There’s something about those New York chiropractors. Like others living in New York, we tend to paint them as abrasive and hard-edged, with a penchant for taking care of business in a swift and timely matter. A chiropractic adjustment delivered in a New York minute may differ greatly from a West Coast chiropractors hour and 45 minute wellness session, which may or may not include valet parking of ones Range Rover and a preparation of H2O infused with imported minerals, intended to improve cellular function (and introduce patients to the mlm downline). But not all New York chiropractors have the on screen personality of Bruce Willis, many I have met live with their hearts and soul immersed in dedication to serving a principle that BJ Palmer called “the biggest idea I know.” One such chiropractor was featured in yesterday’s edition of the New York Times and it reminded me of that loving and giving spirit so many left coasters truly possess.

Dr. Anita Morgenstern and others from her team of New York chiropractors were featured yesterday in the City Room section of the New York Times blog, with a story about chiropractors providing relief to those in New York’s homeless community. The article, A chiropractic Touch for Aching Homeless Backs, reminded me of Dr. Morgensterns mission to provide chiropractic care to humanity.

There’s no way to embed the four-minute video featuring Dr. Morgenstern so please visit the Times blog to view it. According to the Times article, chiropractic for Humanity began nearly 10 years ago, after Dr. Anita learned about the soup kitchen at the Church of St. Francis Xavier from a patient who worked there.

It had been seven years since Planet chiropractic last featured an article regarding Dr. Anita’s backyard missions and it is inspirational to see that she apparently hasn’t slowed down in delivering the goods.

Morgenstern isn’t the only chiropractic hero of New York (but she is todays shining star), a brief search through PC archives returns results for NY chiropractors such as Michael O’Halleran, Paul Roses, Mark Guarino, Jay Handt, Bob Tarantino (OK, he’s from New Jersey but close enough), and others.

A New York-based freelance journalist named Jonathan Schienberg did a spectacular job with both the article and video featuring Dr. Anita Morgenstern and her mission of serving New York and all of humanity.

chiropractic office contact information for Dr. Morgenstern and other New York chiropractors is available for those seeking providers of chiropractic care practicing within the State of New York.

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One of the easiest and most important forms of exercise is walking. And like any other type of exercise, performance tends to improve when that performance can be measured. A number of chiropractors recommend activities such as walking after one receives an adjustment. Chiropractors like Dr. Steve Visentin of Colorado, have taken things a step further by recommending (and even giving away) digital pedometers, so people can measure their distances walked, and take a more active role in personal health improvement.

Research has suggested that people following a pedometer based walking program tend to increase the steps daily they take. This comes back to the principal that when you measure performance it tends to improve. In the times that I’ve worn a digital pedometer on my hip, I found myself looking for extra steps to take. Wearing a pedometer, I’m more aware that a ride on the escalator or elevator robs me of steps that can help beat my previous day totals, or at least my step walking averages. While benefits for any one individual can vary, I feel pedometers offer great potential in helping us maintain our healthy chiropractic lifestyles.

Not all digital pedometers are created equally. Most are fairly small and they come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. The most basic models measure steps only while some of the advanced models measure steps, calories, distance traveled and more. Some pedometer models are designed to wear on a belt or clip near the hip on one’s pants, but some of the advanced models are flexible enough to measure steps in all positions perpendicular to the ground, meaning you could place the pedometer in a pocket or still clip it to a belt.

For those serious about measuring their aerobic walking activities, I’d recommend a higher-end pedometer like the better rated Omron models (one shown in above image) or better rated Accusplit models. What’s great about pedometers is even the top models are not pricey, and the entry price models cost as little as a couple of dollars. While many of the models of pedometers make great fitness gifts, those priced in the $1 - $5 range put them in reach as nice gifts for clients (not limited to chiropractic offices). A free pedometer for patrons of one’s business suggests you want them to be healthy (at least that’s how I see it). I did some searches online and noticed there are several sources for bulk pedometer purchases and some companies even offer custom imprinting with your company logo or other information. A great opportunity for branding and reminding the people in your community that you care about their health.

I haven’t yet made use of a distance pedometer for running, as I’ve long preferred my Garmin GPS trainer, but those can cost a significant amount more. Some of the pedometer reviews I researched, did mention models that calculate calories burned from physical activity, accurate distances for walking and jogging, and step measurement up to 99,999 steps. That was mostly for the models in the $20 and over range, whereas the five dollar models (and those priced around that) tended to offer only step measurement. Most models I researched offered easy setup, features like automatic shut off, small size, and an easily readable LCD display.

Talk to your local chiropractor about walking before and/or after receiving your adjustments, and ask what suggestions they may have. Health-care providers like Denver Chiropractor, Dr. Steve Visentin, have already moved forward in motivating patients to measure their steps along their path to health and wellness.

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California is a popular state for practicing chiropractic (it’s the only state featuring four chiropractic schools) and you’re likely to find at least one chiropractor practicing in every coastal community found throughout the state. The city of San Clemente exists roughly halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles, and it’s the surfing and adjusting location of choice for Dr. Tim Swift of Swift Health chiropractic.

I recently had an opportunity to interview Dr. Swift about his introduction to the field of chiropractic, and his choice to practice and live in the popular surfing community, along California’s southern coast.

Tim Swift, DC
Swift Health chiropractic
3551 Camino Mira Costa #A, San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 751-4000

PC: Thanks for being with us Dr. Swift. I’m finding many of the California chiropractors that we’ve been interviewing chose to attend a chiropractic college in the state. How did you go about selecting a chiropractic school and where did you attend?

TS: After doing some research I felt Cleveland chiropractic College Los Angeles was the best fit. Instinctively, I knew that the public was interested in getting a great adjustment, and Cleveland graduates had a reputation for stronger technique than the graduates at the other Southern California school.

