I love the work that I do. But it’s physical and can be quite strenuous. Even though I joke that my chiropractic diploma conveys immunity to both infectious diseases and physical ailments, life happens sometimes. In my case, this time it was my low back. I see it all the time clinically. That said, t’was a few days before Christmas, I bent down to get something, and boom, something didn’t feel right in my low back! I swear, one of these days I’m going to write a blues song: “my back went out and left me home alone” (think BB King, “The Thrill is Gone…”).
I stumbled through Monday and had to miss work Tuesday. We were hosting our Innate Chiropractic family & staff dinner that night, and I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to make it! The dinner was a celebration of the healer community that we have at Innate, and I really wanted to honor everyone who has worked so hard to make our center what it is. so it occurred to me, what if I use the practitioners to help me get better? What better way to appreciate their great work than to totally and completely depend on them for me to be able to literally get back on my feet? In three days, I saw five practitioners, and that was what it took for me to be able to get back to work and on the road to recovery!
So please allow me to play the critic, if you will, who had the opportunity to taste the menus of several excellent chefs at Innate Chiropractic.
Linda Berry, DC is a gentle, nurturing chiropractor who works out of Innate Chiropractic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She uses a very low force type of adjusting, and is versed in AK (Applied Kinesiology), muscle testing and nutrition. She also uses quite a bit of new technology, including the Beemer mat – which promotes microcirculation, and the K-Laser – a Class 4 medical grade treatment laser which is excellent for inflammation, among other things.
Marie Bowser, LAc is our resident acupuncturist & herbalist. She works out of Innate Chiropractic Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She is very Caring & systematic in her care. I like to emphasize (though she often doesn’t) that she was originally my patient some 15 years ago, and an unhappy engineer at that! She has followed her heart, and really blossomed into a new career over the past five years. I love the way she works, and highly recommend her. She loves to work with stress and female hormonal issues, and offers several Detoxification programs throughout the year.
Kate Woodford, CMT is an amazing sports massage therapist, and she comes with a very good sense of humor. Kate is an avid cyclist, and competes at the national level in Paralympics events. Her eyesight is very limited, so she mostly rides the backseat of a Tandem Cycle. If you have any musculoskeletal issues, Kate will put you right! She is available at Innate Chiropractic on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment.
Rena Keslar, CMT is also an amazing body worker, but also so much more. She comes to the table (literally!) as an intuitive healer, coach and guide. Her work can be both very physically and emotionally deep, yet honoring and loving. I experience a session with Rena like Rolfing of my Body and Soul (one of my favorite jazz tunes of all time by the way!). Rena told me that she sees back issues as uncontrolled emotions in the fight or flight stress response. According to her, there are Fighters (upper back issues) and there are Runners (low back issues). That’s good food for thought! She also reminded me to “breath, believe and receive,” another good instruction!
But wait, there’s more! We also have two great movement practitioners, whom I didn’t get to work with during this crisis, but who I know I want to work with now that my body is functioning once again:
Rochelle Kiddoo is our amazing Pilates instructor and Susan Weiner is our well seasoned and grounded Yoga instructor. They both offer individual programs in our front studio, and Susan teaches Curvy Yoga, which has been a huge success at Innate Chiropractic!
In addition to the above practitioners at Innate, over the past three weeks I’ve also been helped tremendously by some other hand picked local practitioners whom I want to highlight as well:
Rob Ameratti, DC, like Dr Linda, has been in Albany for many more years than I. He is an excellent chiropractor, who uses Ultrasound, adjustments, tissue workand stretching. He is kind, compassionate and very often available for emergencies, and over the years, he’s often been the first practitioner I’ve seen in an acute situation. And so was the case with this last episode as well!
Johanna Lelke DC, ART is younger and more athletic than I, but she one of my go-to practitioners when I need ART (Active Release Technique). She is an Ironman athlete and yoga teacher, and has a deep understanding of how the body functions. She has been really helpful to both my back and shoulder issues.
Ann-Michelle Ongerth DPT, ART (Albany Physical Therapy) is also my choice for ART, and also as a referral partner, when I want a patient to get a second opinion or more guidance for rehab. She also helped me during my low back episode as well as with my shoulder rehab.
Elizabeth Lowell, CMT is one of Albany’s best kept secrets. She offers extremely gentle and relaxing Swedish-type massage, and is available for home visits. I try to see her monthly to keep things in check!
Claudia Weitkemper, LAc, ND, RN is an amazing, intuitive healer. when I feel a cold coming on, she’s my go-to acupuncturist. She can usually help me knock it out in a few days!
And then there’s the gym. I’ve been going to All In One Fitness in Albany for years. The owners Kara and Jasmin are very knowledgeable trainers who keep their staff well trained. That said, my personal trainer is Kirk Michals. He’s young but serious, grounded and dedicated!
To keep my almost-50 year old body working, I need my team to help keep me going, much as a “classic” car needs regular maintenance to stay on the road. I’ve assembled my pit team! Shouldn’t everybody?!
One finds true friends when in need. I found mine, and confirmed that there are compassionate and effective healers in our midst! We help each other and learn from each other too.
I feel grateful for being part of this community, and through my crisis, reaffirmed that I have an amazing crew at Innate!