Left – Marybeth Renner, Office Manager, Middle – Dr. Lisa M. Hinkle, D.C.,
Right – Debbie Couture, LMT
This week we interviewed Lisa Hinkle, founder of Arise Chiropractic Wellness Center whose mission is to facilitate, educate and inspire others to arise to their fullest expression of health and well being through chiropractic care and massage therapy. Lisa opened the doors of Arise Chiropractic Wellness Center in February of 2007 as the sole business owner, and today she shares that passion with us. Read the interview for more about how she found her passion and what keeps her loving what she does.
- You have followed your passion for healing people as a Chiropractor. Tell us about your passion.
- Revisiting your childhood, what did you love to do?
- Was there a defining moment where you decided to follow what you love?
- Do you have people in your industry or out of it that have inspired your path?
- What are your superpowers?
- Do you create a vision board? How do you stay inspired, and focus on your goals?
- Do you have any new obsessions or learning goals in the year to come?
Being a Chiropractor for the last 11 years has given me the opportunity to meet so many individuals and families in my community. Spinal health and proper functioning of the nervous system has never been more important, as we are exposed to so much physical, chemical and mental stress in our world today. Technological advances are exciting and have given us so much, but desk jobs, on-the-go lifestyles, and constant sensory overload from cell phones, computers and other devices has changed our mental and physical health. Chiropractic care reduces stress and tension in the body, corrects patterns that are not serving us, and optimizes the way our bodies and brains function. So much depends on a healthy nervous system, from how our bodies and minds age, to how well we digest our food, to how we handle mental stress and interact with one another.
I love caring for all ages and genders, but I am especially passionate about working with pregnant women and children. Today, many women are seeking more natural pregnancies and deliveries to minimize the physical and chemical stresses on themselves, and their babies during such a critical time. Easing the discomfort that often comes along with carrying a child, preparing the body for safer and easier births, and providing birth resources and support along the way gives me great joy.
Additionally, children of today suffer from more chronic health conditions, and are more medicated than any previous generation. Giving parents a natural means of healthcare for their children, and counseling them on wellness lifestyle choices is essential in every community if we are to raise healthy families with bright futures.
As a child I loved crafts and art projects, especially sketching and coloring. My family loved puzzles, and to this day I still find a good jigsaw puzzle extremely therapeutic. I also loved being outside, cruising my neighborhood and nearby trails on my bike with my older sister and our neighborhood friends. There were some decent hills where we grew up, and I distinctly remember being curious about what made my thigh muscles burn when I pedaled uphill.
In high school I was a cheerleader in Fall and Winter and played lacrosse in the Spring. I liked being part of a team, feeling strong physically and staying active year-round. I actually loved school. Math and Science were always my favorite, but I loved literature, writing and art too.
When I was old enough, I did a lot of babysitting on the weekends and during summers, and worked as a camp counselor. Being active, being outside and working with kids were all things I gravitated towards.
Choosing to be a chiropractor came from a place of intrigue and awe about the human body and its inner workings. My mother was a labor and delivery nurse for almost 30 years so I grew up hearing birth stories and seeing her come home with gifts of appreciation from families she had helped. I remember running into people at grocery stores and other public places who recognized her and were still grateful for the role she played during such a special moment in their lives. It seemed like such a rewarding job, and from a young age I knew I wanted to be a part of health care in some way.
When it was time to look at colleges and think about careers my mom had been in a car accident and started going to a chiropractor. She was getting so much relief and encouraged me to shadow him in his practice to learn more about the profession. I had always wanted to be a veterinarian because I loved animals, but when I shadowed our vet I did not care for the surgical procedures and the drugs, but loved the routine visits. When I spent a day at the chiropractor’s office it instantly felt like the perfect fit for me: a healthcare profession that helped people naturally, without the use of drugs or surgery.
I have had so many inspiring teachers over the years from elementary school onward that have sparked my interest in so many subjects and made me fall in love with learning. My first grade teacher and high school physics teacher were especially influential.
Dr. Jeanne Ohm, the co-founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association has inspired me for years. I received my pediatric and prenatal training through her organization, and many of the instructors and fellow chiropractors I have met during my training keep me striving to learn more and to continue developing my technical and clinical skills as a chiropractor.
I am physically stronger than I look or seem to most people, and I consider this somewhat of a superpower. This allows me to be versatile in my technique and skill as a chiropractor so I am able to care for the smallest infant just as well as the 6-foot, 6-inch athlete that walks into my office.
I think most mothers are given superpowers to have the instincts and energy to birth babies and feed and care for their children, especially in the early years. It is an amazing thing to witness. My 3-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son have definitely brought out some of these superpowers in me.
Each year I write a journal entry on New Year’s Eve to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new year.
The year’s end has always been a good time for me to express gratitude for what has passed, consider the present, and plan for the future. This year I finished a vision board on New Year’s Eve that I had started earlier in the month of December. It’s nice to have something visual to reflect on and re-visit. I keep it hanging above my desk at home.
One way I stay inspired is through a business book club I am a member of with other women in Frederick. Last year was the first year we started meeting each month. We chose books that focused on a variety of topics from team leadership skills, networking, work and personal life balance, and positive psychology. We organized our meetings using a Facebook group and it gave us the opportunity to stay connected outside of our meetings, follow up on topics we had previously discussed, and share events of interest in the community. Surrounding myself with other women business owners definitely keeps me inspired and focused on personal and professional goals. It is also comforting to know I am not alone in having to wear many hats as a wife, mom, and business owner.
Professionally, In the next year or two I hope to complete a second advanced program in Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic Care.
Personally, I have an ongoing obsession of “practicing what I preach” in terms of living a healthy lifestyle. This includes getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating a healthy, whole food diet, and making time for myself so I may be a loving, mindful parent, partner, daughter, sister and friend.
That being said, a new obsession or goal of mine has been to let go of perfectionism. More and more I recognize that life is so full that I have to be okay with days not going as planned and things being left undone. Having self-compassion is a key piece of healthy striving to be your best self, and in the words of Brene Brown, “it is in the process of embracing our imperfections that we find our truest gifts and strengthen our most meaningful connections.”
Do you have a passion you’d like to share? Email me at info@erinpelicano.com and you could be featured in our next blog and email newsletter!