PC: I’ve heard that from other chiropractors as well. I understand Cleveland teaches a number of different chiropractic techniques, did you mix up what you learned or focus on one adjusting approach in particular?

TS: I am a Diplomate level Gonstead doctor. I am able to make the greatest amount of change in the health of the greatest amount of people with this technique. It also allows me to work on a huge range of people from infants to seniors. I personally love the feeling of a Gonstead adjustment and I would not deliver less to the patients that I care about. I am not a jack of all techniques; I am a master of one.

PC: Taking care of family seems to be a common theme amongst those I’ve been speaking to. Is that part of your focus and do you provide other services?

TS: I love to take care of families. The nature of chiropractic allows it to help all people with a broad range of health conditions. I have massage available, but chiropractic is definitely the focus at my office.

PC: From talking to chiropractors in the United States and Canada I’ve been hearing there are different ways to pay for care. Do you work with attorneys or any particular insurance companies or is care primarily cash based?

TS: I accept people at my office. Whatever your circumstance we will try to find a way to make it work. I am not on any networks, but my prices are very fair.

PC: We know it’s all Pacific Ocean to the west of you, how do folks get there and what else is in your community?

TS: We are freeway close (Interstate 5) and are also within a mile of Trader Joes, Jamba Juce, and Wahoo’s. All of the healthy choices close by help me get a great lunch to power up.

PC: Did you grow up along the Trestles of San Clemente or is it a new home for you?

TS: I was born in Malibu, California, and enjoyed the beach life until I was 13 years old. My mom, being an avid skier, moved the family to Salt Lake City, Utah. There, I attended junior and high school. Upon graduating high school I moved back to California. After traveling for a few years I settled down in Thousand Oaks, California while I finished my Doctorate in chiropractic at Cleveland chiropractic College in Los Angeles, graduating at the top of my class. I started practicing in San Clemente the beginning of 2001 taking over the practice of Dr. Roy Trotter.

PC: Sounds like you got to surf and ski. Do you remember your first chiropractic adjustment, was it while in school?

TS: I received my first adjustment when I was just 8 years old in New York State on vacation. Although I had no symptoms the doctor was able to locate subluxations where my nervous system was not functioning and adjust the best he could in one visit. As I grew older I went on and off to the chiropractor, mostly off.

PC: You started early but weren’t regular with care until later years, what changed that?

TS: As time went by I started noticing pain in my back around the same areas this old chiropractor found the initial subluxations. Eventually my back became so bad that I was unable to do many of the things that I enjoyed. I finally went to a chiropractor that told me the truth, that I had not been taking care of my spine and as a result it had undergone some early decay. I decided to follow through with chiropractic care and periodic check ups. I am happy to say all of my previous health issues changed for the better.

PC: That’s similar to what I’ve heard from others who maybe didn’t get chiropractic patient education along with their first visits. Do you seek out Gonstead care for yourself as well?

TS: Ever since I started taking better care of my spine and nervous system I have had virtually no symptoms and enjoy vibrant health. As time has gone by I have been adjusted by many chiropractors, and I definitely have an opinion as to which ones I like the best. I have found that the way I feel while under the care of a Gonstead doctor is the best.

PC: Is that one of the reasons you focus on such a technique?

TS: Due to this experience I have specialized in the Gonstead technique and am delighted to bring it to South Orange County. Gonstead is a natural choice for me. It is a methodology based on research and results. I have handled many chronic and difficult cases, getting results where other treatments fail because of my training.

PC: Did you move to the area when taking over Dr. Roy Trotter’s office? Liking it?

TS: Since 2001 I have lived in the Beach Cities area with my wife Stephanie, son Mason and the newest addition to our family, Marlee. We love the area and are looking forward to helping the whole community for years to come.

PC: If a patient asked about becoming a chiropractor, are there any particular chiropractic schools you would recommend they attend?

TS: Any of them will do as long as you understand that chiropractic College will only get you a license, the rest you have to look for outside of school. Ultimately you are responsible for your education not the school that you attend. The most in line with my way of thinking about health are: Life, Life West, Parker, Cleveland, and Sherman.

PC: What’s your community like? Does it have a city feel like Los Angeles or is it more chilled out?

TS: San Clemente has a small town feel and is definitely a beach community. It is famous for the Surfers and Skateboarders that it has generated. My town is a family community and very close. The temperature is always very moderate and the beaches are great. I wanted to move close to the ocean so that I can surf more and that is a big reason why my wife and I chose San Clemente.

PC: chiropractic and surfing seem to be a perfect combination, are the any other activities you get involved with in the community?

TS: I do health lunch and learns for local businesses and am involved in most of the big events in town. My family also gets out to local events, and everywhere I go I seem to see a patient.

PC: Beside the surfers, skateboarders, and yourself, what is your community’s claim to fame?

TS: Richard Nixon lived here in a place known as the “Western White House”.

PC: What’s your coastal community chiropractic office like?

TS: We have an amazing office with family friendly areas. I work between two adjusting rooms and we get families in the room all at the same time. We have plenty of parking and our office has testimonials hanging all over it. We pride ourselves on the friendliness of our team. It is easy to find a smile at Swift Health chiropractic. Our children area has some toys, books and pictures of the kids that get checked here.

PC: A local Orange County news team walks in your office front door and the reporter asks “what is it that you do here?”

TS: We give people’s body the tools that it needs to heal and stay healthy!

PC: Thanks for being a part of our Planet chiropractic interview series Dr. Swift. Glad to see you’re having such a great time as a San Clemente chiropractor and caring for your family and community.

