After a short summer hiatus from the podcast, we’re back with a new episode. Today, we’re talking about the polyvagal theory, the two branches of the vagus nerve, the hierarchy of the nervous system, and how increased knowledge on these topics improves the quality of care for practice members.
 
Our nervous system greatly influences the way we interact with the world, especially socially. As a chiropractor, you can use the polyvagal theory to signal cues of safety and enhance the adjustment experience by quickly helping the body become more regulated—and bringing your client out of a tense, chronic, fight-or-flight state.
 
Key Takeaways:
An update on what Dr. Don has been up to since the last episode. [0:42]
How the polyvagal theory relates to chiropractic work. [1:46]
Why it’s important to understand the two distinct branches of the vagus nerve. [3:10]
Understanding the hierarchy of the nervous system in social mammals. [4:40]
What neuroception is and how it works. [7:18]
Why the state of one’s nervous system isn’t black and white. [9:09]
What happens to your social engagement system when you are in fight or flight. [10:08]
How greater knowledge of nervous system function may alter adjustments. [12:31]
How a regulated nervous state promotes healthy posture. [14:20]
Why teaching someone a skill you know innately is actually beneficial to you. [15:18]
Opportunities to learn more about this that are coming up soon. [16:40]
How better care can help bring practice members out of a protective, tense state. [18:46]
Why matching communication style to client needs matters. [19:52]
What to expect in upcoming episodes and who this information is perfect for. [21:47]

How the Nervous System Influences Our Lives

In this podcast episode, Dr. Don Clum, a chiropractor, and functional fitness expert, joins us to discuss his focus on advanced metabolic nutrition, emphasizing insulin resistance. He aims to help individuals with various body system issues, including weight management, diabetes, and cardiac problems.
Dr. Clum provides insight into his nutrition philosophy and the benefits of fasting. He recommends certain foods while advising against others, particularly those containing oxalates. The podcast covers a range of topics, including how fasting affects women's menstrual cycles, tips for coming out of a fast, and strategies for tackling visceral fat.
Dr. Clum also discusses common ways people unknowingly sabotage their weight loss efforts, the importance of intrinsic goals, and factors that influence a person's commitment to their health. To learn more about Dr. Clum's approach, visit the Vitality Shift website.
 
Key Takeaways:
The work Dr. Clum is focusing on right now and why. [2:22]
What happens when you fast, and what the benefits are. [4:28]
Clum’s stance on plants and where his bias comes from. [6:11]
What oxalates are and how they act within the body. [8:44]
The common foods he doesn’t recommend for human consumption. [13:31]
How fasting impacts women and their monthly cycle. [17:45]
Tips for coming out of a fast strategically. [21:21]
The risks that visceral fat presents and how to tackle it. [28:32]
Common ways people sabotage their fat loss without knowing it. [30:35]
Why nothing is constant in the body and how it works in cycles. [34:20]
How cortisol and insulin promote inflammation in your digestive system. [41:00]
The importance of using intrinsic goals and motivation for dopamine versus food. [44:55]
What factors influence a person’s commitment to taking action on their health? [46:45]
The different offer models Dr. Clum has tried and what gets the best response. [49:02]

 
For more info on the Vitality Shift, visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/

Dr. Don Clum Give Us An Update On Fasting and Your Health

Join us in this episode as we welcome Dr. Michael Winters, a seasoned chiropractor with over 40 years of practice who owns and operates Winter's Wellness Center in Paducah, Kentucky. Dr. Winters has generously shared his wealth of knowledge on his YouTube channel for over a decade, helping his clients and viewers achieve optimal wellness.
During our conversation, Dr. Winters shares his personal story of why he decided to become a chiropractor and reflects on the formative experiences that have shaped his life and career. He also discusses his early marketing tactics, how he discovered quantum neurology, and what helped boost his confidence in his work. Additionally, he explains how learning about the polyvagal theory has enabled him to support his patients better.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Winters provides many insightful takeaways, including the importance of continual improvement, the role of mentors in shaping his work, and the impact of growing up on a farm on his work ethic. He also shares an inspiring story about how he was able to help an anxious elderly patient through specific adjustments.
Whether you're interested in chiropractic medicine, natural wellness, or simply seeking valuable insights from a seasoned professional, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of chiropractic medicine with Dr. Michael Winters.
Key Takeaways:
How his experiences led Dr. Winters to pursue a career in chiropractic. [1:41]
Why he decided to pivot from education in business. [5:05]
Winter’s overall experience at Palmer College of Chiropractic. [7:20]
Why he chose to move to Kentucky. [9:15]
How his perspective shaped the focus of his work, especially in the early years. [10:59]
A strange experience he had regarding his newspaper ads. [12:55]
His mentors influenced his work during his career. [15:09]
What quantum neurology is and how he was introduced to it. [17:03]
The vital lesson Dr. Winters learned about confidence. [19:10]
Why Dr. Winters decided to tap into YouTube videos to support his business. [21:56]
What the polyvagal theory explains, and why it’s helpful in his practice [24:55]
How he was able to help an anxious older patient through specific adjustments. [27:20]
Why continual improvement is vital—and one clear sign you have improved. [28:44]
An example of how growing up on a farm influenced Dr. Winters’ work ethic. [29:30]
Why you don’t need to set out to find your purpose. [31:48]

