Dr. Kris Tohtz is a dual licensed Chiropractic Physician and Acupuncturist with an ACA Diplomate in Acupuncture. She is a trained post-partum doula, has completed an advanced certification in Pregnancy and Pediatric care through the ICPA, and she is presently helping the ACA Pediatrics Council as their Diplomate Educational Co-Coordinator. She is certified in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy and earned a certification in functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).

She has been teaching continuing education for 18+ years on the topics of acupuncture, dry needling, pregnancy, nutrition, and pediatric care. She has served the ACA Acupuncture Council in all positions for over 10 years. She is the owner and lead clinician at Serenity Family Wellness, a managing partner at Fusion Care, LLC, and is the Acupuncture Clinician though the Veteran Administration at Post St. Lucie, Florida.

TRANSCRIPT

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  You made it to Chiro Hustle! Sit back and learn from the greatest influencers in the profession on the world's number one chiropractic podcast. Before we dive into this powerful episode, please remember to subscribe to our channels and give us a 5-star rating on iTunes to continue hustling.

This episode is brought to you by…

 

ChiroHD – More than an EHR; Practice Management, Simplified.

 

EVO Creative Media – A boutique, high quality video content co-op.

 

The Chiro Hustle Podcast is sponsored by ChiroHD, EVO Creative Media, 100% Chiropractic, Chiro Health USA, Imaging Services, Chiro Moguls, New Patients in a Box, PureChiroNotes, Titronics, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Life Chiropractic College West, Pro Hockey Chiropractic Society, Pro Baseball Chiropractic Society, and the IFCO.

 

Now, if you're looking to increase contributions toward preserving The Sacred Trust within the Chiropractic Subluxation model; in a way that honors our Innate and Universal Intelligence but lack the time and energy to launch a new initiative? Then, check out our Patreon page and choose the option that best fits your ability and desire to invest toward The Big Idea in support and restoration of freedoms to speech, medical and family health.

 

Now let’s hustle!

 

