Joining Dr. Don today is Dr. David Fletcher, a threepeat guest who is here to dive further into the polyvagal theory and heart rate variability. Dr. Fletcher is a chiropractic pioneer and the tools you can use to help track your patient's inputs and outputs.   The pandemic changed many things, but importantly, it significantly affected the population and their primary autonomic responses. Dr. Fletcher talks us through how his tools track autonomic responses, distinguish between parasympathetic and sympathetic reactions, and interpret data points.   Key Takeaways: How things have been for David and his practice during the pandemic. [01:30] How people in the industry utilized their strength and knowledge during the pandemic. [02:50] Commonalities between chiropractors that succeeded and grew through the pandemic. [03:30] How forced immobilization during the pandemic affected people. [06:45] Blending technologies to read client inputs and outputs and why it’s important. [08.00] The Four Quadrant Model. [08:45] Measuring parasympathetic vs. sympathetic reactions. [13:00] Working within the rules of the human operating system and reigniting the systems. [18:00] Keeping the human system in motion. [20:00] Creating a movement to safety. [23:00] Why chiropractic is a neuroscience-based on coordination. [25:00] About the face/heart connection. [27:00] Sifting through inputs and outputs to find useful information. [28:20] The Love Cause and Effect. [30:00] The physiology of detecting danger. [31:40] Creating self-awareness about your body and reactions. [33:20] Why chiropractors need to stop living in fear. [35:00] Honoring the pioneers of chiropractic advancements. [36:55] About autonomic states and how they track on the HRV. [39:00] Unraveling uncharacteristic readings. [47:25] Words of wisdom. [50:00] For more information on the Insight Scans, visit https://insightcla.com/  The Informed Chiropractor: Click here for more info

In this episode, Dr. Don MacDonald is pleased to interview Dr. Christopher Kent, who has been a long-time inspiration to him.  Dr. Christopher Kent is a chiropractor and educator. He learned about chiropractic and eventually attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. After graduation, he worked as an intern and eventually became an educator. He met Dr. Patrick Gentempo, and together they created On Purpose, a company focused on helping Chiropractors. Dr. Kent has a subluxation focus and is interested in quantifying the changes that result from care. He also discusses the polyvagal theory, how the nervous system impacts emotions, and how the pandemic has affected patients worldwide. In the future, he would like to research the autonomic response and believes that chiropractic care is the perfect solution for the aftereffects of the pandemic. Dr. Kent teaches at Sherman College of Chiropractic and has also worked and learned outside of North America. He shares some parting words of wisdom in the interview.   Key Takeaways: How did Dr. Kent end up practicing chiropractic medicine? [02:00] Kent’s journey of learning about chiropractic theory. [03:20] How the answer to the question “what do chiropractors do?” changed Dr. Kent’s entire career trajectory. [04:15] Kent’s experience at Palmer. [07:55] How the discipline has changed over the years. [10:40] Life after graduation and Dr. Kent’s intern experience. [12:30] How Dr. Kent became an educator. [14:00] Meeting Dr. Patrick Gentempo and creating On Purpose. [15:30] Why Dr. Kent started leaning towards a subluxation focus. [18:35] Quantifying changes due to therapy. [19:39] Discussing the polyvagal theory, happiness, and how far the effect of it can reach. [22:25] The effects of the pandemic on patients. [26:20] Areas that Dr. Kent wants to research in the future. [27:00] Monitoring the autonomic response. [29:00] Why chiropractic medicine is the perfect treatment for the aftereffects of the pandemic. [30:40] What Dr. Kent teaches at Sherman. [32:00] Kent’s experience working and learning outside of North America. [33:40] Parting words of wisdom. [35:50]

