“Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art of a nonreligious nature; a system of adjusting the segments of the spinal column without the use of surgical means, for the correction of incoordination caused by a vertebral subluxation.”
These words are the most recently provided definition of chiropractic in Sinnot’s textbook of Chiropractic, released in 2012. To take this one step further, Chiropractic can also be described as a way of life: a practical, common sense way of living by listening and trusting through experiential self-study. By recognizing the magnificent organizing intelligence inherent within all living systems, chiropractic focuses on natural laws, helping people awaken to the oneness of everything that exists in the world.
Chiropractors work with the human condition by removing obstacles and hindrances instead of adding remedies. The intention of the Chiropractor is to assist the person by removing that which interferes with natural expression and the individuals ability to adapt to the environment in which they live. This is accomplished through a chiropractic adjustment which specifically aims to catalyze a shift in lower feelings and thoughts, and establish a state of inner balance and harmony.
As observed by countless scientists and philosophers over the last several thousand years, the spine is the conduit through which a connection to the core of a person’s being exists. This vital link was studied in depth by the originator of chiropractic, DD Palmer, who demonstrated that the condition of the neurospinal system was reflected in the physiology, environmental adaptability and innate genetic expression of living beings.
It is documented that D.D. Palmer, the originator of chiropractic visited India several times throughout his life. Since the spiritual teachings of yoga were brought to the western hemisphere at a similar time in history that chiropractic was discovered, it is easy to draw correlation on the practice of yoga and chiropractic. The sole purpose of chiropractic was to unite the spiritual and physical bodies to know our highest nature and the same purpose holds true in yoga. The primary principle of chiropractic as dispensed by DD Palmer is that life is expressed through tone, which is congruent with the primary yoga.
The condition of the mind and body are reflections of the environment that surrounds us. Since the environment we live in is often controllable, it is important to address this aspect of our lives in order to quiet the restlessness of the mind. This is achieved through reflection on our cravings, obsessions and desires including our relationships to food, people and ourselves. There is a common saying in chiropractic regarding the flow of life which is above-down inside-out. This is referring to the process of the human condition receiving information from the universal intelligence that permeates all matter, transferring it without knowing into innate intelligence and consciously responding, instead of reacting to it by living from the inside out.
This practice of listening and trusting our inner guide instead of accepting outer doctrines as truth, thereby living a life based on someone else’s reality, is the gift of chiropractic. Chiropractic is not primarily concerned with health, which is attained with consistency and discipline through good diet, sufficient sleep, physical fitness, personal relationships and positive thoughts.
Chiropractic requires patience for the process of preparing the body and mind to become one, or align with spirit, by freeing the facilitated neurospinal conduit of tension in order for freedom in the form of oscillation and conductivity to manifest.
In practice, it is common for chiropractor’s to utilize universal laws of healing and scientific principles to guide people through a personalized process of core healing, with authenticity and integrity. As time progresses, people who are being assisted with chiropractic begin to apply the scientific principles pertaining to life in their own personal journey. They may develop self-sustaining strategies or make value based choices that are congruent with their inner genetic requirements to fuel their evolutionary process of remembering who they truly are, thus bringing them closer to homeostasis. Chiropractic imparts nothing new for people that come in contact with it, but instead serves as a reminder of the infinite potential we all have to grow in each moment.