 
For more info on the Vitality Shift visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/

How the Polyvagal Theory Helps Dr. Michael Winters Support His Chiropractic Patients

We’re welcoming Dr. Tim Young, based in Oklahoma, for this week’s episode. He graduated from chiropractic school 30 years ago and decided to enroll when he was sent home from the Navy after doctors recommended he undergo exploratory back surgery.
Dr. Young talks about his struggles during the early days of his practice and reveals how he overcame them. We’ll also hear about how he started his seminar and coaching group, Focus OKC.
As you will see in this episode, Dr. Tim has a massive drive to help Chiropractors live up to their potential in both live and practice.  You will leave this interview with a renewed inspiration for what you do and how you do it.  
Key Takeaways:
What inspired Dr. Young to become a chiropractor. [2:20]
Mechanism versus vitalism, and which one Dr. Young experienced in school. [7:44]
What it was like when Dr. Young graduated and why he says he didn’t know anything about success. [9:58]
A coaching event that Dr. Young was invited to and why it was so impactful. [13:12]
Is it better to be personally driven or mentor-led? [15:46]
A time when Dr. Young felt defeated, and what he did to get out of that. [18:54]
Dr. Young’s morning routine helps him start winning as soon as he wakes up. [21:19]
What to remember when going through tough times in life, especially regarding your internal dialogue. [27:11]
Young’s MMA-fighting son and a lesson about not giving up. [29:39]
How Dr. Young founded the Focus OKC seminar. [30:52]
What led Dr. Young to begin his coaching group. [35:14]
Advice that Dr. Young would give to his younger self. [39:29]
A question you should be asking yourself. [42:47]
Final words of inspiration for chiropractors. [44:45]

 
Focus OKC: https://focusokc.com/
For more information on "The Informed Chiropractor," a group mentoring program by Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald, visit. https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

Keeping a Positive Inner Dialogue with Chiropractor Dr. Tim Young

Joining Dr. Don today is Dr. David Fletcher, a threepeat guest who is here to dive further into the polyvagal theory and heart rate variability. Dr. Fletcher is a chiropractic pioneer and the tools you can use to help track your patient's inputs and outputs.
 
The pandemic changed many things, but importantly, it significantly affected the population and their primary autonomic responses. Dr. Fletcher talks us through how his tools track autonomic responses, distinguish between parasympathetic and sympathetic reactions, and interpret data points.
 
Key Takeaways:
How things have been for David and his practice during the pandemic. [01:30]
How people in the industry utilized their strength and knowledge during the pandemic. [02:50]
Commonalities between chiropractors that succeeded and grew through the pandemic. [03:30]
How forced immobilization during the pandemic affected people. [06:45]
Blending technologies to read client inputs and outputs and why it’s important. [08.00]
The Four Quadrant Model. [08:45]
Measuring parasympathetic vs. sympathetic reactions. [13:00]
Working within the rules of the human operating system and reigniting the systems. [18:00]
Keeping the human system in motion. [20:00]
Creating a movement to safety. [23:00]
Why chiropractic is a neuroscience-based on coordination. [25:00]
About the face/heart connection. [27:00]
Sifting through inputs and outputs to find useful information. [28:20]
The Love Cause and Effect. [30:00]
The physiology of detecting danger. [31:40]
Creating self-awareness about your body and reactions. [33:20]
Why chiropractors need to stop living in fear. [35:00]
Honoring the pioneers of chiropractic advancements. [36:55]
About autonomic states and how they track on the HRV. [39:00]
Unraveling uncharacteristic readings. [47:25]
Words of wisdom. [50:00]

