Women's Health Restoration

Introducing, Dr. Courtney Gowin; a mom boss, Doctor of Chiropractic and all around holistic + organic farming lifestyle guru. Sharing some truth about the innate harmony found within each and everyone of us. 

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It begins in the womb. A vital life force that has the utmost intelligence and magnificence to create the most unique and diverse thing on the planet, human beings. I have the sacred honor to work with this innate intelligence every day, and see the miracles that our bodies are capable of, I am a chiropractor. Chiropractic and women’s health is like peanut butter and jelly (on gluten-free bread of course). Guys, chiropractic is absolutely for you so don’t leave this feeling left out, but this one is for the ladies.

Our bodies are absolutely AMAZING. We as women are given the sacred honor to be the vessel of new life that is brought into this world. Just sit and think for a minute about the inner workings of your entire body. Think about the perfect synchronicity of your heart and your lungs working together, the digestion of your breakfast, the perfect titration of hormones flowing through your blood, and about a billion other perfectly timed processes. Then throw in making a whole other human being! Amazing. So you may be wondering what chiropractic has to do with all of this, and my answer is chiropractic has everything to do with this.

Our bodies were so intelligent that in God’s perfect design the very first thing to be created was the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and everything else in the entire body comes from this source. This system has a very intimate relationship with the spine, which hopefully you know chiropractors are trained as experts in. What you may not know is that they are also trained as experts of the nervous system. We know that even the slightest imbalance in the spine can create a shift within the entire working ecosystem in the body. And women have a very delicate balance to keep when it comes to regulation of cycles, hormones, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and all of the amazing things we do on a daily basis. Next time you’re on google, pull up a meric chart and just take a look at how our autonomic nervous system is tied back into the spine, it is mind blowing. 

It is important to keep in mind that chiropractors do not treat conditions, but create and restore the innate harmony that is health within the body. In our office we get to see everyday how restoring the body’s ability to function and adapt properly can change a woman’s life. Whether that be the return of a normal menstrual cycle, restoring the confidence in her body to birth a baby naturally, getting pregnant when all hope was lost, or breastfeeding her newborn baby successfully, chiropractic can help. All of the things women do on a daily basis are amazing and the pressure we feel from the world to meet expectations of being a good mother, wife, daughter etc can be overwhelming at times. I understand, I just changed a diaper while breastfeeding a baby and wrangling a two year old on a seven hour flight, we do a lot.

Let this be a reminder that you are enough. You and this body you are temporarily living in are doing great, but please remember to slow down and take care of that body because it is the only place we have to live. I hope this was encouraging for you wherever you find yourself on this journey of life, and that this will refocus your lens a bit on what chiropractic brings to the table when it comes to women’s health.

Courtney Gowin, DC

Environmental Mindfulness

Introducing guest blogger, Abbi Elbaum!! Better known as instagram's @docfromthefuture. My friend Abbi is a Doctor of Chiropractic, researcher, artist and phenomenal human being among many other things. In this week's Living Adjusted post, through her own experiences, she shares her passion to awaken and care for our environment and the human race. 

“Let me see the science behind climate change.”
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“There’s no money in renewable energy.”
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“Shh, shhh...”

Memoirs of a Chirokid:


I’ve always been a bit of a sensitive being. I can remember the night my second grade self told my father I wanted to be a vegetarian, after I buried the chicken from dinner in the back yard and said a prayer of apology. I felt everything so intensely back then, and still do to this day. But don’t worry- there’s a load more good than bad.

The empathy did not stop at the borders of the animal kingdom. I would go into patches of grass and open my arms out wide as I lay face down, kissing and thanking Earth out loud for being such a great home. I’ve lost it a few times when I would see multiple football fields worth of deforestation or factories with white smoke billowing out of them. I could go on but, eh. I think you get the picture.

Embarrassing story telling is easily my parents’ favorite pastimes when I bring friends for dinner.

Once I realized the trash can was not some magic hole that you use when you want something to disappear, I avoided it at all costs. When I would discard, I’d follow that piece around the world in my head, speeding up its infinite lifetime. I would imagine my plastic bag from the grocery store floating in the wind, my balloon in the ocean.

In high school, I started to become a little obsessed. The more I learned about the impact the industrialized human lifestyle was creating upon the planet, the brighter my passion to do my part. My inner gentle hippie grew into an undercover recycling police squad, slyly stealing paper and plastic out of open trash cans to recycle at home later. This metamorphed into the dark ages of Sustainability Nazi, eventually returning to my true nature.

Through trial, error and time came the learning and unlearning of methods to live in such a way that wouldn’t give me the anxiety I would feel underneath when witnessing mass acts of no f*cks given at parties, sporting events or music festivals.

A self realized truth created this peace: everyone, including me, has a remarkable amount of power over their own life, and the same goes with climate change. All my actions

everything I think, feel, say, eat, buy

is all my choice.

As consumers, we own a large responsibility in determining the market. The supply follows the demand. I get to choose which company I support by which brand I pay for. What do they stand for? How sustainable is their product? Or the packaging of the product?

