Inner Brilliance Chiropractic

Dr. Holly is moving to Canada!!!

2019-05-16T21:12:00.001-07:00

May 16, 2019

If you are reading this blog post, then you likely already know my big news:
I’m moving to Canada. Yes, really.

I have already made the announcement to the entire Inner Brilliance Chiropractic practice; by mail and email I have introduced Dr. Justin Goslin to the practice. The transition process will begin next week. And, I am writing this blog post to share more of my own story about this change.

I know this probably comes as a very big surprise, and I am truly sorry for that. Our connection has always meant so much to me. And if it had been possible, I would have preferred to be able to share this news sooner. I felt that I couldn’t share until it was confirmed and until I had found the best possible chiropractor to care for my beloved IBC clients.

This has been a very challenging decision for me, but I have decided to relocate to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to begin my next chapter of delivering exceptional chiropractic care. You may not know that I spent a lot of time in Canada while growing up. All my summers in Prince Edward Island, and 2 years in Toronto before moving to Portland, Oregon to attend Chiropractic College. My original plan was to return to Canada after completing my chiropractic education. In fact, I took my Canadian National Board Exams during my last year of school. I went to Vancouver, BC several times to meet and observe chiropractors there... but instead, I built a practice in Seattle for 24 years.

Last fall, while visiting my folks in Alberta, my partner and I started to consider if we would ever want to (or even could) move to Canada. We were casually researching this as a “someday, maybe” consideration. When I reached out to my Canadian classmates to find out more about practicing chiropractic in Canada, I was offered a completely unexpected opportunity to return to Canada while continuing my career in chiropractic. I will be taking over the practice of a former chiropractic classmate who is retiring. Initially, she will mentor me, so I will learn new techniques (especially cranial work)- which is very exciting for me. She has been getting great results working with kids who are challenged with seizures, stuttering, other speech disorders, vision issues, headaches, and behavioral issues. I will serve a large community of hardworking farming families who value chiropractic and often choose it as their first line of health care.

Our new home will be just 1½ hours away from my father and stepmother. I am glad to be moving closer as my parents age. Together, my partner and I chose to accept this opportunity to go to Canada, the challenges of new experiences, people, culture, and living in a different part of the world. It will be a big transition for us. I am grateful for the opportunities in this next chapter of life.

I am excited, but also grieving. I have really loved my time in Seattle. I love this region, this city, my many communities, and dear friends, clients, and colleagues. I have loved my practice. My heart feels like it is breaking, and I will hold each of you in my heart always. I would like to thank you for the faith and trust you have shown in me (and my staff) at Inner Brilliance Chiropractic over the past 24 years. I have tried to give the best of myself in every encounter with you. Because of you, I have become a better doctor and I am wiser as a person. I will miss each of you. But I am comforted and relieved to have found in Dr. Justin, a chiropractor who has the skills, and the level of integrity and compassion to continue providing you with excellent chiropractic care. I sincerely hope that you will be able to develop the kind of open and trusting healing partnership with him that you and I have enjoyed. I wish you all the very best in life and in health.

With Love and Light,
-Dr. Holly :)

Trauma and Pain: How emotional events can be related to pain.

2018-06-11T08:13:00.001-07:00

Trauma and Pain: How emotional events can be related to pain.

Dr. Holly Hochstadt

Recently, a new patient emphatically stated: “This is a physical issue, it has absolutely nothing to do with my emotions”. I’d like to share how emotional challenges (as well as chemical and physical ones) can compromise our body’s ability to heal and to thrive, sometimes resulting in physical pain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This definition recognizes how multiple aspects are connected in creating your overall state of health.

We all have overloads in life; some people call these “traumas”. By “overload”, I mean any experience that you are not able to integrate and adapt to in that moment; these then become stored in the body in the form of tension. They may be physical overloads: sports or other injuries, sudden change in activity, car accident, or bad ergonomics. They may be chemical overloads: something we breathe in, eat or drink, put on our bodies, or use in our home or yard (this would also include sensitivities to food, caffeine, chemicals, drugs, pollens, and dehydration, viruses, bacteria, mold, etc.). Lastly, overloads may be emotional: big or sudden stressors such as divorce, conflict, confrontation, moving away from community, assault, abuse, death of a loved one, or ongoing stressors such as pressure at work, home, or school, as well as feeling stuck in a difficult situation, or having fear or concern about the larger world, such as politics, human rights, the environment, or global health.