For more information on the Insight Scans, visit https://insightcla.com/ 
The Informed Chiropractor: Click here for more info

Heart rate variability, Chiropractic, and the Polyvagal theory with Dr. David Fletcher

In this episode, Dr. Don MacDonald is pleased to interview Dr. Christopher Kent, who has been a long-time inspiration to him. 
Dr. Christopher Kent is a chiropractor and educator. He learned about chiropractic and eventually attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. After graduation, he worked as an intern and eventually became an educator. He met Dr. Patrick Gentempo, and together they created On Purpose, a company focused on helping Chiropractors.
Dr. Kent has a subluxation focus and is interested in quantifying the changes that result from care. He also discusses the polyvagal theory, how the nervous system impacts emotions, and how the pandemic has affected patients worldwide.
In the future, he would like to research the autonomic response and believes that chiropractic care is the perfect solution for the aftereffects of the pandemic. Dr. Kent teaches at Sherman College of Chiropractic and has also worked and learned outside of North America. He shares some parting words of wisdom in the interview.
 
Key Takeaways:
How did Dr. Kent end up practicing chiropractic medicine? [02:00]
Kent’s journey of learning about chiropractic theory. [03:20]
How the answer to the question “what do chiropractors do?” changed Dr. Kent’s entire career trajectory. [04:15]
Kent’s experience at Palmer. [07:55]
How the discipline has changed over the years. [10:40]
Life after graduation and Dr. Kent’s intern experience. [12:30]
How Dr. Kent became an educator. [14:00]
Meeting Dr. Patrick Gentempo and creating On Purpose. [15:30]
Why Dr. Kent started leaning towards a subluxation focus. [18:35]
Quantifying changes due to therapy. [19:39]
Discussing the polyvagal theory, happiness, and how far the effect of it can reach. [22:25]
The effects of the pandemic on patients. [26:20]
Areas that Dr. Kent wants to research in the future. [27:00]
Monitoring the autonomic response. [29:00]
Why chiropractic medicine is the perfect treatment for the aftereffects of the pandemic. [30:40]
What Dr. Kent teaches at Sherman. [32:00]
Kent’s experience working and learning outside of North America. [33:40]
Parting words of wisdom. [35:50]

Why Right Now is Unlike Any Other Time in Dr. Christopher Kent’s 50-Year Career

On today’s episode, Dr. Don speaks with Dr. Peter Kevorkian for the third time on the podcast. A lot has changed since Dr. Kevorkian last visited the show. This time, he’ll dissect the effects of the pandemic and talk about how we can transition out of it healthily.
Over the last few years, many things have changed for practitioners and patients. How do you navigate the changes personally and professionally? And more importantly, how do you make the needed transitions to continue?
 
Key Takeaways:
What it’s been like as practitioners transition out of the pandemic. [01:28]
Three things that have got Peter through the pandemic. [02:45]
How the trauma of COVID-19 has affected everyone. [03:30]
Why adaptation is necessary and a sign of good mental health. [04:25]
Understanding that cultural norms may be flawed. [06:00]
How the pandemic has drastically affected peoples’ physiology and nervous system. [07:00]
Tip 1: Be aware of what is happening around you and stay awake. [08:15]
Find the joy in something and hold on to it; create space for it. [11:45]
Tip 2: Create a safe space to decompress and turn off the fight or flight instinct. [13:00]
What can you do to create safety in your life, and what did Peter do? [16:15]
Being conscious of creating a safe space for others in your practice. [17:00]
Tip 3: Get back into your heart. The world needs love and respect. [22:10]
Recognize the differences in perspectives and respect them. [23:45]
Maintaining your self-care. [26:00]
What major transitions have Peter and his work been through since the beginning of the pandemic? [29:00]
Dealing with the passing of a colleague and friend. [30:50]
Words of wisdom. [36:00]

For more information on "The Informed Chiropractor," click https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor