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“And as chiropractors, knowing this principle, we have the amalgam that will bring all of the wellness world together. All of the exercise people, all of the nutrition people, all of the psychological people, all of the spiritually based people – when you apply the sciences of the world to a very simple principle that the body is a self-healing self-regulating organism, and that whatever your science is, when applied, should nurture that principle – we have a singleness of purpose.” - Ian Grassam, Chiropractor

This is the 7th installment of a historically motivational lecture delivered by chiropractor Ian Grassam in February of 1997. Readers may want to acquaint themselves with part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, and part six before continuing on to read the information presented here. The complete 1997 presentation in mp3 format is also available.

Here is Ian Grassam…

And as chiropractors, knowing this principle, we have the amalgam that will bring all of the wellness world together. All of the exercise people, all of the nutrition people, all of the psychological people, all of the spiritually based people – when you apply the sciences of the world to a very simple principle that the body is a self-healing self-regulating organism, and that whatever your science is, when applied, should nurture that principle – we have a singleness of purpose. We have a world who’s got it together. We have a common belief system that will bring about not only the end of disease, but the end of war. And the end of hunger.

I don’t know if you know how big your principle is. I know you don’t know how big you are. But this weekend you must begin to realize it’s a whole lot more than you’ve ever been taught. In your formal education, in your chiropractic education, the principle is bigger, you are bigger. We are in a discovery program, do you understand that? This is about discovering the power of chiropractic, about discovering the power of the principle, about discovering the power in you. Because, after all, you carry the beauty to the rose. Without you the rose has no fragrance, no color, no beauty – until you see into it that which it is. Think about it. You’re bigger than you think. You are so big that thinking can’t measure you.

Beingness, awareness, doingness – this is who you are, this is what it’s all about. We are on the other side of the critical mass paradigm. Which means that people now believe what we believe. People now want what we want. The system is collapsing because it can’t give them that which they know they need. The medical paradigm does not deliver chiropractic care, does it? The medical paradigm does not deliver nutrition. The medical paradigm does not deliver all of the things that create what you and I know the human body is potentially capable of.

Therefore, the medical paradigm does not serve the consciousness of the nation. Critical mass consciousness is that point where enough people believe in a given system – that knowledgebase that Gerry talked about which then empowers everyone to believe that way. It’s okay to think this way – at that point everybody does. The medical paradigm can not deliver the goods.

The consciousness of man says I want a new principle. I want wellness care, I want prevention care, I want less drugs, I want less surgery, less psychiatry, less crap. I want a simple, non-invasive principle that recognizes that I am the source of my beingness and my health, and my home, and my success, and my love. This is what I, as a conscious human being, want from this Planet. Medicine can’t deliver the goods. It is impossible for them.

Well if they can’t, then who’s got to? We will.

We must be willing to be responsible for the knowledge we have. Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is not control. Knowledge for which you’re willing to be responsible for equals power and control. And that means that it must be integrated into every fiber of your being and every aspect of your life so that when you move through a room the room is different for your having moved through – mentally, physically, and spiritually. For every radio station you go on, for every television station you go on, for every article you write, for every lecture you give, for every adjustment you make – the world changes from that day forward.

You tell that patient on that table you’re about to receive a life-changing experience. When I lecture to my patients I tell them that their life will never be the same again after this evening. Within the next thirty to forty five minutes you are to join me in a life-changing experience and the Planet and the world that you and I live in will never be the same after this night. Is that not the truth? Is that not how big you are? Do you not carry the power and the message of freedom, to set people free throughout this entire world? Four grey walls do not a prison make but ignorance of the truth enslaves every human being on the face of the Planet. And you have the key to the kingdom. Do you understand that?

You have the chiropractic key to the kingdom to remove slavery from the Planet. And it begins with the understanding that inherent within them is the power that moves the universe – as BJ told us for so many years. You are bigger than you think. Think about it.

Who are the people in your lives that, right now, need chiropractic care, and you’re afraid to ask them to come in? How many of you have not gone on that radio show, who have not done that television interview, who have not written that article or that letter to the editor? Why do you stop, why do you pull yourself back? You go to the brink of greatness and you jump back.

You know Ty Cob was considered one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. And they asked that baseball scout, they said “You know, is it true that you passed over Ty Cob? You didn’t sign him up?” And he said, “That’s true. I didn’t sign him up.” He said, “I did check him out.” He said, “When I watched him he was a good baseball player.” He said, “but he wasn’t great. He played well, but he didn’t play fabulous. And I passed him over.”

And they said, “Well what happened?”

He said, “Well three years went by, and somehow, somewhere in that three year period, in that 36 months of Ty Cobb’s life, he decided to pay the price of greatness. You see, Ty had to confront something within himself, that he was not being all that he could be. And he said there’s a price to pay for this – how do I break out of this shell, how do I get out of this cacoon of mediocrity? How do I be any other color in life but beige? How do I break free? How do I realize the light of the world? How do I know – how do I do this thing – why am I holding myself back? What is the price of greatness in your life?

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Not many chiropractic conferences or seminars seem to take place during the month of July, as it is primarily a time for family and summer fun. The months of August and September feature several big seminars and conferences taking place throughout the United States. Locations like Dallas, New Jersey, Arizona, and California will all be host to events focused on chiropractic fellowship and education.

chiropractic events in the month of August begin the first weekend with Schofield Training 2008 - Arizona Biltmore which takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona.

No doubt, the weather is hot in Phoenix during August, but PHX airport and local hotels make Phoenix a great place for conferences of all types.

The annual chiropractic summer event at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa is one not to be missed. Hundreds of chiropractors celebrate with their families and staff, at the beautiful 39 acre property, which features Frank Lloyd Wright influenced architecture. The Biltmore is that the top of the list on 2008 hotel properties hosting chiropractic events.

