The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
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The Alimond Show
Hira Khan - Embracing Holistic Wellness at Safe Haven Chiropractic
When Hira Khan speaks of her transition from the world of traditional medicine to the nurturing touch of chiropractic care, it's not just a career shift we're hearing about—it's a calling. Our latest episode is graced by the founder of Safe Haven Chiropractic, a haven for mothers, babies, and families seeking holistic wellness. Hira's heartfelt narrative takes us through her clinic's dedication to postpartum recovery, breastfeeding support, and the neurological foundation of pediatric care. It's where soothing comfort meets preventative health, and Hira's personal journey illustrates the profound impact of aligning one's practice with their deepest values.
Venturing into the entrepreneurial world may be daunting, but Hira's story unveils the beauty of building a business that's rooted in community and compassion. Starting Safe Haven Chiropractic in the new surroundings of Loudoun County was a leap of faith, one that resonated with the needs of modern parents navigating the complex journey of raising children. We discuss how Hira's workshops aim to dispel the shadows of postpartum anxiety and depression, offering a beacon of hope and actionable advice for families. Join us to uncover the strategies that empower and the community-driven spirit that connects, as we celebrate the resilience of parents accompanied by the gentle guidance of Safe Haven Chiropractic.
My name is Hira Khan. My business is Safe Haven Chiropractic in Ashburn. We serve a lot of moms, babies and family wellness. A majority of the population I see is under the age of 18. And we specialize in breastfeeding, feeding-related issues, head shape, anything you can think of kid-related and then pregnancy and postpartum. For wellness, it's a lot of just keeping yourself as healthy as possible and then keeping the focus more on neuro-based chiropractic.
Speaker 2:So a comprehensive mother and child care Care absolutely yes. Amazing. How did you get into this industry?
Speaker 1:So it's kind of a funny story. So my family everybody before me has been a medical doctor. My dad was the first one to choose not to do it, only because he didn't want to work with blood and he just wanted more math related things, which we have never had an accountant. So when I chose to do chiropractic, it kind of led to it because both my parents had gotten sick from random things. When I was a kid my dad had a double bypass I think he was 36. And then my mom was diagnosed with brain tumor soon after.
Speaker 1:But I remember after her second surgery they had apologized and said she didn't need it and she had a photographic memory. I remember this so clearly because that was the moment I was like you know what, I don't know if I want to do this. Before that I always thought I'll be an OBGYN because my grandma was one. So I had a pull of just wanting to work with moms and I was like great, I also get to work with babies. But then that moment, I remember that conversation so well with the doctor that I was like I don't think I can. I want to do this.
Speaker 1:So I looked at a dentistry and then my dentist that I had gone to for years said I know you love to work with your hands, but you have to find something that you're passionate about, which he was right, cause years later, the more and more I shattered by the.
Speaker 1:I think I was 18. I was like you know what I actually want to do chiropractic and I want to do with moms and babies. So when I opened this office, it was taking that feeling forward. It's like, okay, it has to be one passion based, but whatever I didn't get or my family didn't get, growing up from different providers, so everything that Safe Human is about is creating safe space for families and everything is tailored to their needs. For that reason Because I feel like if I walk into an office, I want to feel a certain way that I'm being heard and listened to, and that's what I brought to chiropractic and having both sides of it looking things from the medical perspective, from my grandparents' side, but also as being part of a patient's family and what that was like for us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, chiropractic can affect everything, right, if?
Speaker 1:you're not filling the line.
Speaker 2:I've been noticing more and more babies going to chiropractors, which wasn't a thing when my kids were babies, but now I've seen so many people go to help with constipation and all sorts of stuff right, Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it helps with. I mean, even if you don't have an issue, you can definitely go, because birth itself can be pretty traumatic, even if you have the easiest birth fast births can be really hard on some babies as well. So getting checked is awesome and going to somebody who's certified so I am certified and board certified in serving mom and babies and so it's additional training that you get after chiropractic school. So what you're looking for is issues before they even happen. So when this baby comes in especially if I've seen the mom and baby comes in right after birth I'll check for their head, range of motion, what the pelvis is doing and how relaxed they are, and then, right off the gate, I'll give them some stretches that they can do at home so they feel empowered. That, okay, I know what to look for.