How to Continue Transitioning Out of the Pandemic with Dr. Peter Kevorkian

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Holroyd. He practices with his wife, Dr. Susan Holroyd, at their clinic in Kelowna, BC. Kevin was introduced to chiropractic care at a young age—so early that he doesn’t remember his first appointment. From there, chiropractic care played a part in his wellness routine, and eventually, he decided to pursue it as a career.
Kevin will tell us all about a recent personal health challenge and how he’s dealt with his diagnosis. He also shares insight into the tools, technology, and people that helped him through this challenging time.  He shares with us his very challenging journey of being diagnosed with cancer and, more importantly, the people he surrounded himself with and what he did that helped him heal.  
Key Takeaways:
How Kevin became interested in chiropractic care in his youth. [2:07]
Why he decided to pursue a career as a chiropractor. [3:11]
Where Kevin first began his career. [5:40]
The health challenge he encountered in February 2020. [9:47]
The news he learned after his surgery and what happened afterward. [13:58]
A coincidence that helped him after his diagnosis. [15:30]
How his diet changed after his diagnosis. [18:50]
The biggest thing he’s learned through his diagnosis. [20:51]
How a connection of his sisters was helpful to his situation. [22:15]
The positive reminder he got after his second dose of immunotherapy. [25:42]
How his immunotherapy impacted his liver health. [28:31]
The mental struggles he encountered and how he dealt with them. [30:35]
The therapy modality Kevin practiced and why it was so powerful. [32:47]
What going through this experience has taught him. [34:58]
The significant milestone he passed was in May 2022. [37:59]
Kevin’s wisdom for other chiropractors who are dealing with their challenges. [40:52]

 
For more info on the Vitality Shift, visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/

Dr. Kevin Holroyd Tells Us How to Deal With Personal Health Challenges as a Chiropractor

Dr. Don discusses the numerous training events and methods he has been employing in the last few months in today’s episode. We also hear a clip from a recent Zoom call for doctors in London preparing for an upcoming seminar there.
Brandi joins in to discuss the added complications that the pandemic has caused in patient care and how to adapt to it. They also discuss the basics of polyvagal theory and briefly touch on the challenges practitioners face.
The three parts of the Polyvagal theory covered in this episode are the hierarchy of the nervous system, neuroception, and co-regulation.  They are very excited to be producing a 4-week program in the second quarter of 2023 with Dr. Stephen Porges on the clinical application of the polyvagal theory into Chiropractic practice.  
Key Takeaways:
The overview of recent training events and methods. [1.00]
Brandi discusses the polyvagal theory and the problems that arise from being bombarded with too much information. [2:55]
Creating an effective and semantically sound communication method for training. [4:00]
Challenges faced by polyvagal practitioners. [5:36]
The salutogenic process of chiropractic. [6:25]
Getting to grips with the polyvagal process and overcoming preconceived notions of healing and pain. [7:00]
Understanding what a patient’s physiology is telling you and them. [9:20]
Why Brandi and Don came to the polyvagal theory. [10:40]
How the pandemic has influenced assessing patients’ trauma and pain. [11:30]
Understanding the effects of worldwide trauma. [13:00]
Focusing on chiropractors and their lives. [14:50]
Your responsibility to self-care. [15:30]
Decoding how patients have changed through COVID and learning to communicate again. [17:00]
Your responsibility as a practitioner is to accept your patient’s trauma. [18:45]
How using the correct language will deepen your communication and connection with patients. [19:15]
The main concepts of the polyvagal theory. [20:00]
Understanding safety. [23:00]
How the nervous systems of children are different. [28:00]

To join Dr. Don and Brandi Macdonald's monthly mentoring group called "The Informed Chiropractor," click below.
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 
To Join Dr. Don and Brandi in San Fransico on January 14th for the Emergence one-day workshop, click below.
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/offers/S4oB5dNd 
To Join Dr. Don and Brandi in Montreal on Saturday, March 11th, for "The MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol" hands-on workshop, click below
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/offers/FoayJsda 
 