Tension stored from the overloads of life compromises our body’s internal communication systems. When our body can’t coordinate itself properly, information between the brain and the body is not properly delivered or received and this seriously limits our capacity for healing and for health.

Stored tension limits health by compromising our:

Efficiency in any of the body’s activities
Adaptability and flexibility with challenges
Resiliency in being able to bounce back and recover from overloads
Capacity to clean, renew, repair, and heal
Perception of the world around us
Reactions to events and experiences
Ability to be present, calm, and grounded
Ease in healing
Expression of our unique gifts in the world
Ability to thrive

Simply put, optimal communication is essential to optimal function.

So, when function is compromised, we can have any kind of symptom: back pain, insomnia, digestive trouble, depression, headache, low immune function, recurrent injuries, anxiety, vertigo, skin rash, muscle twitches, and many more...

In order to optimize your health, holistic providers consider ALL the types of overloads you have experienced. Then, by working with you to help reduce the amount of stored tension in your body, we are simply helping your body to re-engage with what it knows how to do: express it’s capacity to coordinate healing and create higher levels of health: physically, chemically, emotionally -this inherently includes mental, social, and (for some) spiritual health. The primary intention that I bring to all patient care is to do everything I can to help your body optimize its ability to heal. I absolutely take the big picture view that all aspects of health are relevant to healing. I have found this to be the most effective way to help people to truly heal, and be more comfortable, whole, and able to express their gifts in the world.

Here are a few interviews that explore research, theory, and protocol for dealing with trauma (of any kind) stored in the body in order to optimize health and decrease physical pain:

Dr Bessel van der Kolk on How Trauma Lodges in the Body
and on Trauma and Resilience Land in Our Bodies
Peter Levine on Freedom from Pain

2018-02-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

Inner Brilliance Chiropractic is Moving!

I am so excited to share this news... It's time for new growth!
My office building (of almost 23 years) was sold last month and the offices are being converted back to residences. This news is bittersweet, as I essentially did a lot of my professional "growing up" here. Certainly it has been a wonderful space to practice and provide care for all of you over the years. I have so many good memories... And, I am definitely ready for something new!

Over the last couple of years, I had been feeling a strong pull to practice in community with other like-minded providers. Also, after over 20 years of having a walking commute to my office since I moved to NE Seattle 2 years ago, I had started driving to the office... I was longing to get back to a walking commute.

Where to?

I am so excited to begin practicing in 2 new locations as of the first week of April. In both cases, I have found fantastic colleagues with whom I will share gorgeous, functional practice space (with easy parking too). I really can't wait to serve all of you with gentle and exceptional chiropractic care in my new locations this spring.

My primary practice will be with Core Chiropractic & Wellnessin the heart of the Lake City neighborhood. I will be at Core on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays! I am so grateful to join a beautiful practice that has such a fabulous, inspiring, and caring team. We will have front desk support for you too! And, yes, I will resume my walking commute! :)

My second location (on Fridays) will be on top of beautiful Queen Anne Hill at The Center for Classical Five Element Acupuncture. It is a lovely, peaceful space that I am so grateful to be able to share with you. It allows me to continue to serve my Queen Anne based clients locally.

More to come...

My current practice location in Lower Queen Anne (Uptown) remains open through the end of March.

All contact information for IBC remains the same for now.

Please note, my office will be closed February 22nd - March 2nd, while I am on yoga retreat.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Additional updates and details will be shared as it all progresses.

And, yes, we will have an Open House event to welcome you to Core Chiropractic... date and time TBA.

With lots of Gratitude, Love, and Light,
Be well!
-Dr Holly

I Can’t Believe It Happened To Me...

