Following the grand opening of Ruey Wellness on Northern Boulevard last week, we caught up with founder Terra Jiang to talk about her new space and what she hopes to build in the community.
Jiang, 33, lives just next door in Little Neck and is a familiar face in the area. A mother of a 7-year-old daughter, she is also expecting her second child, a boy, in the coming weeks. While she has built Nana’s Wonderland, a growing indoor playground chain with multiple locations on Long Island and Queens, her latest venture is something a little more personal.
“It was really just my passion in this industry that put the idea together,” she said.
Born and raised in China, Jiang moved to Little Neck at 16 before her family relocated to New Jersey. She later studied marketing at Penn State, taught second grade in Washington, D.C., and eventually made her way back to Little Neck after getting married, returning to where her story in the United States first began.
A longtime fan of Pilates, yoga, and meditation, Jiang said she often found herself wishing for a space that felt both high quality and comfortable.
“I wanted to create a space that feels very welcoming, but at the same time using high-end products,” she said.
Opening in Great Neck felt like a natural choice. The area is already part of her daily routine, from workouts to errands, and she sees it as a close-knit, health-minded community.
“Great Neck and Little Neck, they are literally right next to each other and such a vibrant community,” she said. “I feel like the community really needed something that’s incorporating everything.”
At Ruey Wellness, that means more than just classes. In addition to Pilates and yoga, Jiang hopes the space encourages people to unwind and take time for themselves.
“I really want people to come to the space and slow down,” she said. “We get carried away taking care of everybody else, and we forget that we should put ourselves first.”
She also envisions the studio as a place where the community and families can gather, with plans for workshops, classes and collaborations with local instructors.
“We would definitely love to get the community involved,” she said. “Help people to make connections, meet new friends.”
When she’s not working, Jiang enjoys spending time at some of her favorite Great Neck spots, including Wild Ginger, an Asian-Fusion restaurant, and T-swirl Crepe, a go-to for her daughter.
As she prepares to welcome a new baby while launching a new business, Jiang sees the timing as meaningful.
“I just think everything happened at the time that they’re happening for a reason,” she said. “With this new life, I think it’s bringing me new opportunities.”
The wellness studio offers Pilates, meditation, personal care, and wellness workshops.Courtesy of Terra Jiang