are ready. My business didn't take off until I fully immersed myself in it and let go of my "safe" career, working for my old college with a regular pay cheque. Obviously, this isn't always viable for everyone, but that jump will rarely feel like it has a right time and there were always be a reason to keep the safe comfort around. But unless your dreams have your full focus, they will never grow at the rate you want them to.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Thank you for listening!! For any aspiring acupuncturists or health professionals, feel free to reach out with any questions or advice. I wish everyone luck with their businesses. There will be endless ups and downs, and the path can change often. Be flexible, believe in yourself, and surround yourself with a community of support and the resources you need. Entrepreneurship can feel lonely, but you are rarely alone in what you are doing.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://www.sashaormistonacupuncture.com/
https://nurtureandflo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SashaOrmistonAcupuncture

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sashaormiston.rac/
https://www.instagram.com/nurtureandflo

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.