2017-08-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

So, over the past 5 years, I have had some health challenges: lots of joint pain, a frozen shoulder, rosacea, headaches, digestive issues, brain fog, etc. Nothing major, but absolutely limiting my overall quality of life. Initially I chalked it up to the stress of several big changes going on in my life. But after “working on my health” for years… I was still dealing with these issues.

A couple of months ago, I had a flare-up of pain in my low back. While I have a history of low back pain that goes all the way back to high school, I hadn’t had anything like this in probably over 10 years, and this time even had some new tingling sensations show up too. I kept doing yoga as best I could, went to my fantastic acupuncturist for a treatment, had a nice massage, got a quick chiropractic adjustment from an out-of-town colleague at a gathering, and then had a great craniosacral session. All of these seemed helpful at the time, but my condition wasn’t improving, and now 3 weeks had passed, and I was tired of being in pain and feeling so cautious and physically limited.

I considered what to do next, and decided to go see a local chiropractor who I had been under regular care with some years ago. I needed a new approach, and I knew it. As soon as I started getting adjusted, things began to change. My low back pain was improving, yes (and YAY!); but also, my skin got a bit better, my energy increased, and my sleep improved. My digestion seemed a bit better, my headaches decreased, and my joints were feeling better. My brain fog was lifting, and my mood lightened; I felt more hopeful and positive about the world, my life, and my future. WOW. Then I thought about it. Before starting back into regular chiropractic care, I had slipped into getting adjusted just once every 1-3 months, and that had been going on for years... The chiropractors I was getting adjusted by are not in Seattle, so we were meeting up periodically to connect and to adjust each other. In my 22 years of practice, there had been times when I was getting adjusted regularly in Seattle, or nearby, but then, somehow, I had let it decrease to just at those gatherings, which had been monthly, but then shifted into being less frequent…. So, I really hadn’t been getting adjusted much at all. But, wait, I’m a chiropractor! What the heck?! Chiropractic care helps us integrate life’s challenges, come out of overload, maximize adaptability, and function at our fullest natural potential. And, I hadn’t been giving my own body’s nerve and communication systems that supportive, restorative care to function at my best. Life always brings challenges, and I felt like I’d had a bit of the “snowball effect”- the overloads of life had built up, and I was directly experiencing a significant decrease in my quality of life. But, again, I’m a chiropractor! How did I let this happen to ME?! How could I possibly have failed to provide myself with the care that I teach my clients about and that I provide in the office every day? How could I have forgotten the fundamental concept of chiropractic care as a path to create, restore, and optimize health? I was really shocked, and, actually, kind of embarrassed.

As I pondered how it happened, I realized: I’m human too. We all get overloaded sometimes. We all forget sometimes what works for us, or what our resources are. We get busy, caught up in productivity, activity, and the frenetic pulse of city living. For the past 4 months, I have continued to receive regular (at least weekly) chiropractic adjustments. That back pain I had? Most of it is long gone. But my health has steadily continued to improve in so many ways; I feel like I’m finally healing. My body is working through lots of old stored stress, and my overall health and adaptability (to handle what is coming at me now) is increasing every week. I’m so grateful to be getting adjusted again. And, after my initial shock and shame about being the chiropractor who wasn’t getting adjusted, I’m so glad I had the chance to relearn the lesson of what an incredible difference chiropractic makes when it comes to health. I love facilitating health through chiropractic care. Please let me know if I can help you, or if you have any questions.

2016-02-29T17:26:00.002-08:00

End-of-Life, Palliative Care, and House Calls Available with Dr Holly

Inner Brilliance for injuries?

2009-02-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

In chiropractic, we like to say that healing only happens one way.... from the inside-out! Meaning that your body does the healing. No one can heal you, it's something that your body does for you. Certainly medical intervention sometimes takes a role in assisting the body, but how does chiropractic care fit into the picture?