The secret is being present. When I am present with my actions before I invest, I have the ability to tap inward and ask, “is this good? For me, and for the planet? Do I really need this sh*t at all?” While living fully, this consciousness permeates all action. It is from this place that the decision to act in congruency rather than out of convenience comes with ease.

So, my friends, I invite you to open up, feel a little bit more. Examine every piece of your life, one step at a time as you walk through it. Remember your pachamama in all the decisions you make. It is going to take all of us to turn the sails. The more we awaken, the more it will hurt at times.

It’s a good thing pain is one of the strongest catalysts for change.

So, to you I say thank you. For every time you choose to use your pants instead of a paper towel. For every time you ride your bike to work. For every time you don’t forget your reusable grocery bags.

We can do this, if we all become conscious that we are problem- and also the solution.

I love you.

-Abbi

 

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My Path to Chiropractic

The journey to and through Chiropractic school isn't easy... but undoubtedly worth it. As some of y’all already know, I am finally entering my last year of school aka the clinical portion. Hallelujah!!! My class of chiropractic interns will at last be able to serve the community with Chiropractic care under the advisement of staff doctors. In light of this new chapter, I took a few moments to reflect on the path I took to get to this much anticipated point in my career.

I am a true believer in divine orchestration. So many times in my life there have been occurrences that there is no explanation other than it being part of God’s plan for my life. It’s no doubt there are experiences all humans go through to place us exactly where we need to be. Like many other students and doctors within our profession, I found Chiropractic through sports performance. Just about all professions in the health care field were on my radar since my time as a youngin'. My family immediately saw signs of service rooted deep within my heart as well as a curiosity for the purpose of all things in this world. In hindsight, what a better career to choose other than chiropractic? A profession devoted to the path of discovering the intricacy of the relationship between the nervous system and innate intelligence. No, I didn't have a miracle story about how this type of care changed my life, but chiropractic was a form of healthcare that had continually shown up in my path to choosing a profession. There were multiple instances within the years receiving an undergraduate degree and competing in collegiate softball that kept pulling me back to the idea of holistic health care.  As with many things in my life at that time, I resisted the pull. What I was truly seeking was a way to serve and to be a witness to the healing I knew was possible. I found every excuse to choose a more widely accepted or reliable profession, but ultimately the uniqueness and philosophy of Chiropractic drew me in. 

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From the moment I decided to research more about this path, my perception and life philosophy started shifting. Up to that point, I had carried somewhat type-A personality traits; methodical, in control and analytic mindset, especially concerning larger life decisions. The old me begin to shift when choosing Parker University. This felt like the first truly divine decision I had made up to that point. Being from northwest Missouri, I was asked so many times why I chose Dallas with having three other chiropractic schools closer to home. And I honestly still don’t have an answer other than how I felt the moment I stepped onto the campus. After two years, that feeling still hasn’t left.

It has been interesting while in school learning about the big idea of Chiropractic philosophy; connecting man the physical with man the spiritual. Before entering Parker University, I was disconnected in every sense of the phrase. I’m beginning to see the richness of being a Chiropractor is simply being an instrument for a greater intelligence to work through. We can’t truly quantify or gather evidence on how individuals will reorganize and integrate a force introduced to their system. Because as Chiropractors we work with the human nervous system; the most intricate and mysterious known entity. It is fluid, dynamic, seeking balance and continually evolving. This curiosity and deep appreciation for the intelligence lying within each of us has sparked my passion to serve through the deliverance of the chiropractic adjustment and education on holistic health and healing alternatives.

With the past two years of academics behind me, I am so absolutely grateful for my chance to finally serve the Dallas Fort Worth community. Grateful for the path that is behind me and for the wild ride ahead. It is commonly heard from doctors in the field saying that Chiropractic ‘chose them.’ This statement has never felt so true. This path to health and healing undeniably chose me and continues to time and time again. Like always, thanks for reading and I hope to have the opportunity to serve some of you readers on the next journey to graduation!! 

-M

The Benefits of Being B A R E F O O T

Introducing #GetGrounded

My chiro sister, Dr. Brit Finkbeiner is here this week to touch on the multiple benefits of being barefoot! Her mission is to contribute to humanity’s deeper embodiment, to re-connect people with their physical self. Brittnie uses her background in mental health and the principles of chiropractic to facilitate self-discovery as well as empower and educate people about their pure, inborn potential.

There are 21 bones and 25% of the body’s joints in the FOOT! This isn’t by chance. This intricate anatomy is designed to be adaptive-forming themselves to walking surfaces and footwear. We can lose this ability due to wearing solid, hard-soled or ill fitting shoes, after injury or insult, or just as a result of walking primarily on sterile, flat, man made surfaces. Putting stiff, padded, and inflexible shoes on your feet are similar to putting square blocks on a car instead of tires-doesn’t make evolutionary sense.

