LP3: Today is Chiropractic

By James W. Tickel
Life Student

There is no better time to be in Chiropractic than today. Yeah, "I heard that when I was in school." Well here it is again cause you know what? Today is all we have! What makes you think you have tomorrow? Really, what makes you think you have tomorrow? You only have what you got. And right now that is today! BEST TIME, BEST DAY! So teach the Principle to everyone you meet, adjust every spine you see, and celebrate the moment, cause all we got is TODAY! I thank all of you who have decided to join your brothers and sisters at LP Cubed. I hope you get a fill of that awe-inspiring Spirit of Chiropractic. To the perspective students, this LP Cubed weekend is what it is all about! Uninhibited with no restriction, just a free flow of energy from Above-Down Inside-Out. The Spirit in me blesses YOU.

Campus Clean Up

By JWT (The dude that wrote the first article)

This past weekend a group of Life faculty, students, and families organized a campus clean up. Last quarter the group cleaned, picked weeds, and raked up most of the areas around Annex C. Last Saturday they took on the Arbor in front of Annex B, go check it out, it looks awesome! They also picked up trash around the parking lot. I know that no one on campus litters, Not at Life University... but it would be awesome if everyone could try to do their part in watching out for the trash that falls out of their cars and book bags. Look out for the next campus clean up or contact Dr. Kirk.

Removing Subluxation vs. Preventing Subluxation

By Pete Haggenjos,
Life Student

By knowing your purpose, you are able to develop a philosophy and goals that will allow you to serve your purpose. As a chiropractic profession, our goal and specialty is removing subluxations. Most chiropractors believe the profession is 'preventative,' meaning that removing subluxations prevents dis-ease and restores function to the body.

Our idea of what a subluxation represents is an essential component of how we view our purpose and our role as chiropractors. What causes subluxation? Thoughts, traumas, and toxins are cited as the primary suspects. In turn, what do subluxations cause? Subluxations prevent the optimal flow of the nervous system, manifesting in various dysfunction, dis-ease, and a loss of potential.
I ask you to take a step back in the consideration of subluxation now. While there is some agreement on the causes of subluxation and the effects, have you considered WHY we have subluxations? Do you acknowledge a universal intelligence or do you believe that things happen by chance or luck? If you are willing to consider that the universe is organized, that all processes and events happen for a reason, then WHY do we have subluxations? Are they inevitable?

I believe that subluxations are not inevitable. I believe that subluxations are often a first step in the universal processes that supply pain, disease, and illness to teach us lessons. That’s right—I do not think illness and disease can be predicted by statistics, chance, and probabilities.

Dr. John DeMartini states that "most diseases have an underlying emotional basis; I have yet to find one that doesn't…Disease and illness are signs and symptoms the body uses to reveal to us where we're not loving. This divinely created system makes sure we get the message, and wakes us up to the truth that nothing in ourselves or the world is unworthy of love."
The organizing intelligence of the universe provides subluxations, 'accidents,' and illnesses to teach us lessons that we need to learn and grow as individuals. These seemingly troubling or even tragic events are actually individually-tailored forms of love in the universe. These events help us to grow and evolve. This is a view of personal responsibility and independence that few are willing to embrace at this time. Will this change?

As I stated before, I do not believe subluxations are inevitable. While it is great that we can remove subluxations, would it not be better to prevent them from occurring? Only this would truly be 'preventative' health care. Many dismiss this possibility of living without subluxations as impossible or highly unlikely. But why? If the universe is organized, then subluxations do not happen randomly. They happen for reasons.

I believe that humans generally being out of touch with their intuition, their spirit, the flow of life, is responsible for subluxation. As individuals learn to listen to their inner voice, and live truly from the heart, I believe subluxations will decrease. It is by living from the heart, by being our true selves, that we are fulfilling our roles. Subluxations are reminders, or lessons, that we have strayed off our path in some way and that we need to listen up! I picture humans evolving into a species that lives directly from the heart. In fact, I think many would agree that our current way of life cannot be sustained for many more years.

Critics may suggest that humans will never reach a level of consciousness to totally eliminate all subluxations. This could be true, though I am not willing to limit our potential in this way. I will say that I believe that individuals remove many, many of their own subluxations daily. Could the potential for each person to be able to remove his or her subluxations after they have occurred also increase? After all, do we truly believe the body heals itself? Or does the body only heal itself with a chiropractor's assistance?

My point in this article is not to discount or diminish the role of chiropractic adjustments. I know that chiropractic is a beautiful, loving profession which teaches people how the body heals itself. Chiropractors remove millions of subluxations every day, helping people live healthier, more vibrant lives. At this point, most people do not believe they can remove their own subluxations or understand how they heal themselves.