Speaker 1:What should a latch feel like? How should their head be? What to expect with tummy time and for some reason, let's say, they hate tummy time. What are your alternatives for the time being? So really making sure that we keep the lens on wellness care, just keeping baby and mom as healthy as possible.
Speaker 2:Wow, wonderful. And you said you just opened up a new space. Tell me about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we are now in Ashburn Shopping Plaza. It's off of Ashburn Shopping, I think. Yeah, it's Ashburn Tropic Plaza area. Yeah, it's a little bit bigger than where my other space was. Well, actually a lot bigger, 800 square feet bigger. I have a feeding room which I call the family room. Anybody can go hang out in there Diapers, wipes, you know as comfortable as they can be, especially with reception areas. Sometimes it gets backed up and with babies and even little ones, if they have sensory issues, it's easy to go in there. We have two other rooms for treatment. Our office is very calm and that's like something I always get to hear from new patients and there's always music playing.
Speaker 1:There's always coffee snacks tons of yeah, tons of toys and plants, yeah, but that's really what I wanted to go for is peace and Zen Cause. Sometimes, especially when you are pregnant or even postpartum, that's like the biggest thing you want is just a calming place. Just feeling that way makes your body feel completely different, even if you're in pain. It's just like, okay, for a second I can let go of all day stressors. Um, so that's what I really kept in mind.
Speaker 1:And being around people that have been through it too right, absolutely yeah, and for that reason we're actually working on making a community page on Facebook and that will just be for families that come into the office, especially if moms can connect with each other and then, if I don't know the answer to a question, they can ask another mom, and that way they just get to share something in a very private space. If I don't know the answer to a question, they can ask another mom, and that way they just get to share something in a very private space, which other Facebook groups are great, but I feel like the smaller the group, the easier it is, and oftentimes in the office, especially with first-time moms, they'll ask me like hey, do you know of anyone I could hang out with? Or do Just go get coffee? Yeah, so I feel like that page will be awesome for them to just connect with each other.
Speaker 2:I remember when mine were little and I'd see somebody else with a stroller in the neighborhood, I'd be like hi, can I be friends? Yeah, exactly. So, speaking of Facebook, what are you guys doing as far as marketing and advertising to get clients in?
Speaker 1:So for the most part, everything is word of mouth. I have not really had to market overall. Everything is education, based so on my speaks for itself, you're doing something right. And then, based on that, when I like work with a patient, let's say they said hey, I'm working with a lactation consultant, a pediatrician, whatever, I'll always reach out to them and then let them know what I'm doing and I think that just helps, because then everybody's on board with what's happening but also gets them to understand the chiropractic side of things as well, and I feel like that's like the best kind of marketing you can do for the type of work that I am really specialized in.
Speaker 2:So you moved out here from Wisconsin. I heard you say earlier yeah, and then you just started this from scratch.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, tell me a little bit about that End of December of 2022. Yes, tell me a little bit about that End of December of 2022. Okay, a friend of mine here was already helping me find a space, so I started out in I think it's 181 square feet room. It was very tiny and what made you choose Loudoun County? The biggest thing was I don't have kids, but in the future I was like, when I do have kids, where would I want them to grow up? I'm not a city person per se, but I feel like this area was good, that it was like okay, you can go to Western Loudoun, you'll get your country life a little bit. You go a little bit the other direction, you'll get city life. Weather generally is pretty great. I learned it's a little humid, but that's okay, you're surviving.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely, and not a lot of snow. I like snow, but I don't want it all the time.
Speaker 2:Not Wisconsin snow, no not.
Speaker 1:Wisconsin snow. So that was one thing. And then culture Because of the town I grew up in we really didn't have a lot of diversity, but then that brought lack of food options and I was 25 when I first had Thai food and I was like I don't think I should live here. So since I've been out here it's been trying different foods, different cultures and you grow so much by meeting people. So when I thought about where would I want to raise my kids, I looked at a few different spots. So this was one of them. The other two I don't think were really what I was looking for was Montana or Washington, yeah. But then I was like, well, if I moved out that way, the same exact thing as living in Wisconsin. So I ended up picking this area for that reason.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I've honestly loved it. It's definitely been a growing like as a person kind of experience. First year, like I didn't think I would have a culture shock. Driving was different okay out here, yeah there's not much traffic all the different places I've lived in, but I think it's all been very positive experience being out here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, have you experienced any challenges with setting up a business from scratch in a new area?
