Today we’d like to introduce you to Katya Mosely.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Katya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Long before I became a practitioner, I was a patient. In my mid-twenties, my low back was increasingly painful, to the point that the Dulles airport had to issue me a wheelchair when I couldn’t walk myself to my gate. I was seeing Western doctors that loaded me up with pain killers and muscle relaxers as well as a physical therapist, that despite going three times each week for months, couldn’t make significant progress with my pain. My boss at the time, after watching me struggle with pain each and every day, suggested I visit her acupuncturist. I had no idea what to expect but was desperate for a solution. Meeting my acupuncturist, Carolyn Pion, forever changed the way I thought about health, medicine and balance. After seeing a half dozen specialists for my back pain, she was the only one that didn’t exclusively focus on my L4-L5. We discussed my lifestyle, digestion, sleep habits, libido, stress level, professional fulfillment, and so many other things that made up my daily experiences. I had never spent so much time sharing pieces of myself with a doctor before. When she started needling me, I was shocked that the needles were placed all over my torso, arms and legs, not just my low back. And from there my healing began, as did my love and deep appreciation for this graceful, powerful medicine.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to having a busy practice has been wonderful, though not without its challenges. Earning a Masters in Chinese Medicine turned me into an excellent acupuncturist and herbalist, but did very little for my knowledge of running a successful practice, understanding the insurance billing game, and being on top of all my administrative duties. The practical/yang side of being an acupuncturist is super important to running a successful business. It took me a while to figure out how to do that stuff or the right people I could delegate to so that I can keep my focus on the part of the practice that I find most rewarding – the yin side of building relationships with my patients.
My advice to a budding acupuncturist would be to start inquiring about setting up a business and familiarizing themselves with the less sexy side of the practice during their last year of graduate school.
Please tell us about Spirit Gate Acupuncture.
I am a women’s health specialist with a focus on navigating hormonal shifts in women. This includes helping patients regulate their menstrual cycles, guiding them through fertility journeys, being a source of support during the postpartum period, and keeping spirits, libido, and energy high for all the years that follow. Hormonal imbalances can affect every aspect of a woman’s life, from sleep quality to metabolism, mood and immunity. I try to be a source of support and information to each of my patients.
As an acupuncturist, I’m most proud of the success I’ve had helping patients conceive. A close second would be helping women avoid unwelcome c-sections because of breech babies. Acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion and cupping are incredible tools that I feel so lucky to introduce to my patients.
The first 40 days postpartum are considered the most sacred for healing, bonding with the newborn, establishing a good milk supply and restoring a mama’s Qi after the difficult work of labor. In keeping with the Chinese tradition, I encourage patients to stay home, limit their stimulants, and surround themselves with their closest friends and family before dispersing their delicate Qi with the rest of the world. For this reason, I offer to make house calls to my patients during the first 40 days after delivery.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My background is Ukrainian and I was born in a little town outside of Kiev. As a young child, my mother practiced folk medicine on me as the first line of defense any time I started coming down with signs of a cold. She would place cups on my back when I’d cough, rub mustard seed powder on my feet when my nose would start to run, force me to inhale the steam from boiling water if my sinuses were congested. She didn’t practice medicine but had an arsenal of tricks for every minor illness. I had lost touch with a lot of these memories until I started studying herbal medicine. It was a sort of ‘full circle moment’ that confirmed, I was on the right track.
Pricing:
- Consultation and first treatment $200
- Subsequent acupuncture treatments $110
Contact Info:
- Address: I have two offices:
2001 S. Barrington Ave. Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90025
LOOM, 5259 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019 - Website: www.katyamosely.com, www.thisisloom.com
- Phone: 310.630.9836
- Email: info@katyamosely.com
- Instagram: @spiritgate.la
Image Credit:
Main photo: Kendra A Kabasele Photography and @kendraakabaselephotography
Katya Mosely, L.Ac.
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