I am questioning what the next step on this path may be? Can you eventually see yourself teaching people to not be dependent on chiropractors? I do not believe we are designed to be dependent in this way. The limitless potential within each of us is more than we know.

For me personally, I know that my purpose is to help others see the potential and the light within us all. My purpose is not confined to removing subluxations, though this is one part of my service. Focusing only on adjusting and removing subluxations may be the primary purpose of others, and I totally respect this and recognize the massive need for this service.

I no longer have aspirations for incredibly high patient visit averages. I do not want my wellness practice members coming in once a week to be checked for nerve interference. I want to see people as infrequently as possible, only when subluxated. Why? Because if I can teach people to prevent subluxation, to learn about themselves, and to learn to love -- I will be fulfilling my purpose.

How do I suggest it is possible to teach others to live in a way that produces less subluxation? It will not come about as the result of better diagnosis, better research, a new technique, or a revolutionary nutrition supplement. These are all fine, but true change only comes from within. Reconnecting individuals with their true selves will accomplish this goal. Speaking, writing, healing, and being your true self will bring about this change.

It matters very little to me if I am labeled a straight, a mixer, a principled, or an unprincipled chiropractor based on my views. Some would say I am not even a chiropractor, but I am aspiring to be a psychologist or therapist. Labels do little to serve. It means little to me how others classify my practice and my purpose. What matters to me is that I listen to my heart, listen to my purpose, and then work to serve and fulfill this purpose. In addition to considering what techniques you may utilize, or what your office will look like, I ask that you give consideration to your purpose. What is your purpose? How will you serve?

Coming Full Circle: A Network Tale

By Wade Port
Life Student

Network Spinal Analysis is again a buzzword on and off campus. You can hear it mentioned in places from Dr. McCoy's Research class to President Riekeman's talk at LifeSource. The intrigue is coming from clinic doctors, clubs, classroom dialogue, hallway conversation, and the Network class itself. Yes, I said the Network class itself. If you are still in bewilderment like I was, let me take you back to when I started school. The year had just turned two thousand. I showed up with as much vigor and as many dreams to change the world as you. Many years earlier I experienced ChiropracTIC through a Network entrainment and was connected to my purpose. So here I was, fresh to Life University, my destiny waiting to be fulfilled. Naturally, my first question was "where is the Network club?"

It seemed as though I had horns growing out of my head and I had a sacrificed goat slung over my shoulder. The reaction of the students was confusing and shocking. After all, Network was what I knew and loved so this was just too weird. When I asked these people why they felt this way and what they knew about Network I got the whole 'mumble-mumble-change the subject' routine time and time again. It was clear these people hadn’t a clue what the work was truly about nor had they experienced it for themselves. Well the times they do change and the cycles and evolutions of Network and the students who have participated move on. Personally, I went about my mission of getting through school and learning the craft of Chiropractic. Finally, I one day heard of the resurgence of the Network club. It was to be held in the basement of an old church near by. This was my chance and the time to make my dreams come true. I was going to learn Network Spinal Analysis (NSA), the work that changed my life. Before long we tired of the church basement and ended up having the ‘underground’ meetings at my mom's art gallery on the square. Every Wednesday twenty to thirty people would show up to learn. Soon enough the requests for having the club officially on campus were heard and so the transition began. Wow! A NSA club on campus that’s big. This was all happening simultaneously with the CCE blessing so I guess the school things to worry about than a club. Well it wasn’t long before Dr. Roche got the memo from Dr. Downes giving the green light for the first NSA class ever in a Chiropractic university to begin. This was a far cry from my first day on had better campus. To be in that first class was a true joy. Dr. Jim Oppenheim, who had just received the highest level of certification in '03, was taking the task of presenting what Dr. Donald Epstein (the founder of NSA) had trusted him with. So what is NSA? Where I used to stop with the Chiropractic I had learned after a 'good release and neural clear out,' NSA really begins. Once that release has helped create an internal environment of safety, the care helps the person to develop new strategies with which to live, grow, and evolve. These emerging properties of self-organization and abilities to self regulate spinal and life tensions are tools the person will always have. Imagine not having to get up every day to go correct the big bad Subluxation but to eventually teach people to use his or her own tension as fuel for transformation. All the while the practice member is self-assessing his or her state of well being and wellness. With this new body-mind and life awareness comes choices, which better honor and serve their being. Eventually their consciousness is generating their physiology, which is tuned in to the tone of Love. So for having the capacity and strategies to experience your essence and to be able to harness and sustain your light, NSA is a method for which to realize this. The accountability and responsibility that comes with this are high, yet the rewards are indescribable. The world truly needs more people living heart-centered lives. Will you be one of them? To learn more about NSA go to innateintelligence.com, register for the class at school, or come to the NSA club.