Chiropractic care can play an essential role for anyone healing from an injury. Whether you had a fall, a car accident, a sports injury, or a repetitive strain at work...chiropractic care facilitates and supports your healing process! As your body works on repairing tissues after any type of injury, there is a lot of internal communication happening. Chiropractic helps your body and your nerve system to have the best possible communication with that wisdom inside of you. This inner wisdom is truly the source of our bodies' capacity for healing. Supporting full and clear communication with it, through chiropractic, greatly facilitates your speedy healing and your best possible outcome.

Many of our clients at Inner Brilliance Chiropractic have experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in how well they were able to handle (and recover from) all sorts of life challenges. We believe that those who have had an injury also deserve the same exceptional level of quality chiropractic care. Our sole focus is supporting you in your recovery. Optimize your recovery with chiropractic care!

FYI:

-Doctors of Chiropractic are able to make referrals (when appropriate) for additonal types of care to assist you in your healing. These may include: massage therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, podiatrists, diagnostic x-rays, primary care physicians, etc.

-At Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, if you've been injured in an auto accident, we bill your insurance company for you.

Happy healing!

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

"Is there anything I shouldn't do after my adjustment?"

2009-01-22T15:35:00.000-08:00

It's a question I am frequently asked, and if you are familiar with my practice or my blog, you likely already know my answer!

No, there really isn't anything that you should inherently avoid after getting adjusted!

However, if you listen for it, your own inner brilliance will guide you to what would (and what would not) serve you best. You are unique, and so is your healing process! It just might be that breakdancing after getting adjusted could be the perfect thing to support one person's process, and could cause total overload for another. But the same thing is true of a nap, or a glass of wine, or a walk, or a yoga class, or going to a movie, etc! There isn't a script for health; we don't come with a road map or an owner's manual.

By now, most of us have figured out some of the things that help us to process and integrate the stuff of life, and also how to get re-centered within ourselves. And yet, in any moment, what we need could be different. The way to know what's right for you is to listen to that voice inside, your "intuition", or as I like to call it, your "inner brilliance".

If you can't hear it, try doing one of the things that have worked in the past to help you get reconnected. If that doesn't do it, or the voice is faint, that is a great time to come in for an adjustment. By optimizing your system, getting reconnected to your self, and clearing your connection with your inner brilliance, you will be able to take the best possible care of yourself.

Your frequency of care is always up to you, and always based on your goals. Whether you choose to come in quarterly, monthly, or weekly is often based on how much you've got "on your plate". But, it's always up to you to decide how often to optimize your system and your connection with your inner brilliance! I look forward to seeing you when the time is right!

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

ASK THE DOCTOR!

2008-09-20T12:44:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'll confess now; the title and image above were intended to be a bit misleading!

Based on the concept of inner brilliance that I embrace, one of my biggest tenets is this:

"The best doctor we could ever listen to is the one within."

I remind clients of this frequently. The wisdom inside of us can guide us about what we need in every moment. We've all experienced hunger and known that we needed to refuel with a meal or a snack. We've felt thirst and known that we needed more water to rehydrate. Our bodies feel really hot and we look for ways to cool down. When consumed with fatigue, we feel the desire to take a nap. Obvious and very evident to us all, right?

What about if we have a cold and we notice a strong craving for soups with clear broth, while feeling no appetite for anything heavy or rich? Or, if we feel irritable and then notice that it's been too long since we've had quality time with our significant other? Or how about if we have a stiff low back and we feel the urge to crawl around on the floor and do some "stretching" that's so original, that these moves won't be found in any stretching book? These might be a little less obvious, but it's the same thing!

In so many ways, the innate intelligence that is constantly working for us, is constantly giving us messages about what we can do for ourselves, when, how much, how often, AND in this present moment! From what we eat for lunch today, to the posture we assume when sitting down (without thinking about it!), to who we may need to have a conversation with, this inner brilliance is constantly guiding us in all of our decisions and actions; both concious, subconcious, and unconcious.

Our connection with this inner guidance is one of our best sources for advice. Some folks call this their "intuition" or what "my gut tells me". Whatever the words to describe it, this wisdom is absolutely and constantly present in every living person! The next time you find yourself wondering on any level about what you should do for yourself, try asking your own inner brilliance as your first step! Listen to your gut, you intuition, your inner wisdom, and do the best you can to follow this guidance. You can cultivate your awareness of this connection by paying attention and also by honoring what your body/being asks for.