Speaker 1:yes, but I think mostly because I don't even know what you're supposed to do with the business. So everything that I've done has been based on just meeting people and getting a feel for things. Like when I interviewed for CPAs, I literally just told each one that I have no idea what I'm doing. I just want somebody to teach me. Kind of the same mentality I take to the office is education. It's like teach me, I don't know anything, because if I don't know then I don't know what to do with the business aspect of things either. So I would talk to as many people as possible doing my own research, and I was very blessed that I ended up finding a lot of the right people and getting to be part of like Lab and chamber, because they were really good at getting me connected and then other health care providers that I met, especially like dentists and therapists. They'll be like oh why don't you talk to so-and-so?
Speaker 2:so I think, just meeting the people a lot of networking yes, has helped me tremendously yeah, um, tell me about what you find most rewarding, about what you do. Um, it's a big question.
Speaker 1:It is a big question, I would say, and it's it kind of makes me emotional. So when, to me I'm all about kids, and when kids are in pain, it is so hard, it is so hard to watch them in pain. And then you look at parents and you're like, oh my god, because, especially with moms, they don't want to tell you how they're feeling, they just just help my kid. But when I see helping their baby, their child, regardless of their age, and then you see the mom light up, I would say that's like the biggest thing and you're gonna make me tear up yeah, it's because, like I said, my family went through it with a lot of it.
Speaker 1:Um, my with my grandparents, as I mentioned, were doctors. They were both surgeons and they had their own clinic. Half the time they didn't even charge people. They said pay me whatever works, and uh, that's like a big thing in my family. It's like you help people in every way you can, so with everything, with the office. That's why I call it safe havens, like I want people to feel that way. When they come in, they go like they can always reach me via email, with text, and that's it. Just, if I can help one person each day, I feel like I'm helping so many people because it's a ripple effect. So that's just feeling that way where I can see their eyes change. That's it. That's what it's all about for me. When I picked the office name, when I picked colors, everything was about the mother, because moms, in my eyes, the mother is what's bonding the entire family together and they're the ones pushing everything forward.
Speaker 1:If I can help them and then help everybody else in the family that way, that's it.
Speaker 2:That's it, yeah, yeah, that's beautiful, yeah, and I know how much it means to somebody, as a mom, to get the answers that you're looking for when you're lost in a certain department, when it comes to your kid, and the relief you feel that when you get, uh, see some changes and get the answers that that you want.
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah, and the office's logo is come as you are. For that reason you just show up. Just show up in any way. I have sometimes postpartum moms that come and they say oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't shower. I'm like that's okay, that's fine. All that matters is that you're here.
Speaker 2:You're here. You got yourself here Check out your list. Yeah, that's the biggest thing. Just getting a baby in a car and driving. It's a task, it's a huge task.
Speaker 1:Yes, Getting dressed and out the door, Diapers, wipes, everything. It's a huge thing and I feel like we don't appreciate parents enough for that it is. It's a huge change going from just two to one and then from one to two. It's it's just adding more and more on your plate and then, at the same time, you're expected to also show up in society a certain way. Yeah, as long as you're showing up that's it.
Speaker 2:That's it, yeah. What advice do you have for new moms?
Speaker 1:Finding a community, because in community I always say there's unity, that it's part of community. So, as far as like, if you can find your people, your village, people that are going to show up for you in any way, they don't even have to do anything for you, just sitting next to you, just listening to you, that's it it's going to make a huge difference, because oftentimes they go unheard. That's like the biggest thing. And if you don't listen to parents, you're not going to find answers. Like, my new patient appointments are about an hour and a half. They're more time, I think, about half an hour more than an average chiropractic new patient appointment.
Speaker 1:And the only reason is because I try to go back as much into the history as possible. My grandpa always said that history is where the answers are. So whenever I try yeah, so whenever I sit down and talk to people, that's what I'm trying to gauge. And then I'll always ask, ok, who is helping you, who is supporting you? And that's really what gave me the idea for the Facebook page that if we can find that village in that community, it'll make world of difference. I think back in the day we had people always supporting us, whether it was our parents, our neighbors, there was always that camaraderie, one way or another. We don't really have that as much because the life has gotten so much faster.