As with nearly all of these chiropractic get-togethers, there are a number of opportunities to interact with other doctors of chiropractic while in attendance. Attendees contacting other chiropractors to determine where they will be during breaks and evening sessions can provide lots of opportunities for fellowship and advanced learning.

In the month of August, it’s hot and sticky in Davenport Iowa, and it’s also the time for Palmer Davenport Campus Homecoming 2008. Homecoming in Davenport takes place from August 7th through August 9th and features continuing education and an exhibit hall of vendor products and services.

August 14-17 in Long Beach, California will feature a first of its kind Extravaganza Symposium hosted by the Southern California University of Health Sciences. The continuing education event is open to doctors of chiropractic, licensed acupuncturists, and alternative health care practitioners.

The Coast Long Beach Hotel is a luxury hotel located on the waterfront in Long Beach California. Attendees can soak up spectacular bay views and lounge at the beautiful oceanfront pool or bayside dining area, when not attending conference sessions. The hotel is located nearby the historic Queen Mary and there are short local cruises over to Catalina Island. For those bringing family, there is also a beautiful Long Beach Aquarium located nearby. The hotel is located at 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, California 90802.

September brings chiropractors to Texas for the annual Parker Seminar Dallas at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.

The Texas event features continuing education, a large Expo, and speaking presentations from doctors of chiropractic such as Fabrizio Mancini (president of Parker college), Jim Sigafoose, Dan Murphy, Michael Perryman, and Rick Wren.

Hotels for this event include the Sheraton Arlington Hotel (1500 Convention Center Drive) and the Holiday Inn Arlington (1311 Wet N Wild Way), both located nearby a convention center. The Arlington Convention Center is located at 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, Texas 76011.

It’s a New Beginnings for a New Future in Eatontown New Jersey as doctors of chiropractic gather the weekend of September 25 through September 28 at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel and Conference Center.

This four-day philosophically centered chiropractic fellowship event features some of the most giving chiropractors in the profession sharing their wisdom of many years in chiropractic practice. Many of the chiropractors attending practice in the tri-state areas of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but chiropractors (and staff and students) attend from around the globe. The Sheraton Hotel is located at 6 Industrial Way East, Eatontown, NJ 07724.

Mark your calendars for dates in August and September, as these chiropractic seminars are sure to provide the information, inspiration, and education chiropractors seek.

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While you can find chiropractors in nearly every city and town throughout the USA, the popularity of natural chiropractic care isn’t limited to the continental US. I recently had the opportunity to interview a Canadian Chiropractor, and get her views on practicing in Canada, her thoughts on chiropractic, as well as other info about her community. It’s a pleasure to be sharing with you this interview featuring Dr. Danella Whittaker, an extraordinary DC practicing in the beautiful area of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Danella Whittaker — Family First chiropractic & Wellness
www.entertogetwell.ca
589 Saint Anne’s Road - Winnipeg, Manitoba R2M 5A9 - 204-254-1313

PC: Thanks for being with us Dr. Whittaker. I noticed the terms Family and Wellness in your office name, how did you go about choosing to name your office?

DW: We chose the name Family First chiropractic for three reasons. First we moved to Winnipeg to be close to our family, second because we decided that we wanted to focus our practice towards family care and lastly we wanted to put our own family’s well-being first when we set up our office hours, policies and procedures.

PC: Did you attend chiropractic School in the US or Canada?

DW: Both my husband (Jason Whittaker) and I went to Canadian Memorial chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto. The great thing about going to CMCC is that I had to fight for my belief in chiropractic the entire time so it made me a very strong chiropractor in the end. However, if I had it to do over again I would likely go to Palmer.

PC: What types of techniques are practiced in your office?

DW: Our office predominantly uses Koren Specific Technique with a blend of some Thompson, Gonstead, and CranioSacral.

PC: That’s a nice selection of techniques, what types of individuals does the practice attract?

DW: We predominantly attract families who are interested in natural health, especially pregnant women and babies. It occasionally feels like a romper room in our office but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

PC: I’ve heard healthcare coverage can differ in Canada from the US, how do people pay for care in your practice?

DW: Payment in our office is on a visit to visit basis or a pre-arranged payment. Manitoba Health does provide a very small bit of coverage and we work that into our fees. We do not bill directly to private insurance but will provide statements when necessary.

PC: Besides the awesomeness of Family First chiropractic & Wellness, what’s located in your practice vicinity?

DW: Our practice is located in a part of Winnipeg known as St. Vital. Next door to us is the greatest Thai food restaurant in the world. We are also very close to the Seine river walking trail which is beautiful anytime of year.

PC: Nice, people can come get adjusted, enjoy a great Thai meal, and take a healthy nature walk or hike. How did you get introduced to chiropractic?

DW: I suffered from migraine headaches from a very early age. The headaches that I had were debilitating. A team mate in university suggested I see a chiropractor and I have never looked back since. It was life changing for me. Not only did my headaches stop (which really would have been enough for me), but my vision improved, my sense of balance changed, my posture changed, and my attitude towards not only health and healing but life in general changed. I am truely grateful that my team mate suggested chiropractic and for a chiropractor by the name of Dr. Brad Lorenz. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for him.

PC: That’s quite a testimonial. Amazing that something so terrible as chronic migraine headaches responded to chiropractic care, and you became a chiropractor as a result, that’s terrific. Are the any other members of your family that are chiropractors?

DW: I do have a great uncle who was a chiropractor, but he never spoke much of it. I really, really wish he had.

PC: You show a passion for what you do, it must ignite excitement among the people you care for. Do they ask about chiropractic schools and do you offer any recommendations or advice?