Chiropractic On the Rocks

By Geoff Tickel
Philoso-PHY Member

Why do so many chiropractors see themselves as the barren bedrock on the floor of a dried up creek? The answer is simple. They choose not to accept their purpose. They run and hide from it, fearful of the door they could or would unlock. Might not the way that they possess be to the wellness of a nation, the history of a world? The chiropractic adjustment is unlike any other encounter in the world. It is universal. No race, social status, or even language binds it. It is unhindered by them all! Chiropractic has a heartbeat completely and solely of its own. It is contingent upon nothing else. If there were no practicing chiropractor, would not the principle still exist? The answer is that it would. Then and only then would it be in its purest form; unhindered by any expectations or delusions so associated with a word.

A Day in the Park

It was a hot and humid July day and I shrugged back into the park bench
trying to lean into the shade of an adjacent tree in Atlanta's Piedmont
Park. I was living in the moment. I observed the waves of the nearby lake,
the leaves that fluttered in the wind, and I watched the people who walked
by. Living this life that I now do, I contemplated whether or not any of
these people were living at their optimal level or suffering from any
interference.

One young man who was passing, stopped in front of me and picked up a
stone. With an evil mindset he tensed his muscles and threw it as hard as he
could into the water, nearly missing a family of ducks. Ten minutes later,
a seemingly love-filled family of four walked by. The parents held hands
and smiled as their two young kids ran as fast as they could to catch up to
their parents. Their son won the race and celebrated, but the daughter, who
had envy in her eyes, decided to settle everything with a quick elbow into
her brother's side. This knocked the little boy down to the ground and he
began to cry. Twenty minutes later, a young woman dropped a ten-dollar bill
on the ground. An elderly lady, who was walking behind the young woman
noticed the money and picked it up. Instead of alerting the younger woman
of what happened, the elderly lady smiled, placed the money in her pocket,
and kept walking.

One would say that these were meaningless encounters of chance on a random
day. Some would say that even if a few people did these acts of hatred,
envy, and greed, there is an overwhelmingly majority of other people who
would counteract this in society by performing acts of love, respect, and
honesty. Lastly, there are those who would say it was destined for these
circumstances to occur, so that I would be able to witness them and deliver
to you this message.

Although each idea is a valid and logical assumption that varies from
individual to individual, and each ideology is based on the individual’s
unique environment, experiences, and perspectives. I believe from the
mindset and life that I now live - a chiropractic one - it was more than
that. I believe these people who suffer from such terrible characteristic
flaws are not the end result of chance or that these individuals were the
"rotten apples" of society. I believe that these individuals were simply
disconnected.

Did I forget to mention that the hateful teenager who threw the stone had a
3 inch anterior head translation and high left shoulder? I may have left
out how the daughter who elbowed her brother had a high right shoulder and a
noticeably left external foot flare. I think I also skipped over the fact
that the elderly woman had a two inch anterior head translation, thoracic
hyperkyphosis, and a left-sided head tilt. Were these observations
coincidence or were they linked to the situations that took place?

We know the physical and postural changes associated with subluxations. We
know the nervous system's role with certain hormones of the body that
influences emotion and behavior. We know the effects of subluxations and
how they effect people physically, chemically, and spiritually. As D.D.
Palmer, the founder of Chiropractic, so eloquently said “the sole purpose of
Chiropractic is to reunite man the physical with man the spiritual”. Were
these people disconnected physically from their spiritual side?
Unfortunately, I could not check their spines to determine the link, but I
know in my heart, what I would find - would you?

So the next time you sit mindlessly adrift among the sea of people, think
about what you know about Chiropractic and apply it. It will astonish you
as you realize you have the ability to determine the degree of optimal
health or disconnection that exists in society. It will also confirm all
principled Chiropractic philosophical ideas we are taught. It will also
make you feel good about serving the people - making their lives a healthier
and happier one.

Philosophy 101

By Don Longhurst
Life Student

Can the Chiropractic profession learn from the great philosophers of the ages to do more than quote paraphrase and pull from context that which is felt to validate the purpose of the profession and the path by which it is achieved? In attempting to answer this question, the basics need to be observed. Philosophy, as defined in Webster's New World College Dictionary 4th edition:

Phi/loso/phy; 1 [Archaic] love of, or the search for, wisdom or knowledge.

