Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Ring.
Hi Kayla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
It’s so funny because the Steve Job’s saying, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward” is so true. My path has truly been a process of learning and unlearning of all the things that were never truly of me and my highest potential, leaning more into my authenticity and following the breadcrumbs.
Long story short, I was teaching yoga full-time and had the intention of finding a mentor to help me deepen my physical and spiritual practices. At the same time, I was working with a Chinese and Functional Medicine Physician on my personal health issues. I was learning so much from my experiences working with him. I was genuinely so inspired and, at the same time, frustrated that the information I was learning was not more prevalent. But I felt so empowered because it was the first time in my life where I felt like I was finally understanding myself and what I uniquely and individually needed. With knowledge comes the ability to make better decisions and be a better advocate for yourself. When you finally grasp that, everything changes. In working with him, he saw how passionate and interested I had become in the medicine that he offered to mentor me if I ever decided to go back to school. It certainly wasn’t the path I thought I would be walking down, but when a mentor presents itself, you don’t pass that up.
So, I made the decision to enroll in the Doctoral program at Pacific Health of Health and Science. Fast forward five years, and now I own my own practice specializing in Chinese and Functional Medicine in Poway, Ca.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being in a post-graduate program certainly has some bumps along the way. However, whether you are in a school program or not, burning the candle from both ends will undoubtedly have an impact. I was taking classes at an accelerated pace as well as working 25+ hours per week, so my health took an even harder hit. I think it would be easy for me to say that it was a difficult time in my life because when you don’t feel well, you don’t feel well and the things around you mirror that – however, I believe it was a blessing in disguise because it gave me a far more intimate understanding of the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects affecting my physiological processes. We don’t learn that our physical illnesses are often the last and most outward manifestations – our bodies have been whispering to us and trying to get our attention to look a little deeper at the emotional and spiritual self – the parts that we may have been neglecting for some time. So, while this was on paper a more difficult time for me, it informs the way I practice and work with patients today. Everything always makes sense looking back.
We’ve been impressed with The Practice Integrative Health, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the Owner / Clinic Director of The Practice Integrative Health in Poway, Ca. We offer acupuncture and herbal medicine with an emphasis on functional medicine and nutrition. We specialize in endocrinology, which encompasses hormone regulation, fertility, metabolic health (diabetes), and thyroid disease, as well as orthopedic acupuncture – however, we see patients with all different kinds of health goals. Apart from our physical offerings, one of the biggest things we offer to patients is hope. Hope that it can be different and that you have a team behind you that supports your healing. Every session aims to address the person as a whole and curated to meet your specific goals.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I don’t think that there are many places that can beat San Diego. We have the best of all worlds with the beach, desert, and mountains all within driving distance. If I wanted to change anything about our city would be my desire for seasons – mostly because I think that many Southern Californians miss the seasonal cues (especially hibernation in the winter), but then again – it’s just an hour’s drive to the mountains to play in the snow!
Pricing:
- New patient appointment: $145
- Follow-up appointment: $115
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaylaringdacm.com
- Instagram: @dr.kaylaringdacm and @thepractice.sd
- Facebook: facebook.com/dr.kaylaring and facebook.com/thepracticesd
Image Credits
Cheryl Miller
