Meet Nilam! | Chicago Moms Network

It’s Meet a Mom Monday! Today we’re introducing Nilam Trivedi, Chicago mom of two and the owner of Modern Acupuncture Lincoln Park! Nilam is an absolute bundle of positive energy, and I’m so excited that she is sharing a little more about herself today. I recently had my first acupuncture experience EVER at Modern Acupuncture Lincoln Park, and if you haven’t been you definitely need to check it out – it’s a little oasis of zen that every mom needs in her life! Keep reading our interview below, where Nilam shares more about her journey to opening Modern Acupuncture, some SUPER amazing mom hacks, and what she loves most about raising her kiddos in the city!

Hi Nilam! Thanks so much for speaking with us today! Can you tell me a little about your family? 

Of course! I’m Nilam..I’m a mom to a daughter named Lana (5) and a son named Lake (3). We named Lake after our favorite band Lake Street Dive! At the time, their song Call off your Dogs was also Lana’s favorite song! 

Tell me a little more about your journey to find acupuncture. What led you to open Modern Acupuncture in Lincoln Park?  

I’ve heard of many Eastern Medicine approaches for wellness including acupuncture though I had never tried them. After having Lake, I had severe Postpartum Depression and wasn’t quite sure how to work through that. I also had pretty severe back pain from two C-sections, night sweats and digestion issues. My friend Chelsea, (new mom and owner of Logan Square Pilates!) shared that acupuncture saved her life, so I gave it a shot! I went to a clinic in Logan Square and within two sessions my night sweats had gone away and I was feeling relief in my back. I was amazed. Wellness is certainly cumulative and so the more I continued acupuncture and talk therapy the better handle I had on my PPD. To be honest, it wasn’t until I was out of the depression fog that I realized how much PPD impacted me! It was bad! 

Meanwhile, I always wanted to open a business, but wasn’t quite sure what I wanted that to be. I knew it had to have the element of personal connection and care. We learned about Modern Acupuncture in 2018 and flew out to Arizona to meet the founders. I loved it. The team, the acupuncture experience and approach (accessible!). I had such a personal story with acupuncture and truly believed in the mission of the company. A signed lease, a pandemic, and several months later I opened Modern Acupuncture Lincoln Park in October of 2020. 

What can clients expect when they visit Modern Acupuncture? 

Our goal at Modern Acupuncture is to make each patient’s life better. We do that through acupuncture. We provide 30 minute acupuncture treatments in a modern, spa-like environment where our patients can escape from the stressors of everyday life, work on meeting their health and wellness goals and feel taken care of by our Licensed Acupuncturists and staff. Acupuncture is truly remarkable. It is a practice that is thousands of years old and has so many benefits. It provides balance by increasing blood flow in the body, the body’s natural painkillers (pain relief), and the body’s feel good hormones (stress relief). 

As a business owner and a mother, you must have a ton on your plate at all times! What are your favorite tips & tricks to keep your head above water?  

HA! I was about to ask you the same thing! My mantra is to ‘let it go’ as Elsa would say. There are so many things I can add to the ‘to do’ list on a daily basis. My goal is to be kind to myself and recognize that it’s not all going to get done. If that is the case, I try to put 2-3 things on my list and prioritize them in terms of urgency and importance. I have also come to ignore the dishes in the sink, an unfolded laundry basket and a messy house if that means I can spend that time with my kids painting, doing puzzles or dancing around the house. I LOVE online grocery shopping and delivery. I use that time I would otherwise spend shopping with my husband, taking my kids on dates or spending time on myself. I know that when my cup is full I am a better friend, mother, wife, colleague and manager. Luckily, I work somewhere that offers regular acupuncture. I also have regular sessions with my therapist, meditate, exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times a week, and have a set of daily readings I do to maintain balance. 

ALERT: not all of this gets done! This is my goal, and if I feel myself coming out sideways it’s usually because I’m not taking time for myself to remain balanced. I think about what I’m not doing and try to do at least one of those. The rest follow, and if they don’t right away that is OK as well. It’s also important to know that I also thoroughly enjoy binge watching shows on Netflix. 

My rule is that if it isn’t in the calendar it doesn’t exist. In that case, I put it in the calendar. I block times in the morning, between 9 AM and 12PM, on my calendar for creative, bigger project work and hold myself to that time block. If not, it will not get done and I’ll spend that time answering emails…kind of like I did to answer the questions for this interview. 🙂 I also learned the importance of saying no. As a new business owner, I could get distracted by numerous shiny objects. I know what the goal is for our business and am now able to say ‘no’ respectfully if that shiny object is not in alignment with our goal.

Recent trick:

There is the ongoing ‘meal planning’ time and space it takes up in my head. I recently bought a Ninja Air Fry Oven. That, along with my Instant Pot have really made meal prep and cooking so seamless and easy. 

What do you like most about raising your family in the city? What are some of your favorite things to do together (both pre-covid, and currently)?    

We moved to Avondale when I was pregnant with Lana. I love this neighborhood. There is a sense of community on our block and the neighbors look out for one another. We have kids that we see at the playground and then find out they go to our school! During COVID we began exploring many more outdoor spaces in and around the city. We often go to LaBaugh Woods, Caldwell Woods, West Ridge Nature Center, and the Garfield Park Conservatory to name a few. I’m always looking for new outdoor spaces to explore. We spend a lot of time in Horner Park, the path by the WMS Boathouse and the dirt bike trail there as well. Now that the kids are a little older, I look forward to longer bike rides once the seasons change. I’d be disloyal to Chicago if I didn’t mention that we LOVE eating at restaurants cruising the farmer’s markets and finding the best places for dessert!

What is your favorite part about being a mom?

The feeling inside when you take a kid and hug them tight. There’s a dopamine release I can’t quite describe. It’s calming and soothing and peaceful and exactly what I need at the end of a long day. 

The other stuff is awesome, too. The unwavering love our kids have for us. It’s pretty cool. They are our perfect match. 

When you have a free minute, what do you like to do to relax?

  • Acupuncture. 
  • Watch movies with my husband. Or spend most of our time watching trailers for movies and then settle on a rerun of Friends.
  • Sit outside, drink coffee, eat a donut and read a book. 

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I often faint when I give blood AND I love acupuncture.

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