How the Polyvagal Theory Can Help You and Your Patients

In today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Clare Haitsma, a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic who has been in practice for 46 years. After chiropractic school, Dr. Haitsma returned to Alberta and practiced for 30 years before retiring to go on church missions.
That retirement didn’t last long, and six years ago, he returned to start a new practice from scratch in Lethbridge, Alberta. It hasn’t been an easy road to rebuild, and there have been many changes along the way, but it’s important to keep focused on your values and the needs of your patients.
Dr. Clare Haitsma is an inspiration to the profession, he shares some of his routines and rituals that help keep him focused and on purpose.  Nothing is more inspiring than seeing a Chiropractor in practice that long and still loving to serve people daily. 
Key Takeaways:
How did Dr. Haitsma come to chiropractic medicine? [1:40]
Why a car accident led to a career path switch. [2:00]
What studying at Palmer College was like in the 1970s. [4:21]
Why Palmer was considered an eccentric college. [4:30]
What was the highlight of attending the school? [6:22]
Why Dr. Haitsma knew he would come back to Alberta. [7:55]
How chiropractic medicine evolved during his time in business. [9:00]
Why Dr. Haitsma retired. [11:08]
What drove the decision to go on church missions? [11:40]
Why Dr. Haitsma ended up in Lethbridge.
What it was like rebuilding a practice from scratch. [13:00]
Learning to refocus on what mattered in his practice and for his clients. [15:35]
Overcoming apprehension of creating care plans. [18:00]
What is the benefit of care plans? [18:45]
Why it’s important to give patients the choice of their treatment options. [20:40]
How has Dr. Haitsma’s technique evolved? [22:50]
What kind of personal rituals does Dr. Haitsma have to maintain focus? [25:35]
What would Dr. Haitsma tell his younger self? [27:20]
Words of wisdom. [30:30]

For more information on "The Informed Chiropractor" with Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald, visit
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 
 

How Dr. Clarence Haitsma Built a New Chiropractic Practice After 6 Years of Retirement

Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Julie Darchuk from Saskatoon in this episode. Dr. Julie has been in practice for 6 years and is a graduate of CMCC.  Dr. Don and Brandi have been working closely with Dr. Julie over the last year, and he is excited to share her journey today. 
Julie takes us through her chiropractic journey, how her dad was her biggest inspiration, and the stress she experience when she suddenly lost him before starting School. Her body stored the trauma she had not dealt with and put it on a shelf for her to push through school. Numbing her grief was the only way for her to cope in the beginning.  She then experienced the loss of her brother as well, which added to her grief.
Coaching helped Julie identify and then begin to process grief and trauma in her personal life and a feeling of staleness in her career after having to practice hurt. For those struggling, Julie’s experiences could be the inspiration you may be looking for to help you get back on track. 
Key Takeaways:
How Julie decided to become a Chiropractor. [1:45]
How Julie managed stress at Chiropractic school in the first year. [4:05]
What happened after Julie graduated? How did she decide whether to start her practice or work for someone else? [6:50]
Why it was important for Julie to learn from multiple practitioners in a hands-on way. [9:25]
Dealing with further family trauma out in the world of work. [10:15]
What happens when you aren’t fine anymore? [12:00]
What brought Julie to work with Dr. Don and Brandi? [12:40]
Learning about the salutogenic model of chiropractic. [14:20]
Understanding why you want to make the shift. [16:00]
Julie’s journey through pain and road to recovery. [17:20]
What helped Julie unpack her trauma over time? [18:35]
Taking note of the small triumphs. [20:11]
The impatience of recovery. [21:00]
About Julie’s journey to clinic owner. [22:10]
Getting clear about what you want. [24:10]
What would Julie say to her younger self? [25:20]
Advice for those struggling. [27:00]

For more information on the Vitality Shift program, visit: https://www.thevitalityshift.com
To get more information about "The Informed Chiropractor" program, visit
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

How Dr. Julie Darchuk Overcame Her Grief and Trauma With the Vitality Shift for Chiropractors

Today, Dr. Don is firing the podcast again after a year-long break. In this episode, he shares what he and Brandi have been up to over the last year and the latest updates on their business. After this updated episode, there will be more interview-style episodes on the way.
Dr. Don dives into practice changes, including their new practice and location. He also talks about their interview with Dr. Stephen Porges about the polyvagal theory on the podcast last year and how that conversation influenced how they approach their practice members.
Key Takeaways:
What has happened since the new practice opened one year ago. [1:40]
Moving into a new space and building it from scratch. [2:05]
The reason why the episode with Dr. Porges changed the way they treat patients. [3:58]
How learning about polyvagal theory influenced Dr. Don’s thoughts about physiology. [5:11]
What brought Dr. Porges to create the polyvagal theory. [6:42]
The brainstem function as a safety or danger detector. [9:08]
What state your body must be in for optimal physiology to happen? [9:28]
The benefits of creating sustained ease over a longer period of time. [10:47]
What it’s been like doing more seminars as the world opens up. [11:50]
Why all techniques are capable of being successful. [12:24]
An upcoming beta-run seminar at the new practice. [13:40]
What Dr. Don and Brandi have been doing over the past year. [14:48]
The Informed Chiropractor group coaching program supports the business and personal development of chiropractors. [15:15]
What to expect on the podcast as regular episodes begin again. [17:40]

 
For more info on the Vitality Shift, visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/
For more on the Informed Chiropractor program visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

We’re Back! An Update from Dr. Don

Mike Michalowicz, a threepeat guest and incredible author, is here today. Mike joins us to discuss his new book “Get Different,” marketing that can’t be ignored, and boosting your clinic’s profile post-COVID.
He takes us through the necessity of marketing in unique ways and why it is your responsibility as a service provider to market yourself. With the pandemic continuing to rage, many people are stuck in a fear state. As a chiropractor, you can help them – you just have to let them know you are there.
 
