Transformation Chiropractic

10/28/2026

The stress Response is a cycle that is designed to allow you to respond to a threat by pumping adrenaline through your body and then releasing the adrenaline after the threat passes. This could look like physical movement or it could look like crying, yelling and shaking. If we don't release that traumatic energy, it can become stored in our body, affecting our physical and mental health i.e. autoimmune conditions, PTSD, chronic anxiety, etc.
Shaking therapy can help release that trapped energy. The most effective way is to induce muscle fatigue through isometric movement. Examples of this could be pushing against a wall, doing wall sits, glute bridges, etc. Hold to the point of fatigue where your muscles begin to shake, then fully release. Allow your muscles to continue to shake until the trembling subsides naturally. You may feel the urge to cry, yell, or sigh, yawn, etc. Allow yourself to release whatever emotions you are experiencing. It is normal if you don't experience an emotional response but it may be an indication that further somatic work is needed.
*As always, consult with a doctor if you have a history of injury. If you have a history of severe trauma, these exercises may be triggering and are best done under the supervision of a therapist*

10/27/2026

I couldn't get over these little piglets snuggling with a bunny for warmth at Middle Cross Baptist Church's Fall festival this weekend. I must add that this bunny was extremely tolerant!

10/26/2026

If you spend your days on your computer or driving, you may find that your mid-back and neck are chronically locked up. These are the exercises that I find very effective for unlocking your mid-back and neck. Don't neglect your shoulders and arms as movement in this area can be one of the most effective ways to release between your shoulder blades. As always, consult with your doctor if you have a history of injury.
Start with swinging figure-8s, followed by gentle arm swings. Keep this movement loose and flowy. Bring your arm over your head then down, placing your hand behind your back while bending your neck laterally in the opposite direction. This opens up the space between your neck and shoulders.
Roll forward gently, letting your neck and torso hang freely. Arms can hang in front of you. Allow yourself a few seconds before gently rolling back up.
Do a few short repetitions of each exercise. Don't force any movement and discontinue if you feel pain.
*This is for informational purposes only and should not be constituted as medical advice*

10/25/2026

Movement was never designed to be in a single plane. So, why do we exercise like that? Bicep curls, overhead presses, tricep stretches, Forward Bends....all of these exercises can be beneficial but they restrict the full ROM that our body was meant to do.
Contrast that with the movement we do in our everyday lives. We stretch our arms up to the side to grab an item off the shelf that is just out of reach. We turn our torso while bending forward to grab our toddler that is hanging on our leg or pick up a heavy grocery bag that is lying on the floor. Then we wonder why we feel pain at the end of the day.
Practice movement in multiple planes and use your muscles in their full ranges of motion. Swing your arms on a diagonal, stretch above your head and to the side, practice mobility drills that utilize movement in multiple directions. Remember, movement is life!
Consult with your doctor if you have a history of injury or health concerns that may be affected by certain exercises.

10/23/2026

Morning walk on the dam. Seven Lakes is such a beautiful place!

10/22/2026

If you work a desk job or drive frequently, this is a great exercise to release your mid-thoracic spine. Stand with your arms by your sides and keep them loose as you twist from side to side. Allow your arms to swing in a loose horizontal figure 8 pattern (or an infinity ♾️ pattern), following the movement of your torso as you move from side to side. Raise or lower your arms as needed to release areas of restriction around the shoulder blades and mid-thoracic spine. You can also allow your arms to hang by your sides and swing loosely, allowing your hands to gently hit your back as you twist from side to side. Movement should be loose and gentle.
*Consult your doctor before starting this exercise if you have a history of injury to your shoulders, neck or back. Do not force any movement and discontinue if you experience pain. This post is for informational purposes only and should not be constituted as medical advice.*

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

The Trauma Response has layers.

The Stress Response (the shallow layer): When the Amygdala senses a threat, it immediately sounds the alarm and the nervous system prepares the body to deal with the threat. The primal brain (also known as the Basal Ganglia which controls primitive reflexes and survival responses) gets activated. Simultaneously, the Frontal Cortex (which controls logic and reasoning) largely gets deactivated and the nervous system goes into survival mode.

You will experience an initial startle reflex as your body gets flooded with adrenaline. Your body prepares to fight or flee. Your heart rate speeds up, breathing gets shallow and blood gets pumped into your muscles. This initial reflex lasts only for a few seconds.

The Survival Response (the deeper layer): The nervous system now evaluates the threat in terms of your own survival. What is your likelihood of surviving if you fight off the threat or run away? You experience a sympathetic response and your body continues to be flooded with adrenaline. Your nervous system primes you to fight or to flee. Either survival response is largely involuntary. You become aggressive or fearful, fighting back or trying to escape.

Overwhelm: If your nervous system deems that the threat is too powerful for you to have a likely chance of survival, your nervous system does everything it can to minimize the damage the threat causes. Your parasympathetic nervous system over-activates, causing a dorsal vagal shutdown. You go into an involuntary Freeze state where you feel unable to respond to the threat. You go numb and may disassociate, becoming emotionally disconnected to what is happening to you. Even though you may be experiencing injury or emotional harm, you may not feel pain or fear at that point.

If your nervous system determines that Freezing is not likely to ensure your survival, it will go into a state of automatic obedience where you automatically comply with the threat's demands. This is the survival response known as Fawn and it often goes unrecognized by both survivors and those around them (Law enforcement, friends, the general public) because it appears that the survivor is agreeing to or even enjoying what is happening to them. In reality, Fawning is a deeply entrenched survival response that often stems from patterns formed in childhood or as a result of previous experiences (i.e. being raised to be a people pleaser).

10/21/2026

Our nervous system is always working to ensure our survival and it begins with the Amygdala. This section of the Limbic system acts as a warning system, alerting us to potential danger. The hypothalamus then unleashes a cascade of adrenaline, priming us to respond. The Amygdala also helps to process memories with a strong emotional charge and connects new potential threats with older ones that we have already experienced, making us more alert to potential threats and helping us determine what perceived threats are valid. It is a vital part of what we often call intuition and helps ensure our safety.

07/30/2026

https://youtu.be/7z0Ilm_xqac?si=5yfXgLooRBPYkCjS

Today is World Day Against Trafficking and I want to highlight this organization that is making such a difference in the fight against Human Trafficking. In addition to creating Safe Houses for survivors of trafficking, they have also created a free app that lets anyone easily and anonymously report suspected cases of human trafficking. Go to www.simplyreport.com to download and learn more.

A simple, secure app to help you identify and report human trafficking.