Of course, sometimes your intuition may tell you is that it's time for a consultation with an expert, or a trip to the Emergency Room, or to ask someone for help. There is a place and time for every type of care. However, cultivating your connection with this "doctor within" is still the best way to know what's right for you. You may have your own practices that help you stay connected to this, and you may also consult health care providers that support you in having the clearest possible expression of this wisdom, to facilitate the expression of your maximum health potential on every level.

Your inner brilliance is truly the best doctor I can imagine ever consulting! Ask away!

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

Dark vs. Light? Taking on other people's "stuff"?

2008-07-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am often asked by people (even other health care providers) about "taking on" other people's "stuff" through my work. It has almost never been an issue for me in my own practice. I'm not sure how to account for this exactly, but here are my impressions so far*:

1- I'm simultaneously completely open to knowing each client's absolute perfection in every moment and holding them in a place of unconditional love, AND my boundaries are clear. I am present, I listen, I sympathize, empathize, and then work to support their innate potential in being fully expressed. It's your experience, your life, your perfection, not mine. Your inner brilliance only comes from the inside out, as you know.

2- I also believe that every experience we encounter provides an opportunity to integrate a new bit of life experience into the wholeness and richness of who we are as individuals. For those in a role such as mine (health care providers), we have the opportunity to integrate not only our life experiences, but by the act of genuine witnessing, we also may receive the gift of being able to additionally integrate experiences shared with us. For me, the only way we can "take on" their "stuff" in a negative way would be if we are unable to integrate it. This could then cause an overload to our own system, and we might experience it in an unpleasant way until we are able to process the information/experience. Otherwise, once processed, we simply benefit from it.

I'm sure some of you can relate to that from your own work. So, while beneficial and useful for everyone, I think it is of ultimate importance for health care providers to practice the things (meditiation, t'ai chi, journalling, time in nature, etc), or receive the types of care (chiropractic, acupuncture, other talk or body work therapies, etc), that help them "keep their channel open". By avoiding a backlog of unprocessed life experiences of any kind (physical, emotional, chemical, mental, spiritual) in our beings and systems, we are all much less likely to become overloaded in the moment. That's exactly what we help people do here at Inner Brilliance Chiropractic! The results can impact every aspect of our personal and professional lives, including our interactions with our clients, colleagues, and loved ones.

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a Seattle chiropractor.

*With thanks to Dr. Sue Brown for her influence, ideas and her thesis: "Subluxation and Human Evolution: A Philosophical Model of Subluxation" published by Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Perfect posture for you?

2008-06-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

We've all seen diagrams like this before. We read articles on good posture and we've been assessed by various health care providers. Some other approaches in chiropractic even have very specific postural goals, which also serve the chiropractor as a reference point for progress made in that model of care.

Here's an idea that might seem a little radical:

YOUR POSTURE IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT RIGHT NOW.

The way I look at it is that through your entire life, your body is constantly adapting to and dealing with all the forces that you encounter, including all those overloads stored by your body. These stored forces come from all the activities (and overload they may bring) of everyday life: sports & exercise, work station set-up, diet & hydration, physical injuries & illness, mental or emotional stress, position during sleep + quality & quantity of it, meaningful social connections, heavy physical work at home & work, and so on...

So, if you've been reading this blog for awhile, you are well aware that your inner brilliance is constantly at work, doing everything possible for you to express your highest wisdom and fullest health potential. In the case of your posture, your inner brilliance is also expressing beautifully. Your current posture is the perfect one for you right now, given the sum total of all that your body/being is dealing with. The goal for me is never to make your posture change.