Our feet aren’t just there  to propel us from point a to point b. Have you ever wondered why our feet, like our hands, are more sensitive than other areas of our body? There are more than 200,000 nerve endings in the sole of each foot. These nerve endings provide sensory input that affects our entire body. This sensory input to our feet acts as a movement conductor for every muscle above, and changes the way the entire body moves and the way our brain works. Our feet connect  our bodies to the earth so we can sense what’s beneath us so that we can make make the millions of tiny adjustments that propel us through the world. Modern shoes can stop feet feeling and can lose them up to 50% of their functional capacity! If your feet are rigid it can contribute to your entire body being rigid. Our feet should be continuously exposed to grass, dirt, stone, rocks, and balancing on beams, logs, curbs, and etc.  Feet need more feed back than a flat human-made surface, they should be molding around different shapes, providing more mobility in each joint, engaging muscles on different demands, and balancing to connect to the rest of your body.

BAREFOOT grounding neurology

Being barefoot isn’t a trend…..it wasn’t until the last 100 years or so that we ditched our ancestral liberated feet and the deeper implications that accompany this  natural way of living.

The truth is when you’re wearing shoes, you’re disconnected. You’re u n g r o u n d e d. You are not in touch with the Earth. Could this disconnection be an overlooked factor in the increase of our culture’s illnesses? Recent research has shown the extensive benefits our ancestors experienced from connecting to the Earth’s natural energy, by walking barefoot.

The Earth is a conductor or free electrons and so are all living things on the planet, including us.  The body is composed of mostly of water and minerals which in combination are excellent conductors of electrons from the Earth providing there is direct skin contact or some other conductive channel for them to flow through. Harmonizing the body’s basic biological rhythm promotes well being and decreases inflammation (a culprit in almost all chronic illness).

Even without research data, this makes sense. When is the last time you felt your toes in the grass or lied on the beach? How G O O D did that feel?

Your feet are sensors that require feedback from the ground and from earth for your body to function optimally. The further you get away from functioning how your body is designed, the closer you get to disconnect, separation, and dysfunction.

Don’t follow the human made sidewalks- travel the unconstructed path;  take the blindfold off and discover a healthy body, through healthy, bare feet.

– Brit

The Forgotten Power WithIN

Humans are so far removed from our true selves. We have lost our identities. Our genuine identity is buried beneath the diagnosis, beneath the social media accounts, beneath the person we lead our peers to think we are. We have allowed our identities to be crafted by others perception of ourselves; by society’s perception of who we are. In this loss of identity, we have completely forgotten about the power that emanates each one of us.

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We have lost the power!! Why have we given over the responsibility for our own health, well being and mindset? Are you guilty of handing over the accountability to your health care provider? Have you put your health in their hands? Our society is accustomed to viewing health in an outside in approach. We have been conditioned to think that healing power lies within a pill !!?!? What about the power that lies withIN the body? We have been trained to quiet the intuition. We are trained to quiet the innate voice. We have lost the sense of limitless potential encased within our nervous system..

So, this is where alternative health care providers come in. To question. To seek the root cause. The role of any great healer is to awake the doctor withIN, but how can we do that if that power is not acknowledged? All the functions of your body from breathing, to digesting food, to healing your paper cut happens without a conscious thought. This is what we consider the internal doctor; the innate power within. At one point we have all recognized what our bodies were created for, but here’s a little refresher to help you REMEMBER.

The body’s power is seen in a number of ways. One of the most obvious is the ability to adapt and evolve. The human body continually grows in time into new identities; physically, emotionally, spiritually. We aren’t the same person we were as a child, as a teenager, last year or yesterday. Every experience accumulated is part of an evolutionary process propelling us. Take a moment to let this sink in.. On a purely physical level, new skin cells are shed and regenerated constantly. The cells that make up your small intestine are being recreated every 2-4 days. Components of what makes us, us are continuously dividing, regenerating and dying. Evolution at it’s core.

We are able to adapt. Our bodies were literally built with this divine, innate ability for adaptation. We see the physical manifestation of adaptability when working out or eating differently. Our bodies contain an immune system that is solely based on the adaptation principle; activated specifically in times of sickness. This is what Chiropractors consider the doctor within, the innate intelligence. When we have an infection, our body heats up in attempt to kill the pathogen aka you get a fever. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, this is a healing process! The body is so incredibly intelligent that it heats up, spikes the immune system to go to war and preserve its being. We see this incredible adaptability in the change of breath. Think about a time when you’re relaxed and compare it to a time when you were anxious. Your breath changes. This occurs so often that we forget and simply brush it off as just a normal biologic process. Every breath portrays intelligence. The body’s main objective with adaptation is to maintain a homeostatic state. The intelligence within our body craves and constantly seeks balance. This is the magic of life. Our bodies KNOW what they’re doing.

Let’s talk about pain. How astonishingly powerful is our body that it literally creates a signal letting us know something is off? It tells us that a change needs to be made. Pain is a divine connection. A divine communication between mind and body. I have found that most individuals try to rid themselves of the emotional or physical pain instead of being with it. What is that signal telling you? For years teachers and healers have said that we must continue to trust ourselves and look inward. It is essential for the reclaiming of power and responsibility of our own health. How can we decipher the needs of others if we don’t even recognize our own needs? Listen to what your bodies are telling you!