Key Takeaways:
A brief overview of Mike’s previous books and new release. [0:48]
How the Mastermind sessions help to bring about and refine Mike’s ideas. [1:35]
Where the initial idea for book topics come from. [2:25]
How Mike crowdsources ideas from the community. [2:45]
Understanding that we are at the whim of the customers. [3:20]
Why you have a responsibility to market. [4:40]
Getting different with your marketing. [6:10]
Differentiating your services from the white noise. [6:45]
Why you don’t need to be complicated to be impactful. [9:10]
Understanding your target community. [10:28]
Examples of standout marketing from Mike’s career. [10.50]
Creating online buzz for virtually no cost. [13:15]
Experiment, measure, amplify, and repeat. [15:00]
Why we are fear based and how to get around it. [15:15]
Presenting yourself as a service and offering kindness. [16:50]
The disadvantage advantage. [17:44]
Exercises for creative thinking. [19:04]
Why you should grow, but not grow up. [21:50]
About the new book, Get Different. [23:00]
Words of wisdom and inspiration. [24:20]

 
Get Different: https://www.gogetdifferent.com
For more information on the Vitality Shift program visit: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

Chiropractic Marketing That Can’t Be Ignored with Mike Michalowicz

Today, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Stephen Porges, Ph.D. He is a distinguished university scientist at the Kinsey Institute, Founding Director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and proponent of the polyvagal theory. Dr. Porges is with us to discuss the polyvagal theory in detail and how it relates to chiropractic.
Dr. Porges takes us through the beginnings of polyvagal theory and how it can influence bodily function. It’s important to create safety for patients in order to create that vagal response to bring them out of a defensive state.  Dr. Don and Dr. Porges discover some of the many similarities between the benefits of Chiropractic care and the Vagal break as described by the polyvagal theory. 
 
Key Takeaways:
How Dr. Porges describes the polyvagal theory. [5:03]
What drew Dr. Porges to commit his academic life to this theory. [6:35]
Descriptions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. [8:31]
The dorsal vagas and its role as the ‘old vagas’. [9:36]
How and why the body exits dorsal collapse. [12:02]
Why we don’t remember trauma. [14:00]
Navigating defensive states by using vagal activity. [14:53]
The Safe and Sound Protocol. [17:46]
The long road to creating a theory of neural modulation. [20:58]
Returning autonomy to patients through polyvagal manipulation. [22:00]
How our society keeps us locked in states of defense. [25:00]
Creating a state of ease through awareness. [27:10]
Activating the ventral vagal process through neural exercises. [28:00]
Explaining co-regulation and how it works. [30:16]
Proprioception through Chiropractic care and improving safety. [34:02]
Understanding the mind/body relationship and feedback loops. [36:20]
Why client interaction is key to creating safe spaces. [39:50]
Alleviating the burden of responsibility and creating bodily awareness in patients. [43:10]
How Dr. Porges conducts his research. [43:55]
Case studies of long hauler COVID sufferers and how vagal stimulation can help them. [47:28]
The importance of self-compassion and self-care for Chiropractors out there. [50:51]

 
The Polyvagal Institute: https://www.polyvagalinstitue.org
For more info on the Vitality Shift visit  https://www.thevitalityshift.com/ 

Polyvagal Theory and Chiropractic, How It Can Influence Bodily Function With Dr. Stephen Porges

On today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Jake Steiner, a retired stockbroker who has dedicated himself to improving his own and others eyesight through natural methods. Some topics Jake will discuss are how he became interested in natural eyesight improvement and what pseudo-myopia is.
Jake takes us through how he arrived at improving his eyesight through natural methods. Being told he needed to change his eyeglass prescription for the first time since he was a teenager due to genetics didn’t sit right with him. Jake took it upon himself to begin research into the reasons for his vision decline.
With our screen time forever on the increase and eye strain commonplace, more people than ever are experiencing some kind of myopia. During his research, Jake discovered that the answer to reversing myopia could be simple.
 