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

Plato, Aristotle, Hippocrates; each a student of the former and teacher of the later in some form or fashion. Did they fully agree with each other's interpretations, understandings, or visions of the past, present, or future? Is it wise to ask the question? Debating the point could well be found moot. Philosophy and lasting purpose... to understand self and the individual with respect to the communal and societal roles in the greater scheme of all things... a learned study of what simply was and speculation on what is to come based solely on what is known now as a result of what was. What's the point? Learning about the present by looking to the past to achieve the goals of the future by influencing the actions of the present. This process is a never-ending cycle. That which is forgotten must and will be repeated regardless of: good vs bad; right vs wrong; freedom vs control; order vs chaos; acceptance vs condemnation. Acceptance of what has come before is paramount to knowing what simply was and what it became. All that can be done from this point on is taking action in what it is to come while keeping the goal in sight. The point of philosophy is to define the goal, not the path that preceded the goal, however, philosophy does analyze the path by which the goal was achieved and then applies current communal morals, differential ethics and logic, and then acted upon to affect the future with persistence and jurisprudence. There is no short cut to unilateral vision and it cannot be commanded. An unquestioned philosophy stagnates and eventually breeds anarchy to avoid blind faith in that which we do not fully understand to maintain our belief that though Innate is a powerful force; we are of free will. We cannot effect or affect Innate in and of itself, but we are trained to unleash the awesome power it wields. Fear exists that the philosophies of separatist factions, without and within, will be forced upon the individual beliefs within that share the same fundamental paradigm of chiropractic: to promote health. To incite riot is to quash, if not ultimately destroy, that which is disagreed upon. The goal and the path are compromised and infected from without by breeding animosity and hatred within by establishing an autoimmune-like system of destruction. Death of the thing is inevitable if this cycle is not recognized and broken. To incite debate and dialog opens our minds to new possibilities and growth regardless of the faithful paths we each follow. The goal of chiropractic, as might be said, is "To promote health by alleviating dis-ease through chiropractic rather than comforting sickness."
This article is the first of a series of introspective editorials and solely the opinion of the author with the goal of promoting a cohesive chiropractic community. Promoting health based on addressing the primary subluxation of the body and mind Above Down Inside Out.

Step Up to the Cause or Get Out of the Game

By James Tickel

Chiropractic is the most revolutionary, right-on form of health care ever! It puts the "health" into health care. Contrary to the radical - and more popular - forms of "care" (modern medicine), chiropractic is the only profession involved with serving each individual's specific needs. Chiropractors do not have computerized formulae or systematic routines that they perform on patients. Chiropractic is the most specific and personal health care possible. The connection between my Innate and your Innate is straight-up personal... intimate. All a Chiropractor does is give a specific adjustment suited to an individual's body, realizing that it is a perfect organism already and then he leaves it up to Innate. Innate turns those destructive forces into a life-changing miracle! Healing! Chiropractic is the only profession that gives credit where credit is due: to Innate. It is as simple as that.

When entering school, you found it in yourself to turn the lights on. This light unveiled the darkness of your world and brought you to the realization that the majority of people are living unhealthy (sick) lives. You then decided that it was time to make a change. This change must first occur in yourself then in those around you. It is time to go against the grain. Your first steps – be they baby steps, slow steps or a stumble (whatever manner you are moving in) – remember that it is in a counter-culture direction. Before the age of 18 years old, a person will have seen 20,000 hours of medical-related media. Hello! Pills, radiation and surgery! This is what our society knows to be true. If it hurts, just numb it, nuke it or "fah-get abaa' it" and cut it off. Actually, it doesn't even have to hurt; most people are completely unaware of their bodies and just do what the next person does. We have all seen the commercial that encourages, "call your doctor and ask them about the ‘Purple Pill.'" They don't even say what the pill is, but you know people are taking those pills.