Speaker 1:So much faster and working moms go back to work so much sooner. Absolutely Six weeks is to me it's ridiculous, especially if you had C-section. You haven't even fully healed. But in any case we know two years after giving birth you're still considered in full-fledged postpartum. Your brain's not even back to normal. No, nothing's normal. Yeah, exactly so. It's like the expectation of mothers, and then you have to be okay, and then you have to do this and you have to do that. You can't slow down, you can't have emotions. You can't do this, you can't think about your kid.
Speaker 2:You can't talk about your kid too much, like it's just, you have to just be a robot. Yeah, exactly. How do you tell people to kind of silence out those voices in their head?
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah. And also meeting people that are going through something similar is yours, I think it makes a world of difference. I don't have kids yet, but I feel like the more and more I learn from mothers what they go through, it's like, okay, I need to prepare myself for a lot of that.
Speaker 2:You're going to be all sorts of prepare. What advice do you have for an entrepreneur such as yourself that is wanting to move to a completely new location and start a business? What advice do you have?
Speaker 1:Showing up as authentically as possible. I think when you show yourself to people as who you are and be vulnerable, they'll connect with you and they will help you. There are so many people that are willing to help you. This is my seventh state that I've lived in oh wow, and I've met great people in each state. I always believe there are more good people than bad people and I think, when it comes to business, same exact thing always believe there are more good people than bad people, and I think, when it comes to business, same exact thing. Like if you just show up and say this is my vision, this is my mission, let's let's talk. People really want to help you and that's really what has helped me tremendously, especially first four months. I grew out of my current space in matter of three months, but the middle of third month I was. I had to look for a new space. That's amazing, and it was because of the people. That's it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you and people, and the peace that you give them and the care that you give for them. Are there any last parting words you'd like to leave us with Advice for our listeners, business owners, new mothers.
Speaker 1:That's a really good question. Another big question. Yeah, that's a really good question. Another big question? Yeah, um, I would say education and knowledge, in terms of this entire um phase of life, is the biggest thing.
Speaker 1:If you feel like you're unheard, find somebody else, like a different provider, or connect with people that are gonna they're looking for the same answers. Or just talking to mothers, talking to other people that are going to they're looking for the same answers, or just talking to mothers, talking to other people that have gone through it, they're going to give you the wisdom that maybe you didn't think about, an idea that's going to help you tremendously. And same thing with, like, keeping an eye on all the webinars that my office does online. It's all about education and a lot of providers, especially from that perspective, are willing to just guide you and if they can give you a few pointers, awesome. That kind of gives you an idea of how to maneuver through whatever it is, whether it's breastfeeding challenges or, let's say, pain through prenatal care or postpartum. There are so many different things that can be done. It doesn't always have to be one route and that's it. There's so many options.
Speaker 2:So many options. Absolutely Speaking of education, you said you have a workshop coming up soon.
Speaker 1:Yes, in May we're trying to set up a webinar. It'll be online on Instagram and we'll also do it on Facebook at the same time. It'll be talking about postpartum anxiety and depression. That'll be the biggest thing you don. It'll be talking about postpartum anxiety and depression. That'll be the biggest thing. You don't even have to have it. It's just going to give you pointers how to navigate that before it even happens.
Speaker 1:Or, if you are, if you are already struggling with anxiety, how to kind of um, how to maneuver that before things even happen, how to help yourself out into like journaling or you know, we hear the word self-care beyond self-care what you can do to help yourself, and into like journaling or you know, we hear the word self-care beyond self-care what you can do to help yourself, and also not just moms, also for dads, they go through that too. So it's really going to work through just individually how it's going to impact parents and then, as couples, what that could look like and then what your options are if you do go through challenges, and you can find this workshop on your website.
Speaker 2:It'll be on our Instagram, on your Instagram page, yes, well, thank you so much for coming in today and sharing your story with us. Thank you, you're doing amazing work and I wish you continued growth and success.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. Yeah, thank you, thank you for having me, absolutely Thank you.