In this new era of health and wellness, I’m noticing more boutique wellness centers popping up in major cities. I’ve investigated to find the best new businesses jumping on this trend, and I previously gave you one of my favorites in the field, Stretch’d. Well, just down the street, there’s a new spot in town, appropriately named WTHN. Much like a beautiful spa, the atmosphere is soothing and zen, quiet and peaceful. They offer a menu of acupuncture treatments dependent on the issue at hand. They have Prevent, for immunity boosting and releasing tight muscles. Heal, is a treatment used for injuries, illnesses and sleep deprivation. Lastly, my favorite, The Glow, which enhances your skin, circulating the blood flow, and relaxing the face muscles. Pairing WTHN with Stretch’d will keep you going through the winter!
How many years have you been in business in NYC?
We opened in Flatiron November of 2018.
How did you get your start and what was your initial inspiration?
Michelle: A ski accident left me with chronic neck pain and few healing options. At the suggestion of my doctor, I tried acupuncture and felt immediate pain relief. Over time, I also experienced holistic benefits including better sleep, less stress, and a stronger immune system/fewer sick days. Later, acupuncture helped me get pregnant with my son Sam. Given my own personal health transformation, I become a huge advocate for acupuncture, but realized that there was no easy way for others to get started, and there was no trusted or go-to brand. In the world of Soul Cycle and Drybar, we were lacking a modern re-imagination of acupuncture and I set out to find a way to bring the deeply healing powers of acupuncture to a larger audience to help more people.
Shari: I always wanted to help people and quickly moved into a career in the healing arts at a young age. Intrigued and inspired by mind-body medicine, I pursued my doctorate in Chinese medicine and have been a holistic health practitioner for over two decades now. I founded WTHN with Michelle Larivee to bring the healing power of acupuncture and herbs to a larger audience. WTHN’s goal is to demystify acupuncture and herbs and make it more accessible. We believe acupuncture should be integrated into everyone’s wellness routine and are making it easier than ever to do just that.
What do you feel differentiates you from others in your field?
WTHN is a brand new acupuncture experience - personalized, ultra-modern and convenient for your life. WTHN was created to make acupuncture accessible and demystify how it works + what it’s good for.
WTHN is a 360 degree healing experience that activates all five senses from our proprietary sound therapy for deepest relaxation to heated tables for total comfort, complimentary tea, a zen wellness lounge and soothing lighting. We are the first acupuncture studio to offer a membership model that makes it affordable, convenient for your lifestyle and a staple part of your wellness routine.
All of our Healers are NY State Licensed Acupuncturists with a minimum three years of training and a Master’s Degree in Chinese medicine. In addition, our Healers are all trained in our own WTHN method. We have a curated wellness boutique of unique and affordable natural healing products that can continue the WTHN natural healing experience at home for maximum benefit.
What do you feel gives you longevity in this big city with so many options?
Acupuncture has been healing humans for over 2,500 years, we’re not re-inventing Chinese medicine, we are simply elevating the experience to make it accessible. WTHN is the first concept of its kind for accessible acupuncture. With the current generation, healthcare is becoming increasingly about prevention and keeping yourself healthy and the next frontier of wellness is about mind body connection and recovery. Acupuncture is uniquely positioned to boost immunity, relax stress & anxiety and help you sleep better. WTHN will be coming to more neighborhoods around NYC in 2019 making it even easier for our clients to incorporate acupuncture into their wellness routine.
How do you positively impact your clientele?
Our mission is acupuncture for all - to help others stay healthy and feel better so they can lead happy, fulfilled lives every day. Acupuncture is proven to treat hundreds of conditions so we designed a treatment menu that is easy to understand and navigate with some of the most common conditions. Every treatment is customized to a client’s individual health goals and needs. Our menu offers three categories: Prevent, Heal, and Glow. Because Chinese medicine is a system of preventative health, the Prevent menu focuses on optimizing your health and includes the key things everyone is walking around with - stress, fatigue, anxiety. The Heal menu includes some of the key health conditions for acupuncture - pain relief, women’s health, digestion and sleep. Our Glow menu offers our ancient Chinese beauty secret - a multi-tasking facial rejuvenation treatment that leaves you looking younger by reducing wrinkles and firming the skin (through increased production of collagen and elastin) and feeling relaxed through a holistic treatment. Having a membership model makes it easy to fit acupuncture into your wellness routine, bring your body into balance and stay in balance.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Michelle: Hearing from clients about how we have transformed their health and life.
Shari: Mentoring a group of amazing healers.
What is your favorite secret NYC spot?
Michelle: The amazing bakery and pastries at Patisserie Colson in Park Slope.
Shari: I love to go to Juvenex in Korea town on a quiet weekday morning and get a Korean scrub and sit in their jade sauna.
How do you benefit mamas?
WTHN is a partner to moms even before they become moms. We are here to support women as they start to think about getting pregnant and are looking to prepare their bodies by reducing stress and balancing hormones. Fun fact: Acupuncture is proven to increase chances of conceiving through IVF by 50%. We’re here for you in the early years of being a mom - whether you’re looking to bring your hormones into balance, deal with the stress of being a new mom and balancing that with the rest of your life, or help your body recover from the sore muscles, aches and pains of running around after little ones. Our glow treatment is great to turn back time on your face too, while also getting a holistic treatment to relax and renew. We all know that moms are too busy to afford to get sick, and by building immunity, reducing stress and building up energy, WTHN is here to keep moms healthy and in the game.
Acupuncture is proven to treat hundreds of conditions and every WTHN treatment is customized. WTHN is here to help mommy’s with their personal health goals and needs.
What is the most memorable feedback a client has given you?
We hear incredible stories every day about how WTHN is helping people heal. We recently found out that one of our clients was helped in getting pregnant as a result of regular acu sessions at WTHN. We couldn’t be more excited about the first acu-baby from WTHN!
Pay it forward and name your top colleagues in the same field or related field.
Our proprietary sound therapy at WTHN was created by the amazing musician Nate Martinez. His work has created a unique experience and journey for all our clients at WTHN bringing them to an even deeper level of relaxation.
What is the best advice anyone's ever given you? Or what is your "mantra" / words to live by?
Michelle: Every problem has a solution, so there’s never an excuse to be stuck in any situation.
Shari: To keep coming back to the present moment, we spend so much time in the past and future, when the present moment is really where it’s at.
As moms, the day can escape us, what is your best time-saving trick?
Michelle: A to-do list the night before that is prioritized so I don’t get lost in the things that seem urgent but are less important.
Shari: Letting go of perfectionism will save you time. Relax and do only what you can do while still maintaining grace and joy. Let go of self imposed expectations that are causing you grief, so you can live more fully, truthfully and with all the time you need.