Can you please tell us a bit about yourself personally?
My name is Alessandra Okay, and I’m the proud mom of William and Juliette, who are 7th graders at Eastern Middle School. We’ve lived in Greenwich since they started kindergarten in 2018, and we especially love being a part of Riverside. They say it takes a village and we have experienced that first hand here- an idyllic setting where the community looks out for one another.
Please tell us about AOkay Wellness and what makes it the future of fitness?
A Okay Wellness has been a lifelong dream. I’ve been studying and practicing complementary medicine, meditation, fitness, and wellness traditions from around the world since I was 20. I always envisioned creating a center where people could feel safe, connected, and discover the modality or therapy that best supported them.
I am a licensed acupuncturist and certified personal trainer, and the connection between body, mind, and spirit has always been the foundation of my approach to health and healing.
When I turned 50 last year, I noticed how differently my body responded to the wear and tear of frequent, high-intensity workouts. That’s when I discovered the BodyShape—a groundbreaking technology that bridges the gap between exercise and recovery. A Okay Wellness is the first studio in Connecticut to offer these state-of-the-art exercise machines.
In addition, we feature the SensoPro, a revolutionary system from the med spas of Switzerland that trains both body and brain—whether for athletic performance, rehabilitation, or everyday life and aging. We’re beginning to understand that exercise isn’t only about how we look or feel, but also about how our bodies require training on every level. Until now, the sensory-motor connections of the nervous system have been overlooked and underappreciated. With BodyShape cardio and SensoPro training, we’re moving toward a truly holistic way of exercising—not just our bodies, but our whole beings.
I never set out to open a fitness center. But last fall, while traveling in Italy, I discovered the BodyShape Horizontal Bicycle, Treadmill, and Infraroller—and I knew instantly that this was the next step in bringing my wellness center dream to life.
I’ll admit I was skeptical before my first session. Infrared, collagen red light therapy, and vacuum compression enhanced cardio sounded more like a trend than a trusted method. I’ve always leaned toward “less is more” approaches to wellness. But when in Rome…
After just one 60-minute BodyShape session, I was blown away. I was drenched in sweat, felt like I had completed a deeply satisfying workout—yet without the joint fatigue or wear and tear of traditional exercise. My muscles and joints released the stiffness of travel, my jet lag disappeared, and I felt both energized and hungry—as if I had just hiked 12 miles. I signed up for three more sessions before leaving and knew I had to bring this technology home.
What are some of the biggest challenges women in particular face in the fitness industry?
There are so many fitness and wellness options out there! It’s one thing to be skilled in your craft and confident in what you offer, and quite another to learn the ins and outs of actually running a business. As women, we often have to wear many hats and balance countless expectations—yet perfection in everything is impossible. I have to remind myself often that I am A-Okay ;).
What are the top reasons that patients come to AOkay Wellness?
Most people walk in thinking it’s a shortcut to exercise—that they can burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time without pushing themselves to that dreaded level of over-exertion found in traditional workouts. And honestly, that’s a perfectly good reason to come!
Similarly, many of my acupuncture patients first seek treatment because they’re in pain. Again, that’s a great reason to come—but most quickly discover there’s something more happening at A Okay Wellness. They leave feeling calmer, more energized, and better overall. It’s the mind-body-spirit connection at work, and once you experience it, it’s undeniable.
Top 5 things a busy Mom could do to restore your body to health and harmony.
- Take 3 minutes of quiet in the car before walking into the house—no screens, no noise, just stillness. Place one hand on your heart and the other over your navel, and appreciate the peace. That feeling is always available to us when we pause to notice it.
- Find joy in everything you do. While washing dishes, hum to yourself and think about what you’re most grateful for. While driving the kids around, put on music from your youth that makes you want to sing, and notice the sky, the scenery, the world around you. Even folding clean laundry can bring a quiet satisfaction when you take a moment to appreciate a task well done. The joy is always there—look up and see it.
- Move your body. Walk, run, do yoga—anything that gets you moving. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we prescribe breath and body exercises called Qi Gong. Simply rocking, bouncing, or shaking your body for a minute or two each day helps release stuck blood, emotions, and even thoughts.
- Chew your food—really chew it. Even if it’s just the first three bites of each meal, try slowing down enough to chew 30–50 times. As we chew and digest food, we’re also “digesting” our thoughts and experiences. The more present we are with it, the more nourishment we can truly absorb.
- Give yourself a break. You don’t need to do it all. Prioritize just one or two simple new behaviors, and let the rest go.
Fitness can be hard for busy Moms. Any tips?
You’ll only stick with a fitness routine if you actually enjoy it. So look for the things that make you feel good—maybe it’s the people you’re exercising with, the space you’re in, how you feel afterwards, the music, or even the outfit or accessories you love to wear. Eventually you’ll associate your fitness with a feeling of fun!
And remember, there are so many options to choose from. Don’t be shy about trying something new—we’ve all been beginners at some point. Most of the time, people are more supportive than we expect and there’s no better confidence builder than trying something new!
How do you balance being a Mom and business owner?
Good question! Honestly, my business is really just made up of the things that already feed me—exercising, meditating, creating, connecting, caring—so in a lot of ways, it feels like an extension of what I was already doing.
That said, setting boundaries is definitely part of it, and it’s not always easy or straightforward. It’s imperfect and very much a work in progress. My highest priority is always the relationship I have with my kids, and in some ways A Okay Wellness has actually brought us closer because they see me fully engaged in something I love and can even share in it.
Work-life balance? It’s not static—it’s an ongoing dance.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another parent?
Parent the kids you have, not the kids you thought you’d have (or the kids in the books).
What do you like to do to relax/have fun for yourself and as a family?
We love the ocean, waterskiing, wake surfing, hiking, and exploring—and we never miss a chance to catch a sports or baseball game with friends. Greenwich is full of such an amazing group of kids, and we feel lucky to be part of it!
We love to support local businesses. What are your fave places when you are in Greenwich to:
Grab coffee: CFCF hands down!!
Workout: When not at A Okay Wellness I like to lift really heavy things or try to make the Athletica class at Equinox.
Go on a date night: The Fat Poodle, La Bistro, and Rowayton Seafood.
Go out for a girls night: Out?? At night?! Ha! Me and my girls enjoy hiking in Mianus, Coffee for Good for afternoon teas, or a juice at Green and Tonic.
Go out to dinner as a family: Pizza Post- we all leave happy 🙂
Get your hair done: Christopher Noland- I’ve been going there for almost 10 years and feel so cared for and always get the perfect color and trim! (Bonus that I can grab a CFCF downstairs on my way in :))
Get your nails done: Coco Nails Riverside
Have fun as a family: The Sportsmen’s Den fishing charters
