Dr. Ashley Cruz, Founder of Cruz Chiropractic & Wellness
In addition to being an entrepreneur and doctor of chiropractic, Dr. Ashley Cruz is a proud Puerto Rican woman. She’s an inspiration, not just for her chosen profession — helping to heal her clients’ ailments — but for her commitment to promoting Latina representation in her field.
“I cannot count the number of times patients have said they came to me specifically because I was Latina, and that they are so happy to find someone to care for them that they see themselves in,” she says. “I want young Latinas everywhere to see me and think to themselves that they can do it too, that there are no limitations to their capabilities!”
I’m so inspired by Dr. Cruz’s drive — it’s only up from here for her! Keep reading to learn more about this mujer de magia.
Grace Gavilanes: Tell us about the road to launching your business. Did you always dream of becoming an entrepreneur?
Dr. Ashley Cruz: Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up opening my own chiropractic practice and become an entrepreneur! It was my life’s dream to end up in the field of medicine, and when I graduated from chiropractic school I took on an associateship as most do, hoping to learn as much as I could. Within a few months I realized that I had this burning desire to shake up the traditional model of chiropractic care, make visits more comprehensive, personalized, and to provide long-term solutions to my patients’ pain — not a temporary fix. Once that fire inside me was lit, there was no shaking it so I made the scary decision to quit my job and search for office space of my own.
To make ends meet I took on 2-3 different office coverage jobs a week and taught anatomy classes part time while I built my private practice renting space from another chiropractor two times a week. This was truly the grinding season for me, I would just walk around my office neighborhood stopping into various fitness studios and businesses handing out cards everywhere I went and if there was a tabling event in the flatiron area at any point from 2017-2018, I was there! It was an exhausting but extremely fulfilling time in my life, there was nothing in the world that was going to stop me from bringing my dream practice to life and before I knew it, patients slowly started to roll in!
GG: What would you say is the most rewarding part of your work?
AC: The most rewarding part of my work is transforming my patient’s outlook on their pain and most importantly, their outlook on what they are capable of! Some patients come to me after trying everything in their power to rid themselves of their pain and feel like there really is no solution. It lights me up to show them how little lifestyle changes, self-care, and consistency can make you feel like an entirely new person, regardless of age! The cherry on top of all of this is representing for Latinas in the healthcare sphere, where we are few and far between. I cannot count the number of times patients have said they came to me specifically because I was Latina, and that they are so happy to find someone to care for them that they see themselves in. I want young Latinas everywhere to see me and think to themselves that they can do it too, that there are no limitations to their capabilities!
GG: What advice would you give someone who’s looking to start their own business?
You are never going to feel 100% ready to take that step, but do it anyway! Don’t ignore that calling — it is there for a reason! It may not be overnight, but just know that keeping consistent and never giving up is going to get you there! Failures are a part of the process, and you will be a better business woman for it. Your best bet will ALWAYS be on yourself; do not let anyone make you feel like you don’t have what it takes, no matter how big the dream. I can’t tell you how many people were surprised and asked me if I was truly sure about what I was doing, but I ignored all of it and focused on what I wanted to bring to life. When times get rough which they will sometimes, remember why you got started and you will realign with that purpose and drive that planted this dream in your heart in the first place.
““To be Latina is to be unique and powerful and I couldn’t be prouder of that!””
GG: What accomplishment are you most proud of, both in your personal and professional life?
AC: I am so proud of myself for not allowing COVID to intimidate me and hinder my progress in my business. Business was extremely slow, so I turned to Instagram as a way to pick up business by sharing exercise and mobility posts. One day I woke up to a DM from Fox 5 news anchor and journalist Bianca Peters and soon after was featured on the morning news; it was such a major highlight in my career! Using Instagram has not only helped build my practice with patients that align with me, but has also sparked even more creativity and dreams for my business beyond the treatment room and in the digital space.
In 2021 I decided I was ready to stop renting space from another chiropractor and sign my own lease in a bigger office. This was such a scary time for me because it felt so permanent, and was a huge financial undertaking but nevertheless I went for it and I have now been in my own space for about two years. Sometimes I still can’t believe it's all mine!
GG: Hustle culture and burnout is so prominent in our community. How do you make sure to take care of yourself first?
AC: In a career like mine, we are constantly in service to others, sometimes I can feel extremely depleted, sometimes to the point where I need to just isolate myself from everyone and everything. To avoid this I now give myself a Friday off every three months or so for a self-care day, hanging out with family or friends or just laying in bed if that’s what I need! When I first started my business I thought it was lazy or selfish to take days off and now I view that completely differently, I cannot help people if I am not feeling my best, and taking care of yourself first is not a selfish act; we can’t pour from an empty cup!
GG: Imposter syndrome is a very real thing in our community. Have you experienced it? If so, how do you reconnect with yourself?
AC: Imposter syndrome is such a tough thing, because it can strike at any time and place, no matter how much experience you have in your field. I try to journal and practice gratitude in order to ground myself and remind myself who I am, what I’ve been through and all that I have accomplished along the way! Having those moments throughout the week to reflect on the good allows me the space to celebrate my wins, big or small. When you are running a business sometimes we forget to relish in our accomplishments, and we deserve to savor every moment!
GG: What does being Latina mean to you?
AC: Being Latina is woven into every fiber of my being — the way I treat others with the same love and respect I expect, the way I stand confident in who I am and not afraid to jump into the unknown, even when everyone and everything is standing in my way. Latinas are amongst the most resilient, energetic, and powerful people on the planet and I aim to show generations coming after me that there is no space that we don’t belong to and that we cannot thrive and succeed in. To be Latina is to be unique and powerful and I couldn’t be prouder of that!