Key Takeaways:
How Jake came to be interested in natural eyesight improvement. [2:15]
Why Google Scholar is an amazing resource and how to utilize it. [4:29]
What is pseudo-myopia? [5:19]
What can you do to ease your ocular muscle strain? [07:09]
Addressing the causality of the muscle strain. [8:30]
About lens-induced myopia. [9:25]
How Jake honed his research and methods. [10:55]
How Jake’s method grew and spread. [13:00]
Steps to start the process of ocular muscle improvement. [14:30]
The timeline to improvement. [19:25]
How posture can impact your eyesight and vice versa. [21:00]
How Jake’s body has changed since his vision has improved. [25:07]
Words of wisdom. [28:40]

 
Find out more: https://www.endmyopia.com
To get more information on our products visit.
https://www.thevitalityshift.com/ 

How to Naturally Reverse Myopia with Jake Steiner

Dr. Don is joined once again by his wife Brandi MacDonald, with whom he co-owns South Side Chiropractic in Edmonton. Brandi is here to discuss 3 frameworks of care, what they are, and how they can be used by Chiropractors in the vitality model.
Brandi takes us through the 3 different frameworks of care, their differences, and their similarities. Trauma-informed care was born out of the Vietnam war to help people with PTSD, and the Polyvagal theory looks at how the nervous system interacts with the environment and salutogenesis.
Looking to the future, Brandi hopes that Chiropractic across the board will adapt a more trauma-conscious way of working with patients. If we looked at a patient as more than just an issue or condition, think of the healing we could accomplish.
 
Key Takeaways:
About the 3 different frameworks of care. [1:59]
Trauma informed care. [3:27]
The evolution of trauma informed care. [5:50]
Being a trauma informed practitioner. [10:00]
The polyvagal theory. [11:23]
What is the science of safety? [14:20]
Involuntary responses to trauma. [15:55]
Creating a state of ease for clients through chiropractic. [16:40]
How these theories work and benefit chiropractic practice. [18:50]
Making sense of your body and inhabiting yourself and your body. [20:00]
Why the future of healthcare hinges on an understanding of humans as a whole being instead of just tissue. [21:10]
Working to truly understand your clients. [23:30]
Staying curious to overcome the inflexibility of chiro. [25:30]
Salutogenesis: Health promotion and drawing on internal strengths. [27:40]
How the 3 frameworks work together in chiropractic medicine. [31:09]

The 3 Frameworks of Care with Brandi MacDonald

On today’s show Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Kelly Holt, a returning guest joining us from New Zealand. If you would like to know more about Dr. Kelly, you can listen back to the last time he joined the show in May 2018. Today, Dr. Kelly joins us to discuss how the pandemic has affected him out in New Zealand, what research he has been conducting over the last few years, and where his research is taking him next.
Dr. Kelly takes us through how New Zealand has dealt with the pandemic and how it has impacted both the New Zealand College of Chiropractic and chiropractors at large. Now, Dr. Kelly is looking to the future and planning how practice-based research can help practices in real time.
Key Takeaways:
An update on how New Zealand is dealing with the pandemic. [2:00]
How the school has dealt with adapting to the lockdowns. [4:35]
The silver lining of the pandemic for chiropractic practices. [7:00]
About the research Dr. Kelly has been conducting in the last few years. [8:18]
How the research he has been conducting has been helping people. [12:50]
What research has Dr. Kelly had published since his last visit? [14:45]
Why Dr. Kelly couldn’t do what he does without funding and how he attained it. [19:35]
Why Dr. Kelly is excited about creating practice-based research. [25:00]
The benefits of conducting practice-based research. [29:00]
What needs to be in place before commencing practice-based studies. [30:40]
How chiropractors in the field can help support the research centre. [36:30]
Final words of wisdom. [42:00]

 
Find out more about the New Zealand Centre for Chiropractic Research: http://research.chiropractic.ac.nz/
Find out more about The Vitality Shift: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

Conducting Practice-based Research with Dr. Kelly Holt

On today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. John Osborne, co-owner of Osborne Chiropractic with his wife Marie in Tipperary, Ireland. He joins us to discuss the breakthroughs he has been making in his vitality shift and the 3 main internal obstacles he has been able to overcome.
When he began his vitality shift 4 years ago, John was very much a pain-focused Chiropractor. Since he began the program, John has continued his journey for self, and practice, improvement. There’s always more to learn and more ways to improve.
Dr. John takes us through his initial vitality shift and how he has progressed in the 4 years since he started his journey. Since then, he has still felt stuck; like his practice wasn’t growing as it should. John decided to work one on one with Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald in their 90-day accelerator intensive.  John discusses the work he did, most importantly realizing he was his practice’s biggest problem. He Learned to tune into his own feelings and how his body was responding.  The results of doing this work have been record-breaking milestone after milestone, he said he felt like he finally took the hand break off his potential. 
Once you know yourself, you can truly know your practice.
 