On today’s episode, Dr. Don speaks with Dr. Peter Kevorkian for the third time on the podcast. A lot has changed since Dr. Kevorkian last visited the show. This time, he’ll dissect the effects of the pandemic and talk about how we can transition out of it healthily. Over the last few years, many things have changed for practitioners and patients. How do you navigate the changes personally and professionally? And more importantly, how do you make the needed transitions to continue?   Key Takeaways: What it’s been like as practitioners transition out of the pandemic. [01:28] Three things that have got Peter through the pandemic. [02:45] How the trauma of COVID-19 has affected everyone. [03:30] Why adaptation is necessary and a sign of good mental health. [04:25] Understanding that cultural norms may be flawed. [06:00] How the pandemic has drastically affected peoples’ physiology and nervous system. [07:00] Tip 1: Be aware of what is happening around you and stay awake. [08:15] Find the joy in something and hold on to it; create space for it. [11:45] Tip 2: Create a safe space to decompress and turn off the fight or flight instinct. [13:00] What can you do to create safety in your life, and what did Peter do? [16:15] Being conscious of creating a safe space for others in your practice. [17:00] Tip 3: Get back into your heart. The world needs love and respect. [22:10] Recognize the differences in perspectives and respect them. [23:45] Maintaining your self-care. [26:00] What major transitions have Peter and his work been through since the beginning of the pandemic? [29:00] Dealing with the passing of a colleague and friend. [30:50] Words of wisdom. [36:00] For more information on "The Informed Chiropractor," click https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Holroyd. He practices with his wife, Dr. Susan Holroyd, at their clinic in Kelowna, BC. Kevin was introduced to chiropractic care at a young age—so early that he doesn’t remember his first appointment. From there, chiropractic care played a part in his wellness routine, and eventually, he decided to pursue it as a career. Kevin will tell us all about a recent personal health challenge and how he’s dealt with his diagnosis. He also shares insight into the tools, technology, and people that helped him through this challenging time.  He shares with us his very challenging journey of being diagnosed with cancer and, more importantly, the people he surrounded himself with and what he did that helped him heal.   Key Takeaways: How Kevin became interested in chiropractic care in his youth. [2:07] Why he decided to pursue a career as a chiropractor. [3:11] Where Kevin first began his career. [5:40] The health challenge he encountered in February 2020. [9:47] The news he learned after his surgery and what happened afterward. [13:58] A coincidence that helped him after his diagnosis. [15:30] How his diet changed after his diagnosis. [18:50] The biggest thing he’s learned through his diagnosis. [20:51] How a connection of his sisters was helpful to his situation. [22:15] The positive reminder he got after his second dose of immunotherapy. [25:42] How his immunotherapy impacted his liver health. [28:31] The mental struggles he encountered and how he dealt with them. [30:35] The therapy modality Kevin practiced and why it was so powerful. [32:47] What going through this experience has taught him. [34:58] The significant milestone he passed was in May 2022. [37:59] Kevin’s wisdom for other chiropractors who are dealing with their challenges. [40:52]   For more info on the Vitality Shift, visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/

Dr. Don discusses the numerous training events and methods he has been employing in the last few months in today’s episode. We also hear a clip from a recent Zoom call for doctors in London preparing for an upcoming seminar there. Brandi joins in to discuss the added complications that the pandemic has caused in patient care and how to adapt to it. They also discuss the basics of polyvagal theory and briefly touch on the challenges practitioners face. The three parts of the Polyvagal theory covered in this episode are the hierarchy of the nervous system, neuroception, and co-regulation.  They are very excited to be producing a 4-week program in the second quarter of 2023 with Dr. Stephen Porges on the clinical application of the polyvagal theory into Chiropractic practice.   Key Takeaways: The overview of recent training events and methods. [1.00] Brandi discusses the polyvagal theory and the problems that arise from being bombarded with too much information. [2:55] Creating an effective and semantically sound communication method for training. [4:00] Challenges faced by polyvagal practitioners. [5:36] The salutogenic process of chiropractic. [6:25] Getting to grips with the polyvagal process and overcoming preconceived notions of healing and pain. [7:00] Understanding what a patient’s physiology is telling you and them. [9:20] Why Brandi and Don came to the polyvagal theory. [10:40] How the pandemic has influenced assessing patients’ trauma and pain. [11:30] Understanding the effects of worldwide trauma. [13:00] Focusing on chiropractors and their lives. [14:50] Your responsibility to self-care. [15:30] Decoding how patients have changed through COVID and learning to communicate again. [17:00] Your responsibility as a practitioner is to accept your patient’s trauma. [18:45] How using the correct language will deepen your communication and connection with patients. [19:15] The main concepts of the polyvagal theory. [20:00] Understanding safety. [23:00] How the nervous systems of children are different. [28:00] To join Dr. Don and Brandi Macdonald's monthly mentoring group called "The Informed Chiropractor," click below. https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor  To Join Dr. Don and Brandi in San Fransico on January 14th for the Emergence one-day workshop, click below. https://www.thevitalityshift.com/offers/S4oB5dNd  To Join Dr. Don and Brandi in Montreal on Saturday, March 11th, for "The MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol" hands-on workshop, click below https://www.thevitalityshift.com/offers/FoayJsda