DW: I would recommend that they really research the school that they decide to go to. I particularly like schools which focus on chiropractic primarily, such as Palmer, Life or Life West. I always recommend that they go to the school and take a tour, talk to the students and talk to graduates.

PC: What’s Winnipeg like? The secret tropical paradise of North America?

DW: Winnipeg, otherwise known as “Winterpeg” because it really is as cold as everyone thinks it is; or “waterpeg” because we tend to flood in the spring; or “windypeg” because we are home to the windiest corner in North America.

Which ever it is… you dress appropriately and you cuddle lots. The people who live here are wonderful and love it here. There is a lot of opportunity for sports whether it’s cross-country skiing in the winter, volleyball, basketball or rowing in the summer. Winnipeg is an exceptionally beautiful city because there are two winding rivers which travel throughout the city, so no matter where you are in the city you are always close to water.

Winnipeg is a also a wonderful city to be a chiropractor who works with pregnant women and families. We have a wonderful network of midwives, doulas and obstetricians who all work together to the benefit of the mother and the baby. Winnipeg also has an excellent selection of organic restaurants and natural health stores. We really are surrounded with excellent options for being and staying healthy.

PC: Wow, between the hiking, rowing, cross-country skiing, and volleyball, (and of course your chiropractic care) one can really stay fit. Are you actively involved in any community activities?

DW: I am particularity involved in the birthing community in Winnipeg. I was on the board of the Manitoba Association of Child and Family Education (MACFE) for two years and am now the editor of the Birth Vine which is a quarterly magazine put out by MACFE.

PC: So besides Drs. Danella and Jason, what is your community’s claim to fame?

DW: Unfortunately our city is most known for our cold winters and mosquitos who take over our city for a few short months in the summer. But most people don’t realize that Winnie-the-pooh is named after Winnipeg.

PC: Hmm, mosquitos and cold winters, the best of both worlds. You must have a nice and warm office, what’s it like?

DW: Our office is located within a cozy strip plaza off of Saint Anne’s Road. The office has a warm and inviting atmosphere from the moment you walk in the door. We tailor to children so there is a large tree painted in the reception area with photos of all our kids’ faces on stencils of fruits. Walking into our adjusting bay you will see a large open area that fosters an environment where families meet other families. And my favorite thing in the practice is a ceiling mural of the Michelangelo’s creation of Adam. I love the feeling that painting gives me. I like to think that new life is breathed in to my patient’s body each time I give a chiropractic adjustment.

PC: A local Canadian TV news crew walks in your front door and your live on television. The reporter asks “what is it that you do here?” You reply…

DW: We restore health into the lives of each and every person who walks through our door. As a chiropractor it is my honor to work with the intelligent healing force that runs through the human form. Ultimately, in order for our patients to function optimally there must be 100% intelligent communication between the brain and every cell of the body through the nervous system. If this communication is interfered with through spinal misalignments or what we call subluxation, then sickness and malfunction is the ultimate end result. It is through a chiropractic adjustment that we can unlock the potential of this intelligence and allow our patient to heal naturally from within. I feel so grateful that I am given the opportunity to be a chiropractor and that people welcome me into their lives everyday.

PC: Thanks for being a part of our Planet chiropractic interview series Dr. Whittaker. For those around Winnipeg seeking to unlock their potential, I listed your contact info here.

Danella Whittaker, Chiropractor
Family First chiropractic & Wellness
589 Saint Anne’s Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2M 5A9
204-254-1313

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“They’re not going to measure you based on what they think of you, they’re going to measure you based on what you think of you. Do you understand that? This is not about you worrying about what they think about you.” - Ian Grassam, Chiropractor

This is the 6th installment of a historically motivational lecture given by chiropractor Ian Grassam in February of 1997. Readers may want to acquaint themselves with part one, part two, part three, part four, and part five before continuing on to read the information presented here. The complete 1997 presentation in mp3 format is also available.

A young chiropractor said, “But Ian what procedure should I use, how do Iget a practice going, how do I do this?” I said, “You change you.” When you get right on the inside, the world gets right on the outside. Your universe gets better when you get right on the inside, that’s the law. That’s the process.

Like the young father who came home bushed and tired. He just wanted to lay down. He’d just had a 15 hour day, and his four year old son came up and said “Daddy let’s play, let’s play, let’s play.” And he didn’t want to play. He was tired and he needed just a half an hour. “Just give me some time son.” “No daddy – let’s play, let’s play, let’s play.”

The father was reading the newspaper, and he saw this entire picture of the world on the newspaper, and he tore it up in about ten pieces, and gave it to his son. He said go put that back together and bring it back to daddy, it’ll be a game. And the son said, “Okay great daddy!” and he ran off and in five minutes he was back and the whole world was all taped together. And the father said, my god I thought I’d at least have an hour and he said “Son you’re a genius, how did you do this?” and he said “It was easy dad, turn it over.” On the other side of the page was a face of a man. He said, “I just put the man together, and when the man was togther the world was together.”

And the father said, “Thank you son.”

The key is to get you together. This is not about you elbowing the kid next to you or the guy next to you or the girl next to you or your wife or your husband or your CA or whoever else – and say “I hope to hell you’re listening! Because you need this shit.” Pompous ass that I am. How many of you are sitting there, “Oh god if my husband was just here! If he could just here this shit that I’ve been trying to tell him this for two years.”

I’m not talking to who’s not here, you understand? I’m talking to you. You, individually, sitting my yourself. With all of your warts and your problems. With all of your inefficiences and your improprieties, all of the things you’ve done and all of the memories and the screws up you’ve had – that’s who I’m talking to. You, individually, nobody else – there isn’t anybody to the right of you, to the left of you, above or below you. Just you, right where you are. This is your weekend of decision. You are at a decision point in life. You’re recognizing the medical paradigm and its failures. The difference is, you have an answer.