Key Takeaways:
Looking for help without knowing what you need. [2:38]
How John has progressed from his initial vitality shift. [3:43]
The process of realizing you need help. [6:20]
Understanding and having realistic expectations for patient progression. [7:15]
Learning to pick up on the subtleties of individual cases. [10:45]
Becoming more aware of your own feelings and your own body’s responses. [12:36]
Overcoming the self-sabotage mindset. [14:00]
Understanding how your mental state affects how you show up in practice. [17:01]
Learning to be comfortable with your physiological responses. [19:05]
Attaching meaning to your goals. [26:52]
Creating separate identities with a singular purpose in a joint practice. [33:00]
Advice for identifying your own internal obstacles. [36:13]

 
Find out more about The Vitality Shift: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

Overcoming Your Internal Obstacles with Dr. John Osbourne

On today’s show, we are welcoming Dr. Don Clum. He is a chiropractor, nutritionist, and speaker. He is here to discuss nutrition, how the body processes hormones, and insulin friendly diet and lifestyle.
For Dr. Clum, being healthy has become proactive by necessity. After spending several years abroad, he and his family returned to America to find an obesity epidemic. That was the starting point of his mission to bring nutrition to the forefront. He goes on to take us through his experiences working abroad and what led him and his family to return to America. Dr. Clum goes on to take us through how insulin and adrenals affect our bodies differently and how they interact. It’s about creating lifestyle changes.
We then hear about common fasting misconceptions and what fasting truly is. It’s important to remember that the body adapts - it’s about changing insulin responses and getting rid of toxic behaviors and habits. Dr. Clum reminds us that there is no one size fits all approach.
Key Takeaways:
Coming from a family of doctors. [2:38]
Clum’s time and experience working in Costa Rica and Spain. [6:03]
How Dr. Clum began operating a virtual practice. [8:35]
Creating programs for a population health company. [10:00]
Adapting language to work in a conservative space. [10:50]
Nutrition for chiropractors. [12:00]
How insulin and adrenals affect our bodies. [13:20]
Creating lifestyle programs for individual patients. [16:10]
What is fasting and how does it work? [18:00]
Tackling metabolic issues. [27:30]
Insulin-friendly diet and lifestyle. [34:00]
What to consider when starting a program. [38:29]
Do amino acids work as a post-workout strategy? [46:20]

 
Find Dr. Don Clum on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.clum.10
Find out more about The Vitality Shift: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

How Insulin Affects our Bodies with Dr. Don Clum

On today’s show, Dr. Don is once again joined by his wife Brandi MacDonald, who is also co-owner of South Side Chiropractic in Edmonton. Today, Dr. Don and Brandi discuss adapting to your environment, what’s changed in their office since lockdown, and the 3 keys to bouncing back after COVID.
It’s been a year since lockdown began, and now with restrictions lifting, Dr. Don and Brandi agree that it’s a great time to look at what’s next. How are you going to position yourself and your practice to bounce back? It takes adaptability, self-awareness, self-regulation, and keeping distractions at bay to be able to adapt and continue to grow.
Brandi begins by discussing state management and how you can utilize it to adapt to the new way of doing things after lockdown. She goes on to discuss why we get distracted and how to maintain focus, also talking about deliberate practice and how it improves your skills. To end the episode, Dr. Don and Brandi discuss how the people they have been working with over the last year have been implementing the 3 keys and constantly striving for improvement.
Key Takeaways:
Reflecting on a year since lockdown. [1:45]
How Brandi has been managing the change of flow in the office. [3:45]
State management: What is it and how can you utilize it? [9:50]
Using adversity as your rocket fuel. [20:10]
The mechanics of focus. [21:49]
The art of employing deliberate practice. [30:09]
Words of wisdom and inspiration. [42:22]

 
Find out more about The Vitality Shift: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

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