How it began…   

 One morning in the summer if 1990 (I had just won the North American Bodybuilding Championship and was training for the U.S. Championships) I woke up with an excruciating pain in my neck…you know, the kind where you can’t find a comfortable position to put your body. In a day or two, it had progressed to the point where I was losing strength in my right arm, and over the next few weeks all of the muscles in the right side of my upper body started to atrophy (shrink in size). Were talkin’ my 20” gun was down to a 16! And only on one side! I felt like Quasi Moto…that would mess with anyone’s head let alone a competitive body builder!

I went to an orthopedic doctor and got an MRI showing a healed fracture in my neck from a former football injury. After various treatment protocols (which had little effect) someone in my gym suggested I see his chiropractor. After the first adjustment the pain started to subside, and soon the function started to return. I started to train again and even though I never returned to competition, I realized the power of the chiropractic adjustment. This motivated me to go back to school and become a chiropractor.

Off to school…  

Going back to professional school at 35 years old can be a bit intimidating, especially for someone who never excelled in school. I remember I had to make up a bunch of pre requisite classes starting with a chemistry class. My professor Dr. Parvannah Mogadesian asked everyone when they had taken the prerequisite chemistry class. The answers from my classmates were: “Last semester”; “Last Year”. When it came to me I blurted out, “Eighteen years ago!”

“You’re going to have to work a little harder” she said to me.

I remember getting a B on my first test. The words “you can make an A next time” were written on the top of the page. These words turned out to be most inspiring to me. I proceeded to get a 100% on her final and go on to graduate Summa Cum Laude as the salutatorian of my class.

After graduation I went up to her office and told her the story of how she inspired me without even knowing. I quoted the founder of chiropractic Dr. BJ Palmer “You never know how far reaching something you think, say or do today, will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”

 On to Practice...

When I entered into practice in Redondo Beach 10 years ago, I planted my flag and claimed responsibility for the health and well being of the community.

Meeting and treating the community of the south bay (Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach) has been an absolute pleasure over the last 10 years. The families and friends we’ve met have created a life worth living.

My recent setback… and enlightenment...

A recent setback has made me look at my life and career with a different perspective. Feeding my competitive nature, I had taken to endurance sports such as triathlon and the disciplines they require (swim, bike, run) in the recent years. This while continuing to lift weights as it remained a passion of mine and was the culprit in causing a herniated (sequestrated) disc in my lower back. All the conservative therapy wasn’t bringing me around. I’ve always contested that I’m for anything that works, drugs and surgery last…and because of the nature of my injury; I was looking at the latter.

This was a tough position for anyone but for a chiropractor? My career, my livelihood, my reputation were all on the line. The cardinal sin of opting for surgery seemed my only choice left! So I sought out the latest technique and chose a surgeon and went for it.

As I write I am still recovering, being about 80% I would say. It’s been a long painful journey back but I’m optimistic that a full recovery is eminent. This experience has certainly helped me understand and empathize with my patients in pain. It’s also made me realize (maybe for the first time) that I am mortal. That life is fleeting and so is everything in life including my health (even though I take fantastic care of myself) and it’s possible that I could lose the ability to practice.

The next chapter…

The cliché “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” resounded in my head. This made taking my home based network-marketing business more seriously. With this realization I am now my pursuing my health and wellness business with renewed fervor. The thought of creating a second income stream from the industry I love and cherish and also to share an income opportunity with my partners is now a reality in a big way.

My passion hasn’t changed nor has my purpose. They have only evolved perfectly with the changes in my life.