Dr. Randy's Favorite Parker Principle

Dr. Randy went to school at Parker University in Dallas, TX. One of the main reasons he chose to go there was because of the Parker Principles. These principles were developed by Dr. Jim Parker, the founder of Parker University. They are grounded in compassionate care and loving service. The most well-known principle is, “Loving service is my first technique.” Dr. Randy feels the principle, “Develop a compassion to serve that is greater than the compulsion to survive,” is what helped him to cling to the “loving service,” principle!

#parkerprinciples #parkeruniversity #lovingservice #compassionatecare #thrive #idahochiropractor #southeastidaho #elevatedlifefamilychiropractic #chiropracticcare #familychiropractic

The Relationship Between Gut Health and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care optimizes your body's functions, including the digestion process! Consistent chiropractic adjustments help take you OUT of that fight or flight mode, and into the rest and digest side so your body can function optimally!

Are you struggling with digestion or other gut health issues? Chiropractic can help! Give us a call at, 208-357-1949, to start living life at your fullest potential and get to the root cause of your symptoms!

#elevatedlifefamilychiropractic #guthealth #idahochiropractor #eastidahomoms #immunesystem #stressmanagement #acidreflux #constipation #chiropracticcare #natrualsolutions

Commit to These 6 Habits and See What Changes Happen in Your Life

We're past that 2-week hump of those New Year’s Resolutions, those "New year, new me," grand declarations of planning to change everything starting January 1st. Most people abandon their New Year's resolutions within the first 2 weeks of the year.

Instead of making huge changes, try adding small things and building on them over time. Doing small things consistently could drastically shift your ability to move through your day-to-day life.

Pick one to start with and when you feel like you're ready to add more, slowly incorporate them into your routine. Starting off with a commitment to meditate for 15 minutes a day if you have never meditated or are recommitting to it after a long sabbatical, will feel like an uphill battle. Start with 30 seconds to 1 minute and add another 30 seconds to 1 minute every 2 weeks to a month. Whatever keeps you coming back to it consistently!

What have you found to be helpful in the process of creating new habits? Drop your tips in the comments!

#newyear #newyearnewme #habits #habitstacking #elevatedlifefamilychiropractic #southeastidaho #idahochiropractor #familychiropractor #chiropracticare

Roadmap to Wellness

When it comes to your health, you may find yourself wondering “am I on the right path to achieving my health goals?”

At Elevated Life Family Chiropractic, our goal is to help individuals achieve optimal wellness in all areas of life through chiropractic care. By having a neuro-spinal system that is clear of interference and in balance, the nervous system can function at the most optimal levels.

Are you ready to rebuild new functional patterns that will support a state of ideal health and well-being? Check out the roadmap to wellness infographic and give us a call to see how you can get started on your healthy journey today!

#idahofalls #idahochiropractor #elevatedlifefamilychiropractic #ammonidaho #blackfootidaho #mountainwest #wyoming #montana #wellness #wellnessjourney #chiropracticcare #nervoussystem #nervousystemhealth

Your POWERFUL body!

In the past twenty-three months, much has been said about Immunity. Our nations have been bombarded ad nauseum with conflicting information regarding this topic. Natural immunity, mRNA vaccines, lockdowns, vaccine passports, human rights, coercion, censorship, Pfizer, Moderna, as well as other companies, have been the staple of conversation across the United States and Canada, and globally.

These have not been easy conversations. Some of them have alienated families, friends, towns, and states, as many government mandates have not made much sense, and seem to have been launched in the face of science. At best, they have been a knee jerk reaction to the threat of sickness. Some have even been politically exploited. I know you’re shocked.

However, in all the hubbub, it appears we have become a little “lost.” Many of you simply don’t know which way to turn. I want you to know you are not alone.

It is abundantly clear, however, most people do not understand Immunity and the role your Immune system plays in your health and wellbeing. And that is why you’re reading my words. Right?

So...What is this Immune thing you are wondering? it is the protective mechanism of your body. It is the system that makes sure you survive at all costs. It wages war with any foreign agent – any bug, germ, virus, or particle that does not belong. Anything that is not part of your body. Is not part of you. Is not you. Is foreign. An outsider. You get the picture. And its task is to annihilate this invader. Remove it. Wipe it out!

Blow it away!

Here's the really cool thing: Your Immune System is under the perfect guidance and direction of your Nervous System. Surprised? Can you see why we are so adamant you get your children and family checked in our office? It is crucial! By now you probably realize your Nervous System controls every part of your being. As I have said umpteen times, your Nervous System controls all of you – even your mental state. This relatively new all-encompassing understanding is referred to as Psychoneuroimmunology. Whew! There’s a huge word for you!