As a chiropractic student, you have entered a world of peculiar people. Before entering school, I had heard conversations and class discussions where chiropractic was thought of as being in some sort of religious arena with voodoo and mystical beliefs. You hear it everyday: "I just don't believe in chiropractic" as if it is a belief and not scientific fact. I have also seen chiropractic used as a synonym for manipulative therapies. However, chiropractic is neither a manipulation nor a therapy. So, we enter school in search of being a Doctor of Chiropractic. What does that mean? If means you are a part of the revolution! This means that you need to be excited, strong and ready to kick some ass... one coccyx at a time. From now on, the general public is going to stereotype you with voodoo religions, naked muscle massages and, worst of all, as a medical alternative. You say, "but chiropractic is a medical alternative." Let me enlighten you. An alternative can be viewed as one of many ways to reach the same destination. Chiropractic has never and will never have the same goals as modern medicine. Chiropractors are involved with true healing, optimum quality of life and just living right on while it lasts (the body has the ability to live 100-plus symptom-free years); the average person, however, only lives to be about 77. If you realize this and do nothing to rectify it, please – for the well being of chiropractic – go to another profession. Have a vision bigger than yourself. You know the answer to health: if you are subluxation free, you are healthy. As a chiropractor, you need to be ready to preach this word of true chiropractic. And I am not talking that "straight and mixer" crap either because there is no such thing as a mixer. There are chiropractors and there are people who are not chiropractors. There is nothing in the middle. When I say, "preach the word of true chiropractic," I mean tell people about the big idea. The idea that innate knows all and that the chiropractic adjustment is the force that magnifies the matter through which innate intelligence expresses itself. I dare you! Because this profession needs new chiropractors to kick away the medical crutches it is leaning on and lift this profession up. It is time to save the world!

With A Grateful Heart

By Marcelo Gerjoi

We all have a story and most of us if not all of us have someone to thank for helping us get here such as a husband, wife, mother, brother, or sister, or even a friend. That special someone, whoever it may be gave us the courage to follow this dream. Moreover, they taught us to believe in ourselves enough to embark on this trying journey. I would like to dedicate this article to my brother Roberto. I would like to not only thank him for getting me here, but coming here with me! Roberto and I are first quarter chiropractic students and plan to practice together when we graduate. A Chiropractic career was a dream I had a long time ago, but gave up on due to both financial and time commitments. However, my brother convinced me that "I have nothing better to do." Roberto was right. If it was not for him, I would be very unhappy right now. However, now that I'm doing this, I feel for the first time that my life has a purpose and it is a wonderful feeling. He taught me that there was no price tag I could put on my dreams. The benefits of helping people and working side by side with him in our own family business could all be mine if I was willing to work for it. So here I am... excuse me... here WE are... Thanks Roberto.one who reads this to reach out and thank someone. Thank someone who helped get you here and remember to encourage and inspire someone else too. They need it. Thank you.

Students Needed for Range of Motion Study

Several studies are being conducted on campus with a motion-tracking device that is able to accurately measure 3-dimensional range of motion. Normal subjects are needed to create a data pool. This means everyone can participate. Contact 770-256-7704 to set up your 5-minute session now.

Innate Knows What to Fix

By Brandan Lee
Life Student

Chiropractic is more than backaches and sore necks we all know that. Principle # 6 says that all processes take time. We understand that. Have you considered that we have no idea what will happen when we make that life saving adjustment? Only God knows what needs to happen in that particular persons body. And He endowed our bodies with an Innate Intelligence to do that in our bodies. The patient may come in for a particular symptom such as gall bladder problems or a sore low back and receive relief and healing after a long three months. Though you may wonder why it took so long to heal compared to a similar case that healed up in only 2 weeks. But the body knows what should take precedence in the healing process. We don't know if a tumor was beginning to grow or a heart vessel needed mending before the low back or gall bladder problems could be taken care of.

Thank God the adjustment was made that released the inhibition of life the subluxation was causing. Thank God the body took care of the weak heart or the cancerous mass before mending the sore back or the gall bladder the patient came into the office complaining about, but we just sit and wonder why their back pain or shoulder pain didn't clear up sooner.

STEPPING UP

By Isabelle Roy

Ok. So we're all one step further than we were last quarter right? You might be one more quarter ahead, getting closer to graduation, but are you really evolving during this journey called LIFE?

In a sort of réplique to my last article, I would like to suggest the following: What difference are you making in your world? In your immediate circle of friends, family, neighbors, what are you teaching them? How are you changing? What kind of impact do you think you have, cause you've got one whether you like it or not, on every person you speak with? Since you do influence everyone on your path, shouldn't it be a positive one? Now this may insult some and confuse others, but do you know the 33 principles? Without reciting them to every stranger on the street, can you relay the Big Idea simply and easily to the next person you meet who asks you what you do for a living? Really. Think about it, and try to figure out a simple, short and effective way of telling people what you're here for.

One thing many of us know is that we are here to serve. Service. Are you serving? Are you keeping to yourself? Are you proud to be a Chiroprac-TOR or do you avoid any conversation about it because some people just don't get it? You know, they'll never understand Chiropractic or Life for that matter until someone steps up, like yourself, and explains to them that the power that made the body heals the body. Simple. Ok, now go out and try it! This, believe it or not, is going to be stepping out of the comfort zone for some. For the others, you know what you can be doing. Step up and lead and the others will follow. Just remember this: Success depends on succession.