by Dr. Tamara MacIntyre, DC, DNM
As a chiropractor and educator with 20 years experience, I have seen chiropractic care manifest itself in myriad ways. While all approaches have benefit, the type of care I provide is focused on acknowledging multiple layers of the human experience. Specifically, my approach would be characterized as tonal.
Central to understanding the potential reach of a tonal approach in chiropractic is an appreciation of the term ‘subluxation’. Perhaps the most illuminating definition comes from the Australian Spinal Research Foundation: “A vertebral subluxation is a diminished state of being, compromising of a state of reduced coherence, altered biomechanical function, altered neurological function and altered adaptability.”
Employing a tonal approach addresses all components of this understanding of the subluxation and its impact on the nervous system. In a healthy body, experiences we have in life are fully integrated. The body’s innate intelligence recognizes and processes the information contained in the experience and we can utilize this to grow, learn, heal, and evolve. If we are not able to integrate an experience, then the body ‘hangs onto’ the stress, and dis-ease and discomfort may follow. This ‘hanging on’ is expressed through subluxation. In other words, the body stores the energy it could not integrate in the form of subluxation.
The chiropractic adjustment releases that potential energy - the subluxation - allowing the system a second chance to integrate the energy and information of the original experience. When an experience is integrated, the tone of the energy becomes part of us, not apart from us, thus providing an opportunity to learn, heal, grow, and evolve.
Each session of care can consist of a blend of chiropractic adjustments, energy, breath work, soft tissue release, movement and/or postural guidance. Just as no two humans are exactly alike, no two experiences under my care will be identical. The focus always is on assisting your body to integrate all experiences in life so that you heal, grow and evolve more fully.
For more information, visit Dr. MacIntyre’s website: www.thebodypoet.ca, or book an appointment with her.