We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Anna Pearl D.C.. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Anna, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am most certainly on a path. We are in the “if you build it they will come” phase. We have been gathering like minded practitioners for seven years, creating a comprehensive Wellness Center and now we are working on doubling our square footage so we can expand our services and help even more people. Interestingly, the ultimate goal in following this path is so that I can wander a bit more! I am expecting my first child before the end of the year, and I hope with all of the hard work we are putting in now, that I will be able to explore motherhood on my own terms, being able to spend more time with my family without dropping the ball with Bixby Knolls Wellness Center’s level of care.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Dr. Anna Pearl, D.C., and I’m the founder of Bixby Knolls Wellness Center in Long Beach, California. I’m a chiropractor, wellness advocate, and someone who’s deeply passionate about helping people feel better in their bodies so they can live fuller, more vibrant lives.
I opened Bixby Knolls Wellness Center with a clear mission: to create a space where individuals and families could find high-quality, whole-person care under one roof. Our center brings together chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, yoga therapy, acupuncture, and skincare—all in a warm, welcoming environment that feels more like a community than a clinic.
What makes us unique is our team-based, patient-centered approach. We don’t just treat symptoms—we partner with our patients to help them become better stewards of their bodies and their long-term health. Every person who walks through our doors is met with compassion, personalized attention, and a commitment to real healing.
Right now, I’m especially excited about how we’re expanding our support for women’s hormone health, prenatal and postpartum wellness, and community education. Our goal is always the same: to empower people with the tools, care, and community they need to thrive.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that I’m consciously letting go of is the “grind-harder-than-anyone” mindset—the workhorse energy that told me I had to push myself to the brink to prove my worth. For years, I wore that as a badge of honor: showing up early, staying late, doing everything for everyone. And while that drive helped me build something meaningful, I’ve come to realize it’s no longer sustainable—or aligned with the kind of life I want to lead.
Stepping into a new season of self-care and self-nurturing has been powerful. It actually began with my husband and I trying to get pregnant. After a year of trying, I started working with an incredible fertility doula, Jess Tims (huge shout out to her!), and she helped me understand that in order to receive, I had to soften. I had to refuel. I had to make space.
Now a year and a half later, we are expecting our first child and the lessons I’ve learned have carried over into all areas of my life. I’ve learned that I can still be dedicated and high-performing—but in a way that’s more efficient, more intentional, and more loving toward myself. I’m a better doctor, leader, partner, and friend when I’m not running on empty. And that’s the energy I want to model for my patients and team now: you don’t have to burn out to be successful. You can build a beautiful life by honoring your body, your boundaries, and your capacity. These are lessons that I love to share with my patients and show that they too can have balance in their lives.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
One thing I changed my mind about after failing hard was our weekly yoga program. It was something I poured a lot of heart and energy into—because so many of our patients had told me they missed in-person yoga after the pandemic, and a nearby studio had just closed its doors. It felt like the perfect opportunity to serve a need in our community.
We tried everything—ClassPass, flexible membership structures, different instructors, packages, even offering it for free at times—but the numbers just weren’t there. After nearly two years of pushing and problem-solving, I had to get honest with myself. I realized I was holding onto an idea because of how much I wanted it to work—not because it was working.
That experience taught me that being a dreamer and being an entrepreneur can sometimes pull you in different directions. There are moments when you have to let the entrepreneur take the reins and look at the hard data, even when the dreamer in you is still holding hope. It was humbling, but also freeing. Letting go allowed me to redirect that energy into things that are resonating with our patients—and I’m better for having gone through it.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is absolutely the real me. I genuinely strive to be warm, present, patient, kind, and thoughtful—whether I’m with a patient, a team member, or someone I love. I hope my family and staff would say the same (though they’ve probably heard a few more four-letter words than my patients have!). Like anyone, I have moments behind closed doors where my fuse is a bit shorter or I let loose in a way I wouldn’t in the treatment room—but the core of who I am stays consistent.
In fact, one of the things I’m most proud of is that I don’t feel like I have to wear a different “mask” at work. I don’t put on a syrupy-sweet version of myself to get through the day—I just show up as me. And I think that authenticity helps my patients feel safe enough to show up as themselves too. We’re all human. We all experience grief, joy, shame, hope—and when people feel seen and accepted in their full humanity, it opens the door to deeper healing.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me after I’m gone is that I truly cared. That I cared deeply for my community, that I worked to make my little corner of the world just a bit better, and that I treated people with kindness, respect, and presence.
I hope people remember me as someone who helped others feel seen, supported, and believed in—whether they were walking through our doors as patients or as part of our team. I’ve always wanted Bixby Knolls Wellness Center to be more than just a clinic. I wanted it to be a place of healing, of hope, of growth—and a truly great place to work. I’m proud that we’ve been able to offer our team good wages, meaningful benefits (even as a small business), and room to grow into work that brings joy and purpose.
If people say I reduced pain, offered encouragement, and gave them tools to heal—that would mean the world to me. Because at the end of the day, I just want to leave behind a ripple effect of care, compassion, and positive change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bixbyknollswellness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bixbyknollswellness/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bixby-knolls-wellness-center/about/
- Twitter: https://x.com/BixbyKnollsWC
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bixbyknollswellnesscenter
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bixby-knolls-wellness-center-long-beach-3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bixbyknollswellnesscenter
Image Credits
F/8 Studios
Yvette Aispuro
Val Glidden
