May 2025 Newsletter
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At a technique seminar, the instructor asked us, “In your chiropractic office, whose spine is the most important?”
The patient’s, duh, I thought in response. The patient always come first.
The instructor answered, “The doctor’s spine is the most important. If your spine is not in good shape, then you won’t be able to help all the patients who need you.”
Oh.
His answer surprised me and has stayed with me years later, even though I don’t completely agree with him.
To me it’s not useful to live as if my spine matters more than any of my patients’. But the instructor that day reminded me that even while I focus effort on caring for patients, I must remember to allot some effort toward myself.
Thus I take care of my spine the way I hope my patients take care of theirs. I go to my chiropractor, I keep active, I stretch, and I tend to my back when it hurts.
Yes, I need to keep my spine healthy in order to help keep my patients’ spines (and other joints!) healthy, but moreso because I believe everyone’s spine matters, including my own. We all have spines that need care.
We experience challenges in life that stress our bodies, we occasionally need the help of experts, and we owe ourselves grace when our efforts are less than perfect.
Today I took care of my spine with a visit to my chiropractor for an adjustment, followed by a bath with lavender and Epsom salts (that’s where I write my best newsletters 😉). I hope you get a chance to give your spine some TLC today. If you think a visit from the chiropractor would help, you can call or text me anytime.
Yours in health,
Announcements
BIG NEWS Sequoia Chiropractic is moving to Boston! The last day for patient visits in Pasadena and surrounding areas will be June 20, 2025. All current patients will be provided referrals to other chiropractors in the area along with a copy of their records (either paper or electronic). You may continue placing orders through Sequoia Chiropractic’s Fullscript online supplement shop even after the move. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect day to start care, there’s still time. Even a few adjustments can make all the difference! The last day for new patient appointments is Friday, May 23rd.
Sequoia Chiropractic will be closed for patient visits Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day, as well as Thursday and Friday May 29-30. You can still leave messages and texts on those days for Dr. Phillips, and she will respond as promptly as she is able.
Sequoia Chiropractic’s home visit hours are MTWF 9am-3pm. Established patients may also schedule home visits on Tuesday and Thursday 7pm-8:30pm. If you have a new injury that needs urgent care outside of these hours, call or text 626-346-0977. Feel free to leave a voicemail or text ANY TIME and Dr. Phillips will return contact as soon as possible.
Care to share a few words about your experience with Sequoia Chiropractic? Leave a review on Google or Yelp. Even a sentence or two helps others feel confident choosing Dr. Phillips as their chiropractor.
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Book Recommendations
To find the list of current and previous books featured in the newsletter, head to Sequoia Chiropractic’s bookshop.org storefront.
I Cannot Control Everything Forever
Emily C. Bloom
In Bloom’s memoir on becoming a parent, she explores all the ways in which she and her husband accounted for risks to their potential child, making the best choices they could with the information that science could provide, yet were unable to control the challenges they couldn’t anticipate. In some ways it’s the story of all walks of parenthood, the story of how having a child turns the other parts of life on their head. Yet her story is also specific to her individual experience, told in great detail and fleshed out with research that adds depth and captures the nuanced difficulty of her position. Her story is particularly one of motherhood, and a fitting book to read in the month that we celebrate mothers.
Several People Are Typing
Calvin Kasulke
It’s getting to the time of year in which life gets a bit frazzled, and if I’m going to read, it better be easy and entertaining, yet also of a quality that makes the read worthwhile. Several People Are Typing is that kind of novel. It’s formatted entirely in Slack chats, and it actually works. As you adjust to the format and get to know the characters, employees of a public relations firm, you soon find that Gerald’s consciousness has escaped his body and become trapped in Slack. His predicament immediately reminded me of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, but the narrative arc is less dark. Instead, I found the novel both funny and strangely poetic at times, making for a fun fast read.
Health Affirmation
Sometimes when we experience pain, it’s the body insisting that you pay attention to it. But you don’t have to be in pain to notice how it feels to exist in your body. You don’t even have to stop what you’re already doing. Just tuck this affirmation in your mind to consider as you go about your day. I tune in to my body. What am I noticing? Where am I feeling it?
On the other hand, you could do a mindfulness meditation with this affirmation. Think of your body as the home of your consciousness. Do you have parties every day in your actual home? Probably not. Sometimes it’s nice to just stay in and get cozy. What does it mean to be cozy in your body? You have to pay attention and tune in to find out.
Nutrition Spotlight: Multivitamins
I’m often asked, what’s a good daily multivitamin? Here are several I recommend depending on one’s food choices and restrictions and individual preferences.
The gold standard all-time favorite of mine is Standard Process’ daily multipacks. It includes Catalyn, a proprietary blend of whole foods providing a complete profile of vitamins, Trace Minerals-B12, and tuna oil omega-3 capsules. One pack a day is all you need. I prefer whole food-based vitamins whenever possible for the phytonutrients and animal organ cell content, both of which are so beneficial to the body, but just can’t be replicated in a lab. While the daily pack is free of gluten and dairy, strict vegetarians vegans, and individuals with other food allergies, will want to look below for another option.
Integrative Therapeutics makes a multivitamin called Clinical Nutrients HP intended to fit most individuals in any stage of life, regardless of age or gender. Because iron isolated from food can cause nausea, and people have differing iron needs depending on age and gender, this particular multivitamin leaves iron out altogether. (Individuals who menstruate–look below for an option that will better suit your stage in life.) While Clinical Nutrients HP doesn’t have iron, it does contain a highly bioavailable form of curcumin, which is anti-inflammatory. Plus, Integrative Therapeutic’s parent company is German, thus all their products are regulated by Germany’s version of the FDA. Clinical Nutrients HP is vegan, vegetarian, and free of allergens except soy.
If Clinical Nutrients HP sounds like your ideal vitamin, but you are indeed allergic to soy, look to Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Multivitamin for the winner. Pure Encapsulations is known for its hypoallergenic formulations, ideal for those with severe allergies and/or celiac disease.
Finally, if you would prefer a vitamin tailored to your age and gender, I suggest the brand Innate Response. Their vitamins include some food-state ingredients, similar to Standard Process, minus the animal organ powder, and are thus vegetarian, free of gluten, dairy, and soy. Choose the particular version based on your gender and age (under 40, 40+, 55+). They also have a prenatal multivitamin. The women’s formulas include iron, except for the ages 55+ version.
To order any of these products, or to ask any questions you might have about them, leave a voicemail or text at 626-346-0977. Feel free to start a Fullscript account and explore in the meantime!
Interested in exploring nutritional supplements recommended by Dr. Phillips? Check out Sequoia Chiropractic’s Fullscript catalog of favorites by tapping the button below. Creating an account is free. To receive Dr. Phillips’ expert nutritional guidance and personalized recommendations, call 626-346-0977 or fill out this form.
One More Thing
It’s been a while since I first introduced my favorite low-tech back-saving device, so it’s time to remind you of the inflatable balance disc. Placed on a chair, it wakes up your core to protect your spine while you sit for any length of time. If you have attempted to use a yoga ball for a desk chair, I can assure you that the balance disc is much less cumbersome and plenty effective in preventing the stiff, tight, aching low back that sitting often causes. Any brand in any color will do.
See you in June!
Thank you for reading the newsletter. If you have a friend who would enjoy it, please invite them to subscribe. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, subscribe here.