Postural changes come easily, naturally, and organically when you shift the sum total of what your system is dealing with. By working with a chiropractor or other practitioner who supports you to process and integrate those stored forces, the big picture in your system changes and (quite often) your posture shifts too. As your system gets healthier, you may notice that you are naturally sitting in a more erect position. You may also be guided by the connection with your own inner guidance to stretch or exercise in certain ways that allow your postural changes to unfold. Or, perhaps you modify the set-up of your work station in some way that just feels better to you. These are just a few examples of how, as your expression of inner brilliance increases, your postural shift can start to snowball in many positive ways.

If you have some postural concerns, consider how you might start to shift all that your body has to deal with, including the stored forces it may be carrying. Your inner brilliance is your source for perfect posture, and you've got that right now.

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

Spring Break!

2008-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to take a break from things every once in awhile. It really can refresh our outlook and allow us to gain more perspective on both the little details and the big picture of our lives. I spent 10 days in Alberta at the end of May. As you can see, the Balsam Root flowers were in all their (albeit late) spring glory! The trip was a great opportunity to rest, recharge, be with beloved family members, and explore the beauty of nature in the Canadian Rockies & prairies. And, decidedly, all of this helped me to get more strongly connected with my own inner brilliance.

Whether it's a trip out of town, a change from your usual routine, stepping back from some of your responsibilities, or simply taking a moment to pause... consider how you provide yourself with the opportunity to reconnect. That amazing wisdom is present inside of you in every moment, it's always right there at your center.

Give yourself a break that serves you in shining your inner brilliance more brightly! Shine on.

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

What does inner brilliance look like?

2008-05-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

If we've all got this inner brilliance, how do we recognize it? What does it look like when it is expressing in ourselves or others? Of course, the possible responses to this question are infinite!

The most common thing that people experience that lets them know their inner brilliance is expressing loud and clear.... is a sense of clear connection with their own wisdom. Some would call this "hearing their intuition", or "feeling their gut", or in chiropractic it's what we would call the "innate intelligence". When you feel more connected to this "doctor within", you are able to make the best choices for yourself, on every level, in each moment. This is the best way for each individual to move forward on their personal path to expressing more of their health on every level, as well as more of their gifts in the world; which all adds up to more of their inner brilliance!

Here are just a few examples of what inner brilliance looked like for some of my clients, after they got adjusted at IBC, in the last few weeks:

-the ability to sleep well through the night, after years of major sleep disorder

-resolution of pain, which had been severe for over a month

-full hearing in one ear, which had been considered "deaf" by doctors

-sense of new direction and timing (with clear communication & action) for a new career pursuit

-decrease in pain which resulted from an injury that had only been worsening with time

-clarity, "centered-ness", and increased efficiency while going through a stressful job change

When the subluxations in your system have been addressed by your chiropractor, the whole body/being functions better. That is why inner brilliance can appear in so many different ways!

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

Cookin' with love!

2008-05-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

My friend, Tom, is a fantastic chiropractor. And, when travelling with him to any city or town in the country to attend a seminar, it was always a joy to share a meal with him. He taught me something important about food and how it connects us all.

Walking on city streets, or through a food festival, or even the food court in an airport, Tom would look at each establishment he passed. He seemed to check out the look, the smells, and the sounds of every offering. He tried to see the chefs or the cooks at work. He would size it up. I thought maybe he had some kitchen cleanliness phobia, or else some skill or intuition about choosing the best food, and I asked him about it once when we were here in Seattle, at the Folklife Music Festival, looking for lunch on a Friday afternoon. He explained to me that what he was always looking for, was... the people who were "cooking with love"!

I've thought a lot about that since then. It made a lot of sense to me. The people who loved what they were doing, who were happy to be doing it, and were joyous to share it--- it was their cooking I most longed to sample! Have you ever walked into a restaurant or some small place, like a sandwich shop, where someone makes a grudging effort to come serve you, and you quickly get the feeling they'd really rather be doing something else, or it's an imposition, or that they simply aren't happy to be doing this job?