LUKE MILLETT (PRODUCER):  Hey guys, welcome to episode 575 of the Chiro Hustle Podcast. I'm your producer, Luke Millett, and here's your host, James Chester.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  So today we have the opportunity of interviewing Dr. Chris Totes. If you want to hear a story of why she became a chiropractor and not a medical doctor, it's because she didn't want to sell it to the AMA. Stay tuned for the full episode. Alright guys, welcome back. This is episode 575 of the Chiro Hustle Podcast. I've just been warming the mic up with Dr. Chris Totes. She's down there in the beautiful state of Florida. I would call it the Sunshine State, but I live in Colorado, and we get like 300 Sunshine Days a year. So, I know I'm in a good place too. Really excited. We're going to talk a lot about need for knowledge. We're going to talk about chiropractic education business. And I think that there's a lot that goes into the CE world. And I'm excited to talk about what you're offering up to people. And then we're going to dive into interprofessional, keep the family within the family referrals with chiropractors referred to other chiropractors. So, I think it's really, it's going to be a great conversation. And then we're going to touch on some things about from transitioning practice in Chicago to transitioning practice to Florida. Before we get into your story, Dr. Chris, we're going to let people know our big why. Why do we do what we do at Chiro Hustle? Well, first things first is the First Amendment and freedom of speech. We've never censored anyone on this platform. We don't believe anybody should ever be censored and shadow bands, you know, low quality engagement. If you guys are on this and you like it, share it please. That's our fee share the show. We don't charge anything to listen to us. If you do like what we do and you're at the beginning of this podcast, just share it for us. Talking a little bit more philosophically though, within the chiropractic profession, we do protect the sacred trust. I think it's something that people have to know. If you don't know what the sacred trust is, it's BJ Palmer's last words. Go and search for it. You're going to learn more about chiropractic and guarantee you than you previously did in what you knew about chiropractic before by the developer of the profession. Son of D.D. Palmer, chiropractor number one. So, if you want to know more about chiropractic, go follow the path of D.D. Palmer and how he came down from Canada and founded a chiropractor college in Davenport, Iowa called Palmer. The show also protects medical freedom, family health freedom. We bring people on, and we believe that chiropractic is a huge component to keeping people having choice when it comes to how they take care of their families and how they go about their medical care that they get rendered to them and their loved ones. So, we love chiropractic. We believe the chiropractic lifestyle is very important to people to understand. It's not just about the neck and back and the pains and the aches. It's about the lifestyle. And with that, we support Subluxation-Based Chiropractic. One of our sponsors is Sherman College of Chiropractic. And we have Life West College of Chiropractic on because we believe in their education models. And thank you for supporting us Sherman and Life West. And as we fold into this whole thing, we believe in innate intelligence and universal intelligence. We believe that when man or woman, the physical is adjusted by a chiropractor, connects them to man or woman, the physical and the spiritual and the physical connect innate intelligence, universal intelligence. And I know it's a lot of stuff. It's a lot of philosophy, but we know that we need to keep philosophy alive and well in this profession. So, this is Chiro Hustle. This is episode 575 and Dr. Chris Totes. Welcome.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Thanks, James. I really appreciate you having me here.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah, there's a lot that goes into our show as we discussed. And one of those things is having our tenants of influence and why we do it. So, I hope that everybody that's listened to us this far appreciates the stance that we've made as being a non-chiropractor. I think it's really important for people to understand some of these things and keeps our language alive and it keeps our philosophy alive. And even if all you knew about was BJ Palmer's big idea and you knew about the sacred trust, you would probably be really stoked to know that you're going to go see a chiropractor just because of how the profession stands up for itself. Your story, you said National Grad. And you got into chiropractic acupuncture, and you got into pediatric chiropractic. So, talk about the origin of how you got into chiropractic and maybe share a little bit about how you transitioned to where you are today.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Sure. So, the joke of my life is I was never adjusted before chiropractic school. I watched my entire family get treated by chiropractors. Thankfully, I would say healthy, but looking back, definitely not healthy. I just didn't have any chronic musculoskeletal issues in the same way that my mom did or that my brother did. And so, I used to get dragged to the chiropractor with them and I watched the chiropractor work on them, and I watched them leave and they were much happier and they felt a lot better. Not just from a pain perspective, but obviously from not getting sick and stuff like that. So, I grew up dancing and one of the girls that I used to dance with, her uncle, was a chiropractor and he would come in and he would work on people that had injuries. Well, thankfully I didn't have any injuries. So again, watching everything that was there. And so, when I went to college, I went to the U of I in Champaign and I was pre-med. And about halfway through school, I decided that I wanted to become an osteopath, right? So, it was like this mix of chiropractic with the capability to do surgery if I so desired that I wanted to. And I went and talked to my advisor and my advisor in school was like, you don't want to leave your sophomore year and become a chiropractor. They're quacks. And I was like, go forth with osteopathic school. And so, I had to stay summers to keep my jobs and to pay for school. So, while I was there, I was, you know, taking prep classes and taking the MCATs and I got through my second round of applications and they wanted more money and they wanted more and more and I was like, you know what, I kind of burnt out of school. I'd gotten out of college in three and a half years because of, you know, staying summers to keep my jobs. So, I took classes. I took a break, and I went and I worked in a manufacturing in a QA lab at Abbott. And about a year into that, I decided corporate America was not my jam. And I started looking again at chiropractic school versus osteopathic school. And I decided that I didn't really want to be a sellout to the AMA. So, I enrolled in chiropractic school and I haven't looked back since.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  It's been great. What a truth.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Yeah.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  I didn't want to sell out to the AMA.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Yeah. I didn't because, you know, I mean, the osteopath, it's so sad for me because talking to, you know, some of my friends that have gone back from chiropractic school to osteopathic, it's really funny because I'm like, do you guys still learn manipulation? And they're like, yeah, I'm like, do you do it? And they're like, no. And I'm like, why? I was like, when it worked so well, they're like, you know, the funny thing is all my colleagues in school asked me to adjust them because they knew it worked as well. And so, you know, nationals right up the street from one of the big osteopathic schools.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah, it's every time I have one of these chiropractic conversations on this podcast, it always gives me some type of enlightenment moment just because there is a choice. And I think that you can either go to the light side, which is heal and nurture and recovery, or you can go to the dark side, which is cut it out, drug it out, burn it out. And I'm not ever saying that there isn't a time for that, but it's not a sustainable model.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Correct. And the time that plays and working at the Veterans Administration right now, I get the backlash of that was first. Yeah. We're trying to repair one.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. And it's, it's once the dam is broken. Like you can only put so much putty on it.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Correct. Yeah. And the dyke only works so long, right?

