Heal Thyself Institute

Heal Thyself Institute 🧠 Brain-First Chiropractic & Neurologic Rehab
⭐️ Primitive Reflex Integration
🌿 Functional Medicine & Nutrition
💥 Laser + Advanced Neuro Therapies

06/16/2026

This looks like ALOT.

To the brain, it’s information!

Movement.
Balance.
Touch.
Vibration.
Sensory input.
Attention.

The brain’s job is to take all of that information, organize it, and decide how to respond.

For some children, that process isn’t as efficient as it could be, which is why we don’t just focus on a single symptom.

We focus on systems or functions of the body. Every activity has a purpose. Every input is selected intentionally. And every child receives a program designed around their individual needs. When the nervous system becomes better at processing and organizing information, the body is better able to do what it was designed to do.

Kids notice the things that make an impact on them. Sometimes it’s a game. Sometimes it’s a movement activity. Sometimes...
06/14/2026

Kids notice the things that make an impact on them. Sometimes it’s a game. Sometimes it’s a movement activity. Sometimes it’s a tool that helps them feel calmer, more organized, and more connected to their body.

This drawing is of a Rezzimax, a vibration tool we use regularly in our office as part of nervous system focused care.

We use vibration as one of many tools to provide sensory input to the nervous system. For some, it can be calming. For others, it can help increase body awareness and attention to sensory information.

Rezzimax is hands down our most recommended tool to use at home and the tool we use the most in our office. And we love when our patients love it as much as us.

06/13/2026

A few weeks ago, I completed a visual and brain performance assessment on a day when my blood sugar felt stable and I had eaten consistently.

A couple of days later, I repeated the same assessment about an hour after I normally would have eaten lunch. (I was STARVING)

The difference was SHOCKING!

Nothing else had changed significantly… Same person, Same Test, DIFFERENT fuel

We often think of blood sugar only in terms of hunger, cravings, or energy levels, but the brain (and eyes) is one of the most energy demanding organs in the body. It relies heavily on a STEADY supply of fuel to support attention, processing speed, visual function, coordination, decision making, and countless other tasks throughout the day.

When blood sugar becomes unstable, the effects can show up as:
• Brain fog
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slower processing
• Mood changes
• Fatigue
• Increased overwhelm

This doesn’t mean every change in brain function is caused by blood sugar, but it does highlight an important reality:

THE BRAIN NEEDS FUEL TO PREFORM AT ITS BEST

Sometimes what feels like a focus problem, learning problem, or brain fog problem may actually start with physiology.

Have you ever noticed a difference in how you think, focus, or feel when you’ve gone too long without eating?

06/12/2026

Before children can sit comfortably at a desk, write efficiently, coordinate their movements, balance confidently, or participate in sports and play, they need a strong foundation.

One important part of that foundation is core strength.

The muscles of the trunk, back, shoulders, and hips help create the stability the brain and body rely on for movement and learning. When those foundational systems are weak, children may compensate in other ways, making everyday tasks more difficult than they need to be.

Exercises like Supermans challenge postural muscles, support body awareness, and help children develop the strength and endurance needed for more complex skills.

What looks like a simple exercise is often helping build the foundation for bigger goals.

How strong is your child’s core?

06/11/2026

Before a child is willing to be challenged, try something new, work through frustration, or step outside their comfort zone, they need to feel safe.

They need connection. They need to know the person working with them genuinely cares about them, that they’re not just a diagnosis, symptoms, or goals.

The truth is that some of the most important moments in therapy don’t happen during an exercise, an adjustment, or a treatment.

They happen during the laughter, the high fives, the silly games.

Those moments build trust and trust creates the foundation for growth.

At Heal Thyself Institute, we care deeply about the therapies we provide, but we care just as much about the relationships we build along the way.

06/10/2026

Why are we using this game? Because the eyes provide direct input to the brain.

Every time we move our eyes, the brain is processing information about where we are in space, what we’re looking at, where to focus attention, and how to coordinate movement with what we see.

AND different eye movements go through different parts of the brain. THAT’S why activities like this are about much more than drawing.

This game challenges eye movements, visual processing, attention, coordination, and the communication between different areas of the brain, all while keeping the experience engaging and fun.

When we challenge the visual system, we’re creating opportunities for the brain to adapt, learn, and develop new connections.

What should Dr Waldo draw next?

06/09/2026

The bottoms of the feet contain thousands of sensory receptors that constantly send information to the brain about pressure, position, movement, and the environment around us.

This sensory input plays an important role in balance, coordination, body awareness, motor development, and how efficiently the nervous system processes information.

We often spend time stimulating the feet during therapy sessions. What may look simple on the surface is actually providing valuable sensory information to the brain.

We encourage BAREFOOT play when appropriate and the use of flexible, foot friendly shoes. Grass, sand, carpet, gravel, and other natural surfaces provide rich sensory experiences that help the brain learn about the world through movement.

Sometimes the most important work for the brain starts from the ground up

06/08/2026

One of the important jobs of the nervous system is helping the body automatically respond when balance is challenged. If you trip, get bumped, step on an uneven surface, or suddenly lose your footing, your brain should quickly recognize the change and send the right signals to help you catch yourself.

These automatic protective responses are called righting reactions.

For some children, these responses may be delayed, inefficient, or poorly integrated. They may appear clumsy, struggle with balance, avoid movement, trip frequently, have difficulty with sports, or seem less confident navigating their environment.

By challenging balance in a safe and controlled way, we’re giving the brain opportunities to practice recognizing changes in position and responding appropriately.

Want to learn more about the connection between movement and brain development? Follow along.

06/08/2026

One of our core values is staying curious and committed to lifelong learning. The more we learn, the better equipped we are to serve the children and adults who trust us with their care.

We had the best weekend learning with , .a.f.n.r and !!

06/06/2026

The cerebellum is one of the most movement hungry structures in the brain.

It thrives on movement, balance challenges, changes in position, and vestibular input. Without adequate movement experiences, the cerebellum doesn’t receive the information it needs to develop and function optimally.

One of the most POWERFUL ways to activate this system is through spinning.

The vestibular system acts like the brain’s GPS. It helps the brain understand where the body is in space, supports balance and coordination, influences eye movements, and provides critical input to the cerebellum.

Every time the head moves through space, the vestibular system sends information to the brain. That information helps build and strengthen the neural pathways involved in movement, coordination, balance, visual processing, attention, and learning.

Because spinning stimulates the vestibular organs deep inside the inner ear, it provides a concentrated stream of information to the cerebellum and brainstem, areas that play a major role in motor skills, sensory processing, posture, regulation, and attention.

Remember NOT all spinning is the same. The speed, direction, duration, and the child’s individual nervous system all MATTER. That’s why vestibular activities are carefully selected and tailored to each child’s needs.

What may look like simple play is often targeted neurological input designed to help the brain organize, adapt, and develop more efficiently.

Address

2590 Northbrooke Plaza Drive Ste 301
Naples, FL
34119

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 1pm
2:30pm - 5:30pm
Tuesday 11am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 11am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 1:30pm

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