January Newsletter

Innate Intelligence

You may be wondering: WHAT? What is that? And why is it so important? I’ve used these words when explaining your recovery to you, so here it is:

It has been coined the ‘Wisdom of the Body” by some, “Nature” by others, and “The Force” by George Lucas, producer of Star Wars. Chiropractors refer to this force as Innate Intelligence. It simply refers to your body’s own organizational ability and its ability to self-heal, self-regulate, self-thrive, and self-adapt. 

Deepak Chopra said it best: “Intelligence is present everywhere in our bodies . . . our own intelligence is far superior to any we can try to substitute from the outside.” 

There is a force we have inside us that guides our growth, our development, and our life. Examples of this force are ever present and are in our everyday environment. 

My very favorite is the bumblebee. You may not even be aware of this, but it never ceases to amaze me. According to scientists and computer models, the bumblebee can’t fly. Because of its weight, and ratio of its wings to its weight, the dihedral angle of wind assault, the speed of wing movements and other physical variables, it is mathematically impossible for a bumblebee to fly. However, bumblebees do not know this and fly anyway, defying all laws of science known to man. 

Did you know, for example, that every second of your life billions of cells in your body are breaking down foods, they are dying, and they are being reborn? Nerves are shooting information all over your very being and your lunch is being turned into muscle cells, heart cells, and skin cells. Damaged tissues are repaired and replaced, germs and cancer cells killed every minute, and the production of your cells and all chemical processes – approximately 150,000 - are being monitored every second. And all this amazing and wondrous activity takes place while you are sleeping, reading, or driving your car. Amazing, is it not? That is the wisdom of your body — Innate Intelligence.

How can Chiropractic help babies?

What is Health?

I’d like to teach a bit on health and what it truly means. Many people assume they are in excellent health but when digging deeper, they believe they are healthy because: 1. they do not have an illness or disease or 2. they rarely get sick. But the WHO specifically says that health is "not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Just because you aren't sick, doesn't mean you are healthy. 

During this time, the media and everyone on social media is preaching how NOT to get sick. What outward precautions to take. But we believe that we need to teach how to stay healthy! From the inside out.

I’d like you to take a look inside and ask: how is your physical health? Are you eating unhealthy snacks/junk food all day? Are you sitting on the couch binging shows/movies? Are you going for walks outside? Are you exercising? Are you eating plenty vegetable/fruits? Are you limiting your processed sugar intake? What are you doing to maintain, or better yet improve, your physical well-being?

How about your mental health? Are you feeling anxious/fearful? Are you looking forward to the future? Do you believe in the power of your body to fight illness? Are you meditating, journaling, or using another avenue to better your mental health? Are you seeing a therapist or other practitioner that assists you in have a better mental well-being?

What about your social well-being? I know that this one is struggling for a lot of people. And it's a huge factor in your health! Social interaction helps stimulate the Vagus nerve. Never heard of that? Well, it's become a hot topic among a lot of health professions. It plays a major role in your parasympathetic nervous system which helps to regulate many systems in your body. “Face-to-face social connectedness fortifies the "tend-and-befriend" parasympathetic response and engages your vagus nerve. This improves vagal tone and counteracts stress responses associated with "fight-or-flight" mechanisms. Social connectedness has also been clinically proven to improve heart rate variability (HRV), which is the measurement of variations within beat-to-beat intervals and indicates a healthy heart (From psychologytoday.com).” Are you having limited to no social interaction during this time or are you searching for ways to still have social interaction?

This period of time is allowing people the opportunity to reassess what is needed in their lives and what is not as important as what they once thought. Health may have once been far down the totem pole for many but is quickly rising in the ranks to being a top priority. If you’re wondering how you can make health a priority and how you can take charge of your health, please reach out. There are many ways to improve your health and many practitioners that can help but ultimately the responsibility it yours.

There’s a statement in chiropractic philosophy of Above-Down, Inside-Out (ADIO). What this means is that the brain (Above) is the control center of the body. The control comes from the brain (Above) and goes to the body (Down). As it goes down it begins “Inside” and travels “Out.” As it travels out, you not only are affecting yourself but are able to help others. 

How does ADIO philosophy relate to the principle of health? Health doesn’t come from an outside source. Health is already programmed inside all of us. Our bodies can and will fight off illnesses. You are designed to do so and far better than any outside source has the ability to fight off illnesses. The responsibility for you to achieve health doesn’t come from an outside source. Can outside sources help? Absolutely. Some examples in each category can be as follows:

Physical Well-being:

• Chiropractic: allows your nervous system to function without interference thus allowing for improved function of the body.

• Personal Trainers: provides an exercise program that best suites your needs

• Dietician/Nutritionist: assists in coming up with a well balanced food lifestyle that best suites your life.