Imagine the fear that must be in the hearts and the minds of the medical world. Because as their paradigm caves in and collapses, where do they go? They don’t have an idea. And what have they done with the continued lie of sickness and disease coming from the outside in. They’re perpetuating it, they’re making it worse. It will get worse. We were told that bacteria and viruses were the cause of disease. Well as BJ says, if that were true there’d be nobody alive to believe it.

They continue to try to create an outside in principle so they can continue to sell outside in drugs, don’t they? If, for one fleeting moment, all of a sudden the hearts and minds of people understood what we understand, how would you sell drugs? You couldn’t. So ignorance must be part of the medical paradigm. Darkness must be part of the medical paradigm. Lies must be part of the medical paradigm. And in the information age, those three things will not last. They can’t.

The situation is that the new game in town is that they’re not buying the bacteria crap anymore, they’re not buying the virus crap anymore, let’s blame their grandmother. Genes. It’s in your genes honey. Which means what? Oh hell – there’s nothing I can do about that – my grandma had it, I got it, oh Jesus. You understand? This is the next extension of the medical lie to keep the lie going.

We must, in order to practice medicine, every few decades come up with a new lie to perpetuate the program. We must always have a cause for which the human being can do nothing about. We must constantly let them know that it’s a roll of the dice, that it’s God’s decision. That they’re sick, and infirmed, and ill. Because if they ever bloody well get the idea that inherent within them is the power – we’re finished in medicine.

If they ever understand that built into this system is the most unlimited power in the universe, then medicine is finished. If the human experience ever finds out just one-tenth of what your potential is, all of medicine is out the door. And chiropractic is the new game in town.

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It’s ugly looking news for the makers of Gardasil, a vaccine that is intended to guard against four strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). A blizzard of news reports are out today, regarding complaints involving the shot, which reportedly number over 8000, and include numerous reported cases of paralysis and at least 18 deaths. Meanwhile, the vaccine maker is standing by its product, and the Centers for Disease Control suggests there is no reason to believe the deaths are linked to Gardasil.

Shares for the maker of the vaccine, Merck, fell sharply today amid a worry over future Gardasil sales. The vaccine has apparently been a blockbuster for the ginormous drug manufacturer, as an estimated 8 million females have already received HPV vaccination via the companies product. Currently, they have the market cornered on vaccines of this nature, as Glaxo’s Cervarix vaccine continues to face delays, it is not expected to win US approval until late 2009.

According to several news reports, information regarding adverse effects (or side effects) of the vaccine jab became available via the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) thanks to the Freedom of Information Act. Watchdog websites like Judicial Watch (Judicial Watch Uncovers New FDA Records) published reports with details on vaccine adverse reactions, which included 10 deaths since September of 2007 (and possibly as many as 20), 140 “serious” reports which are categorized as “life-threatening”, 10 reports of spontaneous abortions, and six cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system), of which there is reportedly no known cure.

Amongst the “serious” reports made to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a case concerning a 23-year-old female who was vaccinated with her 1st dose of Gardasil on January 31 of 2008. The patient reportedly experienced anaphylactic shock 2 minutes after vaccination, which can be considered to be immediately life-threatening. Another involved a 14 year old female who suffered an immediate postinjection reaction. After receiving the shot, the young girl reportedly took 6 steps, fell to the ground unconscious and had a 60 second grand mal seizure.

Vaccine advocates will claim fear mongering and interference from preventing daughters dying of cervical cancer, while parents of those children that have suffered injuries (or death), or those believing this may be a huge medical experiment, will be increasingly calling for elected officials and public health representatives to be more transparent regarding the risks associated with vaccination programs such as the HPV and cervical cancer campaign.

Regardless of which side of the fence you may sit on, there’s no questioning that soliciting expert advice and researching trusted resources is the way to go when deciding whether or not to vaccinate.

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One of the beauties of the chiropractic profession is the individuality expressed by practicing doctors of chiropractic. As Dr. Darrel Crain mentioned in his article on technique, there are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view at the top is always the same. When it comes to patient care, there are chiropractors worldwide serving masses of people, in an effort to assist them in reaching the mountaintop of good health. One of those chiropractors is Dr. Nicholas Campos of Los Angeles, California. I had the pleasure of interviewing him recently for this Planet chiropractic article, and I’m pleased to share his story.

Nick Campos, DC - drnickcampos.com
8455 Beverly Blvd., Suite 305, Los Angeles, CA 90048 — 323-651-2464

PC: Thanks for taking the time to participate in this interview Dr. Campos, and thanks for e-mailing us multiple photos from your office, and your responses in .doc and .pdf format, you get extra points for techiness.

PC: In the United States, all chiropractors must attend an accredited chiropractic school before they can be licensed to practice as a DC. Where did you choose to attend and why?

NC: I chose Cleveland chiropractic College, Los Angeles because, well…it was down the street from where I lived. I thought that all the schools were essentially the same so I figured why not stay close to home. Turns out I made a great decision.

PC: What types of adjusting techniques do you utilizing your practice?

NC: While in school I was really into Gonstead, mostly because I thought it was the hardest technique to learn, but I was really open to everything and took seminars and studied many different techniques including Diversified, Cranio-sacral, NET, and Network. I use Gonstead listings, adjust using Gonstead side postures and seated cervicals, and use the Nervo-Scope on everybody; however, I do not do the full Gonstead protocol so most Gondroids would say I’m a Diversified chiropractor. I guess I’d have to agree.

PC: I’ve often wondered if Hollywood area chiropractors get paid different than the rest of the profession. What types of payments do you see in your practice?

