At ORA, we’re a small, majority-female team who wholeheartedly believe in the power of what we do. Working side by side with some of the most knowledgeable and intuitive acupuncturists, we’re constantly learning, healing, and evolving, both personally and professionally. 

This series gives you a peek behind the curtain: how our team integrates the ORA Method and Traditional Chinese Medicine into our own lives, what wellness means to us, and how working in this space has shaped who we are. First up: Isabel, our Chief Operating Officer.

TCM + Wellness Practices

What Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices do you incorporate into your daily life?
One principle I live by is that stagnation, when Qi isn’t flowing, leads to dysfunction and pain. This can show up as something small like struggling to focus, or more serious like a chronic illness.

For me, it often feels like being “stuck,” whether it’s brain fog, constipation, or hormonal imbalance. I’ve learned that the best way to move Qi is to move my body. I make it a point to walk daily, especially home from work after a stressful day. Even if I’m at our UES location (and live downtown), I’ll walk as far as I can before hopping on the train. I also journal or talk things out, letting thoughts build up only creates more stagnation.

Do you follow any specific rituals around food, movement, or breathwork rooted in TCM?
I’m a big believer that food is medicine. I try to eat warm, cooked meals and drink hot beverages, even in the summer.

Sunday meal prep is my ritual, though I can’t resist the occasional Italian sandwich. Tea has always been part of my routine, and since launching ORA teas in 2020, they’ve become daily staples. I start with Inner Vitality around 11am and follow with The Best Digest at 2pm.

How do you support your emotional and mental well-being throughout the day?
Consistency in my morning routine grounds me. Most days start with a barre or cycling class, a little background noise from Good Morning America (my guilty pleasure), and a preview of the day ahead.

Throughout the day, I stay in tune with my body. When I need a break, I connect with our acupuncture or concierge team, it helps reset and reminds me why we do what we do. I also make time to completely unplug, whether it’s binging a TV show or catching up with friends and family without distractions.

Skincare + Self-Care

What’s your morning skincare routine?
My focus is hydration, prevention, and protection:

• Linne Purify Cleanser

• Linne Refresh Mist Toner

• Linne Renew Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Serum

• Yina Hydracloud Moisturizer

• Linne Revive Eye Serum

• Linne Protect Sunscreen

While in the shower, I do a quick gua sha routine to de-puff and sculpt.

What about your evening routine?
Evenings are all about repair and hydration:

• Yina Bioadaptive Cleanser

• PCA Nutrient Toner

• Yina Regenerate Serum

• Yina Hydracloud

• Linne Revive Eye Serum

Twice a week, I use the Linne Glow Mask. Most nights, I use the NuFace microcurrent device to sculpt my jawline and eyes.

What ORA products do you use regularly, and why?
The OMAD Lift + Firm sheet mask and Miracle Balm are my go-to’s. The mask keeps my skin hydrated and lifted, and the Miracle Balm is my holy grail for eczema flare-ups and scar healing.

Do you have a wellness or beauty ritual you swear by?
Gua sha, daily. With hormonal shifts affecting how I retain water, lymph movement makes a huge difference in how I look and feel—especially around my eyes, jawline, and even ankles.

Workday at ORA

What does a typical day look like for you as COO?
No two days are alike. I start early, reviewing overnight updates and checking in with our operations and area managers. From there, it’s strategic planning, guiding growth initiatives, and ensuring our service levels and culture align with our mission. I love being in the space, it means I can occasionally end my day with a treatment.

A big part of my role is inspiring our team to care for themselves the way we care for our patients. Taking breaks, stepping outside, and finding their own balance.

What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Checking in with our practitioners and concierge team. Hearing stories of patient progress or personal insights always brings me back to our “why.” These moments ground me and remind me that this is more than a business, it’s a healing space.

How do you stay grounded when your day gets hectic?
Micro-moments of mindfulness help. Just 30 seconds to shake off tension or press an acupressure point like LI4 or PC8. When I can, I step into a treatment room to breathe. The intentional energy of those rooms always resets me.

What’s your favorite treatment at ORA, and why?
I love our acupuncture treatments for the full mind-body reset, but the ORA Acupuncture Facial is my favorite. It goes beyond skincare, it targets emotional and hormonal imbalances that show up on the face. Our acupuncturists are so intuitive and deeply present. I feel the effects for a full week.

What’s your favorite part of getting acupuncture at ORA?
I love switching between different acupuncturists. They each have a specialty, whether I’m managing foot pain or hormonal shifts. My go-to combo is acupuncture + meditation + red light—it helps me reset my nervous system, and my Oura ring always shows improved sleep and recovery after.

Reflection + Philosophy

What does wellness mean to you personally?
Wellness isn’t a destination, it’s a lifelong conversation between mind, body, and spirit. After years at ORA, I’ve seen firsthand that wellness is different for everyone. It’s not about perfection or trends, it’s about creating rituals that meet you where you are.

To me, wellness is having the courage to listen to what your body needs, and responding with compassion. It’s not selfish... it’s essential.

How has working at ORA shaped your approach to health and self-care?
When I joined ORA in 2019, I was on my own healing journey and discovering the power of acupuncture. Opening our first location during the pandemic taught me the importance of relational care, healing in community.

Working closely with our practitioners has expanded my view of health from a single-system approach to something holistic and interconnected. I’ve learned to trust the body’s natural healing process and build routines that support me through every season.

What advice would you give someone starting their wellness journey?
Try everything, listen to your body, and don’t force what doesn’t feel right. (For me, that’s hot yoga, hard pass!) But seriously, get acupuncture.