No curtains or walls separate the patients at Ren Health Collective in downtown Calgary. The owners say it’s a communal experience, fostering a sense of connection in affordable healthcare for all.
Ren Health Collective opened its doors for the first time in early November, hoping to support Calgarians’ health through the use of acupuncture—a traditional Chinese medicine.
“A lot of people aren’t sure if acupuncture is going to work for them or if they’re afraid of needles… So being able to offer it for free or even low cost is pretty helpful for people,” said Gabriella Wong Ken, clinic’s founders.
A private acupuncture session at the clinic costs between $35 to $40.
Wong Ken, a registered nurse, teamed up with Alice Lam and acupuncturist Alex Judd to start the clinic. Since then, they have put their experience and passions into the start-up.
As a community-based healthcare centre, patients receive acupuncture treatments in a shared space, rather than a standard private room for each individual.
“It’s an opportunity to see other people being in that space,” explained Judd. “It can be therapeutic to have a safe and healing experience among other people who are also dealing with health issues and stresses.”
Judd has worked with acupuncture for more than three years. During her time and experience with Chinese medicine, she finds fulfillment in the satisfaction that patients receive through acupuncture.
“The biggest motivation is watching people benefit from it… But when you develop a relationship and see their progress over time, it’s really special to see breakthroughs and resolve something that they’ve struggled with for years,” she said.
Judd says that acupuncture can help an individual’s mental and physical health including migraines, fertility, TMJ disorder, and new or old injuries—even minor ones. The spacing of treatment plans within a few weeks or months is tailored to the patient’s needs—addressing more than one health concern.
After months of planning and developing the community-based clinic, Ren Health Collective hopes to expand.
In the near future, the clinic wants to provide more healthcare education services, additional community events, and collaborate with more practitioners, too.
“Health is something that you should always be thinking about even if you feel like you’re doing well. You can still come in for community acupuncture—it’ll make you feel better,” Wong Ken stated.