Now that the secret is out; YOU hold the power. YOU are the answer. When we connect to ourselves, it is so much easier to connect to those around us. Don’t be afraid of this power. It is divine. Hold hands. Lean into connection. Listen to what your body is telling you; its needs, its desires. It takes practice, but once we tap into this power, we can realize that the authority over our bodies is ours. We can peel back the layers and know our true identity.

There is a magical, unlimited, God-given potential INside of you. Why do we so often search outside of ourselves for answers? What if we looked within to find ourselves before finishing our to-do lists today? Let this divine light withIN shine! Reclaim the power.

-M

The T R U T H about Chiropractic School

There is a running joke in Chiropractic school that you don’t find Chiropractic, it finds you. This has held true for numerous stories I have been told of students and doctors that have chosen to walk down this path. For many, it is interesting to reflect on which doors had to open to place them where they are at. It takes a brave individual to listen when the universe keeps placing paths in front of you, especially in a profession that is under such societal scrutiny. Have you acknowledged the doors presented to you in your own life?

The reality of Chiropractic schools is that the administration’s highest priority is to provide education and tools to pass the national board exams ensuring licensure. This leaves some new doctors stepping out into the profession unable to communicate their message proficiently, uneducated on what it takes to open a practice, unaware of sustainable strategies to take care of own body mechanics or without the confidence to properly deliver the adjustment. The T R U T H about Chiropractic school is that to be solid in the science, philosophy and art many students go outside of the institution walls and seek information or education from doctors providing seminars.

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The T R U T H about Chiropractic school, like any doctorate program, is that the course load will test you!!! Mentally, physically and emotionally. We are required to spend 14 weeks taking up to 28 doctoral level credit hours proceeded by a 2 week break. And then do it again. Not to mention the national board exams sprinkled in at various times throughout the 3 years that we are required to pass to be licensed. One of my classmates described her experience as “the most challenging, lucid, exhausting, vitalized time of your life….” Seems confusing, right? I will be the first to admit that I have lived through the full range of emotions while working to obtain this Doctorate degree. “….but in the end it is a process of uncovering who you really are.” I could not have summed it up better than this. It is also important to acknowledge that in retrospect, these challenges have been such a blessing. We are forced from day one to keep our head afloat while spinning multiple plates; sounds similar to what they say life after school is like. Ha!

The total Doctorate of Chiropractic program is generally 3.5 years in length. For admission to most institutions you will need to have at least 90 hours of undergraduate study or a bachelor’s degree. We are in school all year round and end up completing a total of 220 hours of Doctoral study. Once completing the first two years of classes required to qualify or part 1-3 board exams, we enter the clinical experience portion. The institution provides one entire year dedicated solely to sharpening our clinical skills and stepping into the role as a Doctor of Chiropractic.

The T R U T H about Chiropractic school is that no two educational institutions are the same. Each school has been founded by different individuals, creating diversity in courses, mostly technique and philosophical courses. This is why when visiting Chiropractic offices, the experience and the type of care provided can vary greatly.

With all of this time and these classes comes a heap load of debt. Most Chiropractic students will graduate with around $200-250,000 of loans to be repaid throughout the span of their career. At first it appears to be a huge burden, but like with most things, it’s all about your perspective. One of my mentors invites students to think about your loans as a ticket. It is your ticket into helping change lives for the rest of your life. There is no better gift.

The T R U T H about Chiropractic school is that it is

“An odd duality of frustration and reward that I continue to deplete myself physically, mentally and spiritually.”

“Years that challenge your mental, physical, and emotional strength while preparing you to be the worlds most dedicated, and committed healer.”

“Difficult, but rewarding. Eye opening to the power the body contains to heal and thrive in the correct environment. The challenge is that school sometimes removes that view, so it’s the job of the students to pursue health while learning the science.”

“The hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the most rewarding thing to point me in the path of my purpose.”

The T R U T H about Chiropractic school is that it has changed my life in the best way. I have found a family of genuinely connected individuals. People that recognize, honor and chase towards the incredible power that created all living things. Chiropractic school has given me more community than I could have ever hoped for. Through traveling for seminars, training groups and connecting online, I have been afforded the amazing opportunity to meet students and docs from all over the world Thank you to those that have been apart of my journey this far and that are running along side me now. Lastly, thank you to those that answered my questions and contributed to this post!

The B I G N E S S of Chiropractic school is that it is an avenue to allow so many of us to be apart of an incredible healing art. Now I want to ask you, what keeps coming up in your life that you should begin acknowledging? That you should start listening to? What doors keep showing up in your way? Are you willing to knock on those even if it’s a leap of faith? It may be a decision that will change your life.

-M

Children and Chiropractic?

Children and C h i r o p r a c t i c?

What if someone told you that the chemical makeup of Ritalin could cause brain damage to your child? What if a doctor told you the antibiotics being prescribed to your little one is the reason they’re having issues with their gut? What if someone told you that the birth of your baby could affect how your child’s nervous system forms during developmental years? These thoughts are scary, but society is waking up to the idea that these “theories” can be proven.

