We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Miller. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Ashley , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. I own a small but busy acupuncture clinic in historic downtown Covington, Louisiana. I’ve been running everything myself since I opened 11 years ago. I’ve built the business steadily over the years and it’s now running at a very smooth and comfortable pace.
I’ve always had a propensity for science, so I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at LSU. After I graduated, I was unsure of my next step. I was toying with the ideas of medical school, nursing school, dental school, vet school. Those are some of the usual choices for a Biology major, but none of them really resonated with me. I was a little lost at that point. One day I was having a casual chat with my neighbor and she said “maybe you should look into acupuncture. I have a friend who is an acupuncturist and she loves it.” Those words shaped the entire course of my life. I had heard of acupuncture before, but I didn’t really know much about it. I started researching online and got a few books from the library and I fell in love. I knew without question, deep in my heart, that this was absolutely what I was meant to do. I was already delving into natural healing for some personal health issues, and this was the perfect marriage of science and natural healing. I started down that path and never looked back. I am still so grateful for her words that day. I can’t even imagine what my life would be like if we hadn’t had that conversation. You never know when the simplest thing can make such an impact on someone else.
Acupuncture is so amazing because it can help with so many different issues. People come to see me for pain, anxiety, digestive problems, hormone balancing, and so much more. All acupuncturists are trained to treat these things, so that part is not necessarily unique. I think what makes my patients return to me is the entire experience as soon as they step foot in my clinic. It’s a serene, warm space that makes them feel safe. I take time to listen to them, and I love solving mysteries for them. I love being a health detective to help them to figure out why they might be having a particular problem. Because they feel safe in my space, they are able to really relax and decompress during the treatment, which sends many of them into a deep healing state, which is somewhere between the conscious and unconscious. And some people go into a deep restorative sleep that many say feels like they slept for hours, even though it was only about 30 minutes. This is when really deep healing occurs. I am always so proud and grateful when I’m able to help somebody get to that state. It’s rare for most people in our busy, bustling society to take time to do that. I think it’s so important to give our bodies that little break every once in a while.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I am actually pivoting right now. For many years, I worked 40 hours a week at my clinic, then went home each night to my second full time job…single mother of 3. I was wearing myself out, but my instinct is to just keep plowing forward, so that’s what I did. When the pandemic started and everything was shut down, I had no choice but to close my clinic for 2 months. I spent much of that time relaxing, working in my yard, and reconnecting with nature. That was a huge wake up call for me. It made me realize how focusing so much energy at my clinic had caused me to neglect this entire side of myself and these things that have always given me joy. When my kids were young, I used to make homemade herbal products for various ailments, so I started tinkering with that again and remembered how much I love that as well. I have realized that now I need to nourish that part of my soul as well. So now I’m embarking on a new business. I’m in the process of launching an all natural herbal product line that draws on my herbology knowledge. It’s the perfect and most natural segue for me. This is all still very much in the early stages, but at some point I will pivot my business. I’ll still be in the clinic seeing patients but I will shift my hours so I can grow my new business. I’m very lucky to have an amazing life partner, who is also my business partner in this new venture.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Obviously, in my field it’s very important to give effective treatments that get results. That’s number one. People stop coming if their condition isn’t improving. There is more to that story, though. Patients want to feel like you really care about them, and that you’re invested in their health. They want to feel like they belong, and are always welcome in your clinic. Many people want to feel listened to. Especially those who have a complicated web of medical conditions and have been shuffled out of medical facilities with no answers or results. Many of those patients are looking for a more heartfelt approach to medical care. I’m blessed that my personality is such that I’m able to provide that for them and I believe that has helped me be successful in my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: covingtonacupuncture.com
- Facebook: Magnolia Acupuncture Clinic