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. And I think that if people just knew what we know, they would do what we do. And the problem is that somebody else in their life, Dr. Chris, is like, don't go to the chiropractor. They're quacks. Just like that, the administration person did for you when you're in the college level. People are so misinformed, but they're quick to throw a rock.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Very, it happens with acupuncture as well. Like people are like, Oh, I don't believe in it. That's my favorite. I'm like, we're not a religion. I was like chiropractic acupuncture. I'm like, we're not a religion. We have science.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  There's science behind what we do, you know, it's so funny for me, because a lot of people that know me know I do a lot of external marketing events and I go to festivals and fairs and things. And there's a lot of people that will get tuned up on alcohol and they'll come up to me and they'll say whatever they want to. And I do the old Sid Williams thing, the founder of Life University. And I say, I dropped the keys and I say chiropractic works like gravity. It works whether you believe it or not. You don't have to believe in chiropractic. And I joke a little bit further. I'm like, you know, it's a belief system. Santa Claus in the Easter Bunny. And I say chiropractic is actually healing art. And if you want help, we can help you. But if you're here to like cause like any type of like issue about not believing and what I'm here to help people with, then this isn't the place for that.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Right.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  But I think people need some firmness also to say, look, chiropractic is a beautiful profession and it can help a lot of people to keep vitality and keep you long term doing what you like to do when you want to do it with the quality of life that you

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  want to do it with the grace and ease that you would like your body to have. Right. Yeah.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. And you know, I think they integrate into us to some time that we're supposed to be sick. You know, there's a lady earlier, third generation chiropractor interviewed. And she's like, when I was like in sixth grade, I saw a girl take like an aspirin and she's like, I asked my mom what that was all about. And she said it was like the kid was like, it's for headaches. And like my mom was like, well, you don't get headaches. Why don't you get headaches? And she's like, oh, because I get adjusted. Yeah. And that's another cool thing is when I meet people and they say that they suffer with headaches, I say, hey, I saw her headaches normal to you. They'll be like, yeah, gosh, I'm like, well, how frequently you get them? And they're like, oh, gosh. And I'm like, well, good news is we have 90% success rate with headache patients. They're like, no way. We thought it was just about this.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Yeah, you're like, no, so much more. I always ask, I always surprises me still to this day. I tell people, I'm like, tell me about your headaches. And they're like, which one? And I was like, how many do you have? They'd be like three. I'm like, OK, let's break them down. Yeah.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Well, it's just the thing is we need solution-based orientation for people to find what they need. And I always tell people to most of the time they don't go to the chiropractor because they don't know where to grow, who to trust. So, we have to build rapport with them. And we have to find out what's going on with them. Basically, we have to get them to tell on themselves of what they've tried and why it didn't work.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Exactly.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  And then we get them into the office, and I always tell them when we schedule, I'm like, you're going to be our number one referral source. So, thank you. And like they are like it like energetically when you like guide people. They love to be led. They just need somebody to actually pay attention to them and tell them positive things and interact with them and tell them there's hope for you.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  And that's and it's one of the things interesting that you say that that I do in exams. So, while I'm doing stuff and I'll tell people I'm like, that's completely normal. That's completely normal. I'm like, I'm going to tell you what's not broken on you so that you know that there's parts that need some support. But there's also parts in you that are working absolutely fine. And they're like, thanks, nobody ever does that. And I was like, I know because you don't go to the doctor because you're amazing.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  I used to call it Mr. Potato Head. Like a guy, a guy wouldn't come into the chiropractic office unless he was missing a limb.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Usually my job. Thanks. I was like, I'm a little cruder than that, but I appreciate that.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  I'm like, all right. So, the legs fallen off. You're finally coming in. Great. Yeah. Now you're going to end actually, you know, when people start feeling like they're actually healing, they don't sometimes remember what they originally came in for.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  So true all the time. This is why we do outcome assessments and questionnaires because people be like, well, you know, XYZ, like, I don't know if it's better. And you'd be like, you remember this, this, this, this, this. So, like, yeah, I'm like, all these things that were wrong. Yeah, if you're still wrong, they're like, no, like my point.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. Yeah. And I think that that's the beautiful thing about this profession. That's why I always dub it as the beautiful profession because it helps people. It serves people and chiropractors do give love and serve. But like we're, we're talking about like fee schedules. Like you have to like, you know, have people pay appropriately for the services that you provide. And then they people, what people pay for, they pay attention to very much.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  So, I will tell you that when I dropped from an insurance practice to a cash practice, I saw a half the amount of people and made the same amount of money. And can I tell you people got better and they were done and then they'd send you more people, right? It's the best referral source ever because they're like, they had so much more skin in the game, right? Like it was so great. I was like, that's the best.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. What you pay for you pay attention to all day. So, so talk about that a little bit. I know that you started practice in Chicago. Now you've migrated down to Florida. Talk about some differences in practice model and where you are today.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Sure. So, I started out as, so I interned through somebody's office as a student and that doctor, his name is Rick Husker, lovely human being. He was kind enough to help me out in business, show me the ropes, which was really great. So, I started out independent contracting out of his office right away. And it was great because I wasn't secure enough in my knowledge as a new doc. But so, he was there if I had a, I had to pick if I wanted, right? Cause I'm a big fan of like congeniality and collegiality and in the profession. And so, I had a brain to pick, which was great. And he was a good person for that. And when I outgrow that space, then I took on a business partner at the time I was teaching in the Chiro department at national and I took on a student that was getting ready to graduate and he was a hustler. He was a complete hustler. He is now working at Rush triaging people in like, do you need PT chiropractic? Do you actually need surgery? Where do you need to go? Like, since great, it's the perfect job for him. His name is Tom Lotus. And Tom and I worked together for 10 years, and we had a really big clinic. We had multiple massage therapists. We had people doing PT, you know, it was a, it was this awesome and crazy. You know, and when it was coming down to, do you want to open up more clinics? And I was like, no, cause I wanted to have a family. And so, we separated, he went to the hospital and I opened up a smaller clinic, which became a bigger clinic again. And I did that for five years. And then I took on this role at a nursing school that let me do interdisciplinary continuing education. So, we were putting nurses and chiropractors and acupuncturists in rooms to work with each other and learn from each other. And it was fabulous. We did education on LGBTQIA health equity and like, how do you do better exams on trans and LGBTQ people? Integrative like asgarotic therapy, disaster relief. We brought Mackenzie therapy and acupuncture there and it was great. And so, I ended up moving down the Florida because my parents are older and they've turned into giant teenagers and their health is slightly precarious. And I just, I was taking all my free time coming down here to spend time with them anyway. So, I decided it was time. I am married to a Brazilian. So, I have returned him to his native climate. He was elated and I moved into the land of hot weather. I moved here in the summer, which is a bad plan for any of you thinking about moving the Florida, cause you're going to question your life choices. And then winter rolls around and you're like, this is okay. And I was teaching at one of the universities down here and I just decided that that wasn't for me. And I opened up a small practice. I practice out of my house now. Um, and, uh, I'm actually working at the veterans administration right now, helping the vets, um, with, uh, more with acupuncture as a focus, hoping soon to move into a Chiro job.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Well, I think that that's a really neat path. And I think that a lot of times when we find that our, you know, the, the interview I did earlier was at the gal that moved from California. She moved from California to Florida. Oh, wow. For, for a parent. And, you know, there's a waiting room down here. Well, you know, that's what she said. She's like, um, God, family chiropractic.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Yep.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  And I said, what, what I found after being in this profession for 15 years, I think people turn that upside down sometimes and its chiropractic family and then God. And I think that when people