What does being truly healthy look like for you? Although we have a movement shifting from being in a reactive health care community to a proactive one, our society as a whole still isn’t there yet. We are raising children in the sickest and most disease ridden generation history has seen. According to the CDC, 1 in 7 U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 8 years old have a mental health disorder. As a society, wouldn’t it make sense to look for another way to address this other than drugging our kids? Let’s figure out why. What is the root cause? Chiropractic care assists in addressing the root cause. We work with the body’s master system, the central nervous system; controlling the growth and development and adaptation of every single human. Chiropractors do not “treat” or “cure” conditions that are being diagnosed, but enhance the body’s physiology by bringing the body awareness and clearing the nervous system. This in turn allows the child to better adapt to the environment and lifestyle their bodies are in, often resulting in alleviation of symptoms.

So WHY would you want your child’s nervous system checked by a Chiropractor? What difference does it make? Although there are SO many benefits, and so little risk.. I choose to outline 5

  1. The chiropractic adjustment helps bring awareness of the body to the brain.By clearing the nervous system of interference, the brain will better be able to communicate with the body. This natural awareness often results in an increase in physical abilities, including posture, balance, coordination, as well as increases in behind the scene functions; neurological, emotional, endocrine, metabolic pathways, and more. The ease in function of these systems is especially important early in life, as 65% of the human nervous system is developed in the first year!
  2. Maximizes children’s neural plasticity and assists in balancing the hemispheres.
    Plasticity is your brain’s ability to change and evolve. This evolution is essential in the developmental process. The balance of all systems, especially that of the central nervous system is essential. This cannot be emphasized enough!
  3. Reduces neural cord tension and addresses other structural implications that often occur in the birthing process.
    We see so many littles with breast feeding issues, digestive issues, colic symptomatology, etc that could easily be subsided with ease of the spinal cord. We know that a baby that eats, sleeps and poops is a happy baby. A happy baby makes it easier to have proper positive bonding and attachment to mother; for example, easier time breastfeeding. One interesting correlation according to the Research of Developmental Psychology links a lack of bonding time between mom and baby directly to higher childhood depression rates.
  4. Strengthens immunity and reduces the incidence of colds, ear aches and general childhood illnesses.
    By addressing spinal subluxations via the Chiropractic Adjustment, the enhancement of the nervous system processes is seen to dramatically improve function of the immune system. This renewal, balancing and strengthening of the immune system can play a part in preventing a compromise/sickness from occurring or resolving one much quicker. Parents have been using chiropractic care for years; maintaining kids health, happiness and inhibiting  the “sickness” before it occurs.
  5. Improves the child’s spinal posture and allows for proper structural development.
    As a Chiropractic profession we can all agree that there are serious structural, neurological and metabolic implications of poor posture. Head forward posture is one of the most common! In severe cases, forward head posture actually reduces the brain and oxygen to the brain up to 30 percent! This can lead to a host of serious neurological issues as well. In today’s society, we are seeing implications of these postural habits in kids much earlier.
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The question I have for those that have read until this point; what do we consider normal in comparison to what we think is common? Do y’all truly think it is normal for children to have to rely on medication for health and proper development? Just because we see this type of development in childhood commonly, doesn’t mean its normal.

The National Center for Health Statistics states that the United States is 37 of ALL nations in infant mortality. We are getting sicker and sicker because of the drugs that are being thrown at us. Do you want a healthier country? Start with the kiddos. Let’s get their nervous systems check and allow them more life per moment!

-M

The B A L A N C E D Bucket

How  b a l a n c e d  is your bucket?

Chiropractic care has truly been great starting block to leading a holistic life. It has been an amazing avenue for opening questions about what health and healing is. It has opened my eyes to see a world of vitalistic living. Healing from above, down, inside, out.

So, what does a bucket have to do with this holistic health approach?

Many of us do not realize the amount of toxicity our bodies are exposed to on a daily basis. The level and type of toxicity varies on where you reside, but the United States has one of the highest toxicity loads in the world. From what we eat, products we use to clean, the cars we drive, personal care products put on our bodies, to the air we breathe. 80,000 new toxins have been introduced into our environment since the industrial revolution and World War 2 and very few of these are tested regularly for safety. This toxicity has a direct effect on the mental, physical and emotional stress or “load” placed on our bodies.

Chiropractors enjoy using this genius bucket analogy. Honestly, it works. Let’s think of our bodies as the bucket. Your mental, physical and emotional health make up the contents of what is inside.  The goal is for your bucket to be balanced, right? When we go to the store and grab a green juice instead of driving through the McDonald’s drive through we are contributing to the stability and balance of the contents within. Say we wake up and eat a frozen Eggo waffle, M&M’s and a coke for breakfast. We all know this isn’t the most opportune way to kick start our metabolism because it not only crashes our metabolic system, but neither does it  lessen the toxic load placed on all other systems of our body. What’s worse is not taking into consideration the amount of toxicity your body had been exposed to the night before and that morning, from what air fresheners you plugged in before you slept, to the soap you used when you showered, the lotion or hair products, the chemical load in your water, to the amount of chemicals in the air you breathe when you walk outside – toxins are literally everywhere. Each time we encounter these “toxicities,” our bucket starts to fill up; eventually getting top heavy on one side. Continuing with the analogy, the bucket completely tipping over is most of the time seen with a serious health issue or illness. It’s inconceivable to live a completely non-toxic lifestyle, but there are SO many things we can do proactively to balance our buckets and prevent sickness!

