Richmond, VA Health and Fitness

As they enter the training circle at Curves, female guests come face-to-face with the smiles of other women. And just as points on a circle share a common distance from the circle's center, workout participants share the experiences of those nearby by trading stations throughout the 30-minute training session. One minute is spent on a piece of strength-training equipment built for feminine frames and designed to work two opposing muscle groups with a single movement. Exercisers then move on to a recovery station, where they run, jog, or dance to maintain heart rates and keep platforms in place during momentary losses of gravity.

Dr. Liu's passion for healing has taken her around the world. After receiving her doctor of medicine degree from Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she went on to earn an additional master's degree in combined Eastern and Western medicine from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Dr. Liu practiced in the city as a physician, focusing on an East-meets-West approach to health care before carefully folding her expertise and bringing it to the United States.

Today Dr. Liu draws on that experience while performing acupuncture treatments in her private office. She uses the ancient method to treat conditions such as depression, weight control, and women’s health issues. Dr. Liu’s pursuit of well-being extends beyond her healing practice—she also promotes mental and physical calm through her instruction of tai chi.