NC: I pretty much do it all—cash, insurance, superbills (depends on the insurance), some liens. I take most major PPOs, and I am a provider for Blue Shield and United Healthcare. I also take Medicare, but no HMOs, no Medicaid, and I don’t do Work Comp.

PC: Thanks to the film industry, you practice in a world-famous area, what can you tell us about it?

NC: My office is located at the point where Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood intersect. I’m across the street from the Beverly Center, just down from Cedars Sinai to the west and CBS to the east. My neighborhood has one of the oldest and best health food stores in Los Angeles, Erewhon Natural Foods. There you can get fresh juices, macrobiotic fares, a whole slew of tonics and tinctures, and, of course, fresh whole, natural foods. We also have some of the most well-known health clubs in the country including Gold’s Gym Hollywood, Equinox West Hollywood, Crunch West Hollywood and the 24 Hour Fitness at the Arclight. Also in the vicinity is the best yoga studio in L.A.—City Yoga—and the premiere metaphysical and spiritual bookstore in the city—The Bodhi Tree. And for Sports Nutrition, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy and the best compound pharmacy in West Hollywood, Capitol Drugs and the Power Zone on Santa Monica Boulevard just can’t be beat.

PC: Wow, along with chiropractic care, sounds like there is everything in your area a West Angeleno could desire in order to thrive in good health. Tell us, how was it that you were introduced to the wonders of chiropractic?

NC: I was introduced to chiropractic at a very early age. My mother took me and my brother and sister for our first adjustment when I was seven years old. My mother had developed a pretty bad neck pain, along with pain radiating into her arm, and was sent to see good old Latch and So in San Francisco. One adjustment turned her into a chiropractic patient for life, and that meant we were chiropractic patients for life, too. I didn’t know any different—I really thought everybody did it regularly, just like going to the dentist. Not until college did I find out that not everybody was doing it. I was taking a medical internship course at UC Berkeley. Hanging around before class one day some students were discussing a challenging low back pain case that one of the students had observed while following his doctor, an orthopedist. They were discussing different treatment options when I piped in, “Hey, why doesn’t he just go see a chiropractor.” You would have thought I’d said to leave Nelson Mandela in jail or something by the way the room fell silent. And the student who was tailing the orthopod looked at me dumbfounded and said, “Chiropractors hurt people.” I was blown away. I called my mom and asked her if she knew that people thought that junk about chiropractors. I swear it was the same feeling I had when I first found out there was no Santa Claus. I knew then that I had to be a chiropractor.

PC: You mentioned your brother and sister, did either of them become chiropractors?

NC: No other members in my family are chiropractors but every one of them—which now include my in-laws—are enthusiastic and vibrant chiropractic patients. My two year old daughter asks for her adjustments and says, “Thank you, Papa,” when we’re finished.

PC: It’s obvious you are enthusiastic about what you do and you probably get patients asking about chiropractic education. Any recommendations on schooling?

NC: Which chiropractic schools would I recommend? You know, I think you’ve got to check them out and ask lots of questions. What’s important to you? When I asked my chiropractor which school he recommended, he said they were pretty much all the same. And when I started school, I had no idea that there were different techniques. I just thought it was all chiropractic. Every adjustment was simply chiropractic. However, when in school I learned there were many different techniques, and at Cleveland, Los Angeles we were exposed to many of them. That was a huge plus. If that matters to you, then you will have to find a school that offers that. Does the school emphasize chiropractic philosophy? I happen to think that that matters, so I’d say if you want to learn about chiropractic in its entirety, you’ll want to look for that, too. I also learned while in school that you’ve got to adjust patients while in clinic. Where do they come from? In a big city like Los Angeles, patients are in abundance; many found us. In a more suburban environment, you’ve got to go out and find them—not unlike the real world, actually. But that’s also something to consider. Then there is the faculty. Truth is, there is no way to know what you are getting on that end until you start, but I was very pleased with the faculty at my alma mater—a great group of dedicated and respectable professionals. So, heck, if you are not sure where to go, go to Cleveland chiropractic College, Los Angeles—you can’t go wrong there! It’s a great school.

PC: You mentioned your office borders on Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. How is it situated and what’s unique about your community?

NC: I practice in the heart of Los Angeles—Beverly Hills, Hollywood and West Hollywood are all my regions. It’s lots of people and lots of traffic all the time. Hustle and bustle—the stuff that makes a city great. There is always something going on. The world famous Sunset Strip is a stone’s throw away, so is Boy’s Town, so is Rodeo Drive. We’ve also got nature: lots of canyons to hike—Runyon Canyon is quite popular with residents, both celebrities and regular folk—and many busy parks. Being the film and television center of the world, my community is teaming with industry folk. But, of course, there are many other people living in the community from attorneys to small business owners to medical doctors (Cedars Sinai Medical Center is right down the street) to just regular people making their way through the world. Guess what else is in great abundance in my community. You guessed it—chiropractors!

PC: Sounds like quite a place, and the area residents are fortunate to have you. What would you say your community’s local claim to fame would be?

NC: My community’s claim to fame is almost certainly its night life and party environment. With the Sunset Strip, Hollywood Boulevard and Boys Town booming every night (no rest for the wicked), it’s probably the number one reason people come to visit. Of course, there is the high-end shopping, luxurious hotels, and fancy schmancy restaurants, too—and let’s not forget the celebrity watching (no paparazzi, please). But all in all I think my area is known for its hyper materialism and extreme indulgences (can anyone say, John Belushi?).

PC: I noticed a Macy’s in the background of one of the photos you e-mailed of you adjusting in your office. What’s your space like?