Is it possible to have an unbalanced bucket at birth? Our kids are now exposed to SO MUCH MORE at a younger age. Due to the advancements in epigenetic sciences and technology, we understand that children are being born with a higher level of stress placed on them. The toxic load is taken into consideration from the moment of conception. Things that kids were able to adapt to 15 years ago are not occurring naturally; our children are struggling with the same adaptive processes. These natural processes are no longer occurring with ease. Children should be able to eat, digest, poop and sleep without issues- this is a primal and vitalistic need. All of our bodies rely on these things. What is the issue? Our kids are being born with a bucket that is already on the verge of tipping over.

Y’all there is hope! Chiropractic addresses each one of these issues by bringing awareness to the brain and decreasing some of the stress load placed on the nervous system. It is no surprise for us when a mom walks into a Chiropractic office with her beautiful newborn that is having issues latching or feeding and comes back a few visits later exclaiming her life completely changed; her baby is feeding. Years ago we did not have the advancements or reliability in bottles that we have currently for latch or feeding issues; moms believed that breastfeeding was the way newborns were designed be nurtured. Our society has gotten confused with what is normal and what is common. Children born with latch issues means they are having trouble eating. This is a primal, basic, necessary need for survival. Issues with this are not n o r m a l, but it has certainly become c o m m o n. When we get these fundamental needs back online and working in the way they were designed with a holistic approach, we are balancing the bucket. What better way to get a start to life than with a balanced and thriving nervous system?

In the season of having new years resolutions (new year, new me right?), I would like to ask y’all what are you implementing in your life to maintain a balanced bucket? Chiropractic care, conscious nutritious decisions, movement and mindfulness are areas you can do a quick check in with. I encourage you to make decisions that aid your body in healing from above, down, inside, out. Work on decreasing the stress and toxic load your body is exposed to! How close are you to tipping over your bucket?

-M

Is P A I N purposeful??

Have we been sold a lie our entire life?  We are told P A I N is a nuisance. Pain is unpleasant. Through advertising about the latest painkilling drugs and the newest techniques to relieve symptoms, we are raised to think that a pain-free life is a happy life. Society views this common emotional experience as a pathological experience. But would we know pleasure without knowing pain? Is pain something that gets in the way our life? Or does it allow us to experience life?

Earlier this week I was at the nail salon and a mother came storming through the door in a cloud of panic. This salon is in Highland Park Village. So, if you are familiar with Dallas, you’ll understand the stereotypical woman I had encountered. As I sat there across the room, I couldn’t help but listen. She was loading cases of water in a hurry before dropping her children off and school and had torn one of her manicured nails. Blood and tears were involved. As she sat in the chair waiting to get to have the acrylic nail removed, I overheard her saying “I wish I would have sliced an open wound. That way I could just swing by ER, have it numbed, stitched and be on my way.” I watched her sit impatiently, in pain, tears in her eyes, scrolling on her iPhone waiting for the acetone to remove the acrylic. I thought of recent moments I have been in pain. Physically and emotionally. Had I reacted in this way? Was there a divine orchestration that had happened that morning for her to take a second? To be present and notice the life that was unfolding in the moment. Was the universe giving her time to slow down and B R E A T H E?

I know more of us are guilty of this situation that are willing to admit it. Moments caught up in our to-do list when we cannot possibly have time for something outside of our schedule to be happening. We interpret it as a burden, a nuisance, an annoyance. BUT as humans we haven’t always thought this way. According to literature, painful experiences didn’t actually start being referred to as an annoyance until the early 1900’s when the phrase, “pain in my neck” became popular.

First of all, what is pain? Pain is a brain signal interpretation. It is a sensory and emotional experience. An experience that signals the brain to respond, in THAT moment, to its surroundings. Many describe it as an unpleasant or annoying one, but I’d like to challenge if that is always the case? Is pain P U R O P O S E F U L beyond serving as a defense mechanism?

Our brain is constantly receiving feedback from the body allowing it to know where the body is in time and space. The brain receives continuous afferent signals, but what creates these “unpleasant” bodily perceptions and information for your brain? Nociceptors!! Although there are multiple scientifically classified types of pain, these sensory receptors fire when an alarming sensation is sensed and send signals from the spinal cord up to the brain. There are portions of your brain that activates a network involved in deciding what signals to pay attention to. Painful signals are a high priority and brought to immediate consciousness. Meaning that it brings your awareness back to the present, back to the stimulation that is occurring in THAT moment.

