Welcome to Living Well — our bi-weekly spotlight on different women that we admire and find fascinating. Our goal is to share an intimate peek into these women’s lives by asking them the questions that allow them to open up about their imperfect truth, whatever that may be. 

As an acupuncturist, Katya is a specialist in women's heath and since we share many of our clients, I intimately know the sincere comfort she brings to so many. I have great respect for acupuncture and love the modern, feminine approach she accents the wisdom of Chinese medicine with.I've known Katya for quite some time now, as both colleague and friend, but I look forward to knowing her that much more through these questions.Enjoy!

If you've done the Values Deck exercise, what are your top five values? Tell us how one of them manifests in your life. What is a decision you’ve made using it to guide you?

Peace, Integrity, Growth, Love, Beauty. Inner peace has become much more alluring to me the last few years, and I chase it above all else. Having peace of mind trumps being right or agreed with and it actually encompasses all of my other values.

What does a life well lived look like to you?

I used to think a well lived life was to pursue and achieve my dreams, and while that is still true to a certain extent, I now see how much emphasis I was putting on the outcome. Today a life well lived looks like being present to the joy in this moment, this choice, this opportunity, over and over again.

My version of success is…

Living without regrets.

In what way are you seeking to grow right now?

I'm seeking to break old perfectionist tendencies and accept more of the messy, imperfect human experience as beautiful too.

What is one way that you are different today than you were ten years ago?

In 2012, I was a new mama that was really just trying to do it "right" (see perfectionist tendencies above!). I had so little compassion for myself as I went through the biggest transition of my life. Today I'm much gentler with myself and more attuned to my limitations and needs. I have the self awareness to protect my energy without feeling badly about it.

Setting aside modesty for a moment, what are you excellent at?

I'm an excellent listener. My dearest friends know that they have my ear when they are suffering or celebrating, no matter what.

Whose life perspective and way of moving through the world teaches you something about who + how you want to be?

Early in the pandemic, I was introduced to Wendy MacNaughton, and I've been equal parts smitten and inspired by her ever since. She's a super creative artist (illustrated one of my favorite cookbooks, Salt Fat Acid Heat) but also a social activist that brings art supplies and creative projects to under-funded classrooms around the country. My girls and I spent almost every day of the quarantine drawing with Wendy on Instagram and those are among my best memories of that season. She's thoughtful and generous and playful, all things I want to embody more of. If you haven't watched her Ted Talk on how drawing is really just about paying attention, you should.

Is there a quote or mantra you always come back to?

"We're all just walking each other home" — Ram Dass

Can you share a book, podcast, or article that changed you in some way?

I first heard about Edith Egar on the Slight Change of Plans podcast with Maya Shankar. She's a 94 year old Auschwitz survivor and psychologist that specializes in PTSD. That podcast led me to her book, The Choice, where she shares how healing, letting go, and forgiving are all choices we can make to help us live and thrive. It's so empowering to realize that choice is ours.

What are you grateful for today?

I'm beyond grateful for my gals, Nadia and Mia. Every time I sit with a patient struggling to build her family, I'm reminded of my own complicated fertility journey and how very thankful I am for my two healthy, happy, wacky daughters.

Katya Mosely is the Founder and Lead Acupuncturist at Spirit Gate Wellness. Katya uses a modern approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine to support women from the zero to fourth trimester. She's passionate about helping women through hormonal and spiritual transitions both in the office and in their day to day lives. In addition to our Golden Ear Seeds Kits, Spirit Gate Wellness just launched a new, organic royal jelly supplement so all women could get in touch with their inner Queen Bee.

Follow Katya’s work on Instagram @spiritgate.la.