NC: I practice in a beautiful corner office space with spectacular views of Beverly Boulevard, The Hotel Sofitel and Beverly Center. It’s a brightly lit, warm and serene setting that puts people at ease and ready to heal the moment they enter. It is truly a healing sanctuary found in the midst of a hectic urban center.

PC: Being in such an urban area I would expect you may attract lots of business people to your office. What is your chiropractic practice demographic like? Who do you see most of?

NC: I predominantly see adults, but I also provide chiropractic care for children, infants, and toddlers. I see many pregnant women in my office who always express their extreme gratitude for the healing power of chiropractic.

PC: Any athletes?

NC: I treat both athletes and non-athletes alike, but professional dancers seem to have a great affinity for my office. All in all, everyone who comes under my care gets treated like a person in perpetual motion. Our bodies were meant to move.

PC: The paparazzi is on the trail of a celebrity and they happen to be by your office. A reporter sticks her head in your front door and asks what it is you do there. You answer?

NC: We provide optimal health enhancement through high-quality chiropractic care and sports rehabilitation. We help people get out of pain, restore function, and get back to living the life they love to live with the holistic, life-enriching practice of chiropractic.

PC: Sounds great, Sign me up! Outside of what you do in your practice, how do you spread your chiropractic message?

NC: I am an author and an avid health writer. My predominant medium is the web. I maintain a dynamic website where I post monthly health articles, podcasts and a regular blog. My articles usually focus on some sort of treatment protocol or health issue, whereas my blog is a humorous health column that takes a non-conventional look at some of today’s most important health issues.

NC: I have just published my first book, The Six Keys to Optimal Health (http://www.6-keys.com/), which is getting great reviews, and is being described as “monumental”, “a must read”, “smartly written”, “progressive”, “revolutionary”, and “enlightening”. Pick up a copy and start enjoying all the benefits of optimal health today!

PC: That’s awesome that you decided to write a book. I included a link above for all those that want to check it out. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions Dr. Campos. It’s great to be featuring you on Planet chiropractic!

The contact information for the chiropractor interviewed…

Nick Campos, DC
West Hollywood Chiropractor
8455 Beverly Blvd. Ste.305 Los Angeles, CA 90048
Office Phone: 323-651-2464

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“Any fear you experience, any feeling you have that holds you back, is based on something that happened ten or fifteen years ago. Drop it. And drop it now. But be prepared for what happens when you become the big nut. You think the world’s going to treat you well? You think you’re going to look good running around looking like David Kennedy? Mad dentist?” - Ian Grassam, Chiropractor

This is installment number five of a historically motivational talk given by chiropractor Ian Grassam in 1997. If you have not already, you may want to read part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 before continuing on to read the information presented here.

Here is Ian Grassam…

You know, compared to the dental world – can you imagine him standing here talking to a thousand dentists the way he just talked to us? Hell, he’d be hung in effigy in the hallway. Burned at the stake at the front lawn. This is the price that it takes, but you see it’s lunatics like David Kennedy that change societies. It’s lunatics like David Kennedy, and BJ Palmer, and Sid Williams, and Fred Barge that change societies. These are the people who stand up and put themselves at risk. That’s the question – are you willing to put yourself at risk? Are you willing to stand up and be counted and say I disagree? Are you willing to be that different? Because that’s the price that it takes. There is a difference between success and greatness.

Greatness is that place you dream about. Greatness is that place that has no limitations. Greatness is when you leave the limitations of this mortal toil. Greatness is when you live in the spirit of your vision and your dream. I don’t know too many men on this Planet, or women for that matter, who are honestly living their dream. Thank god I know a few.

If you are not one of them, then get on with it. Because what you want to suck out of this life is the ultimate experience. The ultimate experience. That means you want to stand at the top of your spiritual nature and bless the Planet. You want to lift the hearts and the spirits and minds of millions and millions of people in your community, and billions of people across the Planet because of the things you know to be true. How many of you can remember those fleeting moments where you’ve had your dream going on and you felt what it was like to be totally free? It was fleeting. It was there for just a moment. But you knew what it was.

That’s the way you want to live 24 hours a day. Totally unencumbered by the thoughts of yesteryear. Who are you? Who are you? What did Shakespeare mean when he said “To be or not to be? That is the question.” A state of being. It’s an unlimited state in which you’re just expressing unlimited power.

Do you know who you are? Have you any idea, to be sitting here trapped in this body of flesh, with all of its limitations, and be an unlimited spirit that has the creative capability to establish the universe. That’s who you are.

You are so free, so powerful, so unlimited, you don’t have any idea. And if you don’t have a methodology on a daily basis by which to expand yourself into your potentials, then get on with it! Put something on a daily basis into your life that gives you a brief time to experience who you really are.

I know we’ve all got to climb back into these bodies every morning and live in this crazy physical world, but you don’t have to live there in your heart. You may have to live there in the flesh, but you don’t have to live there in your heart. And you can live outside of those limitations. Realize that you move this body from the outside, not from the inside. How big are you?

If it were to be known on a spiritual basis you are so powerful that you could use lightening bolts as toothpicks. That’s the kind of juice you carry. You know one skinny-ass lightening bolt starts a fire on three square yards in a forest. You can change the hearts and minds of a billion people around an entire Planet. That’s your power.

Now what happens when you align yourself with the unlimited juice and power of a principle called chiropractic? At that point you take on all of its power. You take on all of its qualities. Remember what you align yourself with good or bad you become. This is the expression – this is what the world will measure you from. It will measure you by what you espouse to. If you align yourself with unlimited principle realizing that the power for life flows from above, down and inside out – and that inherent within you is the source of every answer to every possible question that this Planet could every throw at you, then you become an unlimited being and the world will then treat you according to how you measure yourself.

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