What is this “painful” feedback received by the brain telling you? To simply pay attention? To slow down? Or might I suggest it is giving you a reminder to be exactly where you are in that present moment! Not in the future, or in the past. There is a P U R P O S E. Pain interrupts everything we are thinking or doing and creates a focus on what is happening in the here and now; something I wish I could have suggested to the mother in the nail salon. Next time you feel pain will you interpret it as an inconvenience or take it as a chance to be in the moment?

-M

The Direction of Your L I F E

We all have a story about a group of people who have influenced us positively or negatively. Growing up, my mother used to say, “you’re guilty by association.” Or as Jim Rhon would say, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” As this was something I heard quite regularly, I would roll my eyes. We are now finding out now that there may be some scientific research to back up this idea.

Moran Cerf, a neuroscientist at Northwestern completed a study on decision making. His focus was on mechanisms underlying decision making and investigating how much free will we have in our decisions. When two people are in each other’s company, their brain waves will begin looking nearly identical. “The more we study engagement, we see time and time again that just being next to certain people actually aligns their brain to them.”

Chiropractic sisters community.jpg

Andy Stanley does an amazing job outlining this on his leadership podcast. The people you hang out with actually have an impact on your engagement with reality beyond what we can explain – you become A L I K E. As humans we can’t help but be influenced by the ideals of our community to some degree. Want to the best athlete? Surround yourself with a high quality training community. Want to be successful? Surround yourself with people that have the success you are seeking.

I’ve often wondered how we are pulled toward some individuals more than others. It is the law of attraction. Individuals that have a higher frequency of vibration or those that seem to just be winning at life, attract a certain crowd. Somewhere along the line, they made an agreement with themselves that this is who they wanted to be and created that reality. While in Chiropractic school, I have been surrounded by the most driven, health conscious, inspired individuals. Y’all, LIVING ON PURPOSE IS CONTAGIOUS. Being a natural healer of any sorts has it’s obstacles, but as alternative health professionals we have the realization that our work is so much bigger than ourselves. It is about transforming health standards, liberating individuals and raising the world’s conscious awareness.

Your friends ultimately determine the direction and quality of your life. What is the purpose of community? What is the importance of belonging? We were created for this.

So I ask you, who are you surrounding yourself with? Are they uplifting? Do they speak L I F E into you? What are you exposing yourself to? Are the shows you’re watching serving you? Is the music you’re listening to adding value to your life? Your vibe attracts your tribe! Be relentless in surrounding yourself with those who bring out the best in you. The direction of your life depends on it.

-M

On M I S S I O N

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here Am I. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

I came across this scripture verse years ago, before my first service trip and immediately knew this is one way I would live out my mission. I have been blessed to have gone on two service trips, once to Haiti and to El Salvador. This December I will be S E N T on another Chiropractic mission to Malinanco, Mexico. I remember sitting in church service a few months back and hearing, “Your gifts are like super powers. What is the purpose if they are not used?” Our God gave us gifts to glorify Him and change His people. I know how amazing it is to be filled in the action of serving others. And I truly believe there is something special about service trips that offer strategies for health and healing; mission trips like the one I will embark on in December. Especially in this time when the Mexican communities are in desperate need of healing. This week I wanted to outline a few reasons why I choose to serve time and time again.

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4 reasons that inspire me to continue spending time and energy serving others:

  1. You will encounter God’s heart – We were all created for a purpose. Purpose gives you the momentum to move through the barriers that would other time hinder your growth. Service trips have allowed me to find the meaning of giving, loving and serving out of a sense of abundance. Loving without boundaries. These trips have strengthened my life’s mission; to glorify God by providing humanity with an understanding of the value of Innate, connection and living interference free.
  2. Broadening of perspective – My attitude has shifted each time I’ve served in other countries. Whether I am sleeping on an uncomfortable bed at an orphanage in Haiti or experiencing effects of gang violence in San Salvador, I come back with a renewed appreciation for all our blessings.
  3. Challenging comfort zones – In my experience, most places you’ll travel to serve there will be a language barrier. It is incredible to see humans with nearly any material value understand the unbelievable power of your time, your words or the Chiropractic adjustment. In my experience with the Chiropractic mission to El Salvador, there was no exchange of words or financial barriers, just love and connection spread throughout communities. Y’all love needs no translation.
  4. Create connection – Mission trips have played a major part in connecting me with the way God is at work all around us. They have given me a greater sense of gratitude. We can go on mission every single day. In our own lives, with those around us. When we change one life, we play a small part in changing the world. Awaken those around you.
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Of course not everyone can hop on a plane and travel to a foreign country for 10 days. It is not always about physical service in other countries. The scriptures teach us, L I F E is a long term mission trip and every week is a short term mission opportunity. Maybe you serve at your local church through prayer. Maybe its just speaking encouraging words to those around you. Are you on mission in your community? Are you on mission with your loved ones? Y’all L O V E is the mission.