Maybe a little like in the film Like Water For Chocolate, when all the same skill and talent is present, maybe our state of mind does effect what we produce or how we do it. So, I've thought about this in terms of many of the different jobs, services, and products we receive in our daily lives. The mechanic who worked on my car for years (until I sold it last fall!), LOVES working on cars. The purveyor of one of my neighborhood restaurants LOVES running his business. And, my barista LOVES making chai lattes! I know this makes sense to you too. Would you want a dentist to work on you who didn't like doing her job? Would you want to have a birthday cake made by someone who was bitter about having to do it? Here's the tie-in...

Every day when I show up at IBC, I am so grateful for the opportunity to witness people for who they truly are, and to support them in expressing more of their full potential, their health, their inner brilliance. The ways this shows up in people's lives are infinite. I plan to share some of these in my next entry. But the joy I experience in delivering honoring, exceptional, vitalistic chiropractic care is one of the biggest in my life. My heart is completely present, and in alignment with knowing each person's perfection and their potential. I feel so blessed to do what I do for a living. I am thrilled to have created "right livelihood" in my life. For me, when I'm serving at IBC, I'm always "cookin' with love"!

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

Who is the healer?

2008-04-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, (and certainly after my last blog entry) someone will make a comment about me being a "healer". I always strive to make it completely clear that in my world view, the only person I can heal is me.

I may be good at what I do, but I see my role as truly being that of a facilitator. I help bring awareness to your system, which allows it to connect with, unwind, process, and integrate stored tension (or subluxations). The wisdom inside of you knows how to do this! Subluxations in your system may be interfering with how well you are able to express your full potential, your inner brilliance. My role is simply assisting your body to allow it to address the subluxations, and express it's own potential.

Since the foundation of chiropractic is the recognition of the amazing wisdom that is inside of us, it's easy to follow the logic of healing coming from the inside out. To me, this means that you are the only person that can heal you! There is so much brilliance inside of you; set it free!

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

Amazing things happening at IBC

2008-04-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Whew! After having a fantastic visit with family who came to town for 10 days, I am raring to go on this blog. Lately I'm absolutely "percolating" with ideas, analogies, examples, and perspectives relating to Inner Brilliance! Look for frequent postings for the next little while!

I've had an incredible week of positive health changes for clients at IBC. Here is the latest...

Tonight I had a call from Lucy's mom. At age six, based on the results of a CT scan, Lucy was diagnosed with almost complete deafness in her left ear, due to no movement of the tiny bones in her inner ear. Her doctor believed that she had likely been deaf in that ear since birth. Her hearing had been checked again each year for the last two years with no improvement. Lucy was referred to my office in January of this year, and she and her mom were interested to see if working with Lucy's "inner brilliance" could help her at all with her hearing. I saw Lucy weekly for 8 visits. Then her family went on a long vacation, and upon returning they went to have Lucy's hearing re-checked. The call from Lucy's mom tonight? "Lucy's hearing tested COMPLETELY NORMAL!!!!!! And all the doctors at the hospital were asking about IBC." Lucy is taking it all in stride, as an 8 year old will. Her parents are absolutely thrilled. The family celebrated the good news tonight with donuts. (For the record, Lucy's mom has offered to speak with anyone who has questions about their experience with care here at IBC.)

For anyone familiar with the history of chiropractic, the story goes, that the very first adjustment, delivered by D.D. Palmer, cured a janitor of his deafness. The symmetry is an extra treat.

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.

Welcome to the IBC blog

2008-04-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to share with you our mission here at Inner Brilliance Chiropractic.

Many people are unaware of the roots of the chiropractic profession. The fundamental premise of chiropractic is that there is an amazing amount of wisdom present in every living thing. This innate intelligence is what guides the hundreds of thousands of things that our bodies do for us every day, even without our conscious direction!

The wisdom inside of us is truly the source of health. Health, on every level (physical, emotional, chemical, mental, spiritual, etc), is something that comes from the inside-out. It's a state that your body/being is constantly striving to express to the highest level possible, given your genetics and your environment. Supporting the fullest expression of this wisdom, this beauty, this source of health, of your own inner brilliance, this is what Inner Brilliance Chiropractic is all about.

For more information, see Inner Brilliance Chiropractic, the office of Dr. Holly Hochstadt, a chiropractor in Seattle.