Sima Space is a family run business committed to supporting our community of wellness practitioners.
What's your story? How did you end up in Oakland?
My family moved from Afghanistan to the United States when I was seven years old. I was raised in Virginia, where my family still live. I came to San Francisco nearly 20 years ago and clearly loved it (I'm still here!). What brought you to working at Sima Space? Well, when I met Sima I was at a juxtaposition in my life. I had successfully managed and run a food chain with over 16 stores and was contemplating my next steps. Sima's vision for Sima Space was so filled with passion that I quickly became committed to helping her grow the business. I sold my business we started opening up new locations across the Bay Area. What is it like working with your partner? I love it! I mean, it's not without its challenges of course - but we are both really committed to the business and to our two beautiful children. It's nice to have the flexibility to work together. Sometimes it can be a struggle juggling everything - but generally, we have found a smooth rhythm that gives us a joyful balance in life. What is your favorite thing about working on Sima Space? I love the potential it has to help the community. I love watching things grow, and working with my hands, and improving each space, giving it its own personality. I also really enjoy meeting the new members and showing them around our spaces! |
What’s your story? How did you end up living in Oakland?
I moved to San Francisco in 2002 to study Clinical Psychology at CIIS and I quickly fell in love with the Bay Area. I had completed my bachelor's degree in Boston, but was actually raised overseas, and have family living in all corners of the world (literally, in Australia and Canada and Europe and the Middle East). This part of the world has so much to offer, and I fell in love with the laid back lifestyle and the community. How did you come up with the idea of Sima Space? When I graduated from CIIS I struggled to find an affordable and aesthetically healing place to run my therapy sessions. I realized that I wasn't alone, there were so many fresh graduates, and also therapists who were seeking smaller practices, that were having the same issue. I decided that pursuing this business was a way I could give back to the community by supporting our wellness practitioners. What does Sima Space mean to you? Sima Space means community. I know that practicing as a therapist (and running a small business) can be very isolating. I want to bring together wellness practitioners so we can support each other. We need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. Why did you call it Sima Space? It was my twin sister's idea actually! Initially we called it "Independent Practice Centre" but it felt quite impersonal and didn't imbue the community feels I was trying to foster. Sima actually has a lot of different meanings in a variety of languages - and it was this broad inclusivity that attracted me to the name. As well as a way to claim my heritage, as a Syrian. In Arabic, Sima means "expression", In Hebrew, it means "Listen", In Scottish, it means "Listener". In Greek, it means "Symbol". In Sanskrit, it means "Boundary". All of these meanings have resonance to the therapeutic process. |