Love drives out hate. When we move, speak and think from a place of love, we change lives. Here’s a secret, the gift of love is free! Take a moment to think about how you can better implement this in one area of your life. From the words of the famous Andy Stanley, one day much sooner than we expect, we are going to be out of time; when we will have nothing else to give. How do you want to be remembered? A great funeral is when there is a life worth celebrating. What kind of life is worth celebrating? A life that was given away. The value of a life is always measured by how much of it was given away. What a world we would have if more humans devoted themselves to G I V I N G as a means of L I V I N G?

We are conduits of God’s grace and love. Prepare your heart to give, love and serve. Are you ready to ask Him to send you?

If you find yourself called to support my mission of spreading L O V E and C O N N E C T I O N, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/rjqgsv-mexico-mission. Whether it is through financial support, prayers or just words of encouragement, I am so appreciative of the support.

-M

By H A N D Only

What does it mean to live a life adjusted?

It means living a life of A W A R E N E S S. The Chiropractic adjustment isn’t about making you feel better, its about making you feel. Living a life of F E E L I N G. You need to feel to heal and through the adjustment your innate power to heal can be found. The adjustment facilitates an increased connection to L I F E.

Chiropractic Adjustment- By HAND Only

Chiropractic is the world’s largest, drugless healing art. The principles start with the understanding that the body has the power to heal itself. The essence of this profession is to reconnect man the spiritual with man the physical. As Chiropractors we utilize our touch and H A N D S as a means of connection to work with the nervous system, delivering gentle spinal adjustments. The nervous system, the master system, controls all systems of the body – muscular, glandular, respiratory, circulatory, immunological and hormonal, etc. This self-created and regulated, nervous system works closely with the spinal system to perceive, receive and integrate your internal and external world. We reduce stress related interference to the nervous system, thereby enhancing overall body function.

One of the best explanations on what a subluxation is, comes from my sister, Corey Belt. “It is the responsibility of your nervous system to learn and adapt from the stressors of everyday life: physical, chemical, and emotional. When these stressors are just too much, they are sometimes “stored” in our body to be integrated and learned from at a later time. Chiropractors call this a subluxation.” I believe this storage of energy, subluxation, is our body’s God-given ability to protect and adapt in that moment. But, when subluxation occurs, the body’s efficiency to A D A P T to new experiences is decreased. “Simply put, the brain-body connection is disrupted resulting in a cascade of neurological and chemical effects. Your neuro-spinal system communicates to you about internal balance, health and the changes you need through the language of symptoms. Most commonly, these effects are recognized as pain and/or tension. However, subluxation can also address emotional trauma, mental processes and growth as it applies to awareness and human consciousness.” The adjustment brings awareness to the body, reconnecting physical elements to spiritual elements.

Living with a clear nervous system allows the body optimal adaptation. Through the chiropractic adjustment, we can remove this interference and liberate the nervous system. Being well adjusted means living a life curious about symptoms our bodies create. Knowing that every symptom we feel is a message from within, your inner knowing. When we live interference free, we allow ourselves to move better, think more clearly and express L I F E the way our creator designed us to.

I am so extremely grateful for those in my life (shout out to my Kairos Training Culture family) that continue to remind me of this truth and inspire me to share it with y’all. If you or anyone you know desires a living a life full of expression, get in touch and I will help you find a ChiropracTOR in your area.

-M

F E A R

What is fear? Fear, unease, worry, distress, scare, concern, despair. Something we have all experienced. A state that some may experience on a daily basis. Meriam – Webster describes fear as “an unpleasant emotion by the belief that someone of something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” But does it always have to be unpleasant?

Fear is a deeply anchored ancestral instinct. Through history it has proved to be an evolutionary vital one. When we are in a dangerous situation, fear creeps in and switches our nervous system to a sympathetic state, better known as “fight or flight” response. Fear is a marketing tactic. In America we experience this through politics, the health care system, the birthing process, the list goes on..

Fear brings a sense of A W A R E N E S S.

Starting this blog, one of the biggest emotions that came to the surface was F E A R. I was scared about what others would think when they read my words. I was afraid to find out what others will think when I share my personal truths aloud. I was afraid someone had already written something better. What if my work is not enough to make a difference in anyone’s life? What if I’m rejected? What if I look back on these creative endeavors and find it to be a giant waste of time and effort? What if?

What is opposite of fear? C O U R A G E. “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” Two books that gave me courage to give myself permission to show up and share my truth, “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert and “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown. These books will give you the space to question your capacity. I want to live a life without fear. A life free from fear of risky decisions, big love, sudden changes or failure. This is what brings us alive.

You know that little feeling of resistance? Ya, the one we avoid. The feeling that comes up when you get the idea to write a blog. Or the one when you’re asked to speak in front of an audience. The resistance that is possibly accompanied by a small voice in your head. The one that tries to talk you out of it? The voice that assures you you’re find where you’re at. “What if you fail?” I’m here to suggest, what if you fly? A mentor of mine once suggested, just maybe the feeling of resistance is something you should lean into.

Fear brings a sense of awareness to the resistance. Growth happens between resistance and leaning over that line.  I’m learning to lean in.

Thank y’all for joining along in this journey with me.
-M