There are many other examples of outside sources that can help elevate your physical well-being but it is still your responsibility. The Chiropractor can help but YOU must go to their office. The personal trainer may assist you in an exercise program but YOU are the one that does the exercise. A dietician/nutritionist may provide you a food lifestyle but YOU have to buy the food and choose to follow the plan.

Mental Well-being:

• Therapist: provides an avenue to properly process experiences of your life.

• Alternative healers: provide many different ways to assist in your mental well-being. 

• Friends: provide a safe place for you to vent and discuss what’s going on in your life.

• If you’re religious-God: prayer provides a way for you to discuss your needs with God and “let go and let God.”

You may have other outside sources that assist you in elevating your mental well-being but it is up to YOU to use them if you need. It is your responsibility to feel/deal/heal from mental struggles or hinderances in the present or past. 

Social Well-being:

• Friends: there is no better “face-to-face social connectedness” than interacting with a close friend.

• Mindset groups: provides an avenue to discuss goals and interact with people that want to achieve elevated levels of success and help you to achieve your goals.

• Sport leagues: for many sports are an avenue to not only interact with others socially but also provides an opportunity to improve their mental and physical well-being at the same time. 

• Hobby Groups: an avenue for people to interact with like minded individuals doing something they love.

Social well-being is one category that relies on others more than the other two. However, it is still YOUR responsibility to reach out and interact with others. You may be an introvert (like Dr. Randy) and think you do not need to have any interaction. However the interaction is needed. It may not look like an extroverts interaction, e.g. big parties or being around a lot of people. It may be one on one interaction or a large group for a short duration of time. But the more we realize how important our social well-being is to our overall health, the more we will seek opportunities to elevated our social well-being.

We at Elevated Life Family Chiropractic know how important it is to ELEVATE your health. We have been reminded, during this time, how important it is for us to educate and provide a safe place for people to not only learn but also to experience true health. We do our best at providing an opportunity for you to elevate your physical well-being through chiropractic adjustments.  While in our office we hope you feel comfortable enough to share your needs, not only physically but also mentally and socially. We opened Elevated Life Family Chiropractic in Shelley, ID because we want to be an asset to this community and provide a place for people to feel connected to others enough to help each other in their paths to elevating their health. 

We love hearing from you! Find us on social media: @ElevatedLifeFC, comment below or shoot us an email: info@elevatedlifefc.com

6 Ways to have a successful VBAC - and how Chiropractic can help

Vaginal birth after cesareans, or VBAC for short, are becoming more and more common. The saying “once a cesarean, always a cesarean” isn’t the case anymore. Mothers who try a VBAC are 80% more likely to have a successful vaginal birth, reducing maternal death rates, avoiding risky abdominal surgery and long hospital stays. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare and plan for a VBAC:

1. READ, READ and READ some more - Learn and study how to prepare for a vaginal birth. Some great books to read are:

   • The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library) Sears MD, William

   • The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Month, Everything You Need to Know from America's Baby Experts (Sears Parenting Library) Sears MD, William

   • Cut It Out Morris, Theresa

2. TAKE A BIRTHING CLASS: Taking a birthing class is a great way to prepare for a VBAC. Learn how to cope in labor, make choices before you go into labor, make your partner a part of your birth team. There are many options but my absolute favorite is Birth Boot Camp. They have out of hospital classes, in hospital classes, comfort measures classes and more! They are comprehensive and you get all the reading materials you’ll need. You can email kayleigh@elevatedlifefc.com if you have any questions!

3. GET ADJUSTED:  Many cesarean sections are done because of baby’s position or mom’s pelvis being misaligned. Finding a chiropractor certified in the Webster Technique can help you achieve that VBAC. The Webster Technique is a gentle adjustment, making sure that your pelvis is aligned and creating optimal space for your uterus and for your baby. You can read more here: https://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/. Lucky for you, Dr. Randy is ICPA certified in the Webster Technique and is passionate about helping you achieve the birth you desire.

4. CHOOSE WISELY: You are in charge! You get to choose your provider and support team. Research, ask around and find a VBAC friendly provider for you. Make sure you ask what their VBAC success rate is. Actions speak louder than words! They can say they’re supportive, but their previous experience will give you the confidence you need. With their support and knowledge, an unnecessary cesarean can be avoided!

5. HIRE A DOULA: “The doula  is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. Their purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.” (https://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/having-a-doula/) Having a doula is a must! They know how to support you, they know how to help your partner feel involved and understand how to comfort you, they know your feelings and what choices you have made and can help you stand by those choices.

6. POSITIVE VIBES: Surround yourself with positivity! Read VBAC stories, practice positive affirmations (http://balancedbirthsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Birth-Affirmations.pdf), and surround yourself with people who believe in you! Find support groups like ICAN or VBAC Facebook groups like The VBAC Link. And don’t forget that you are a rockstar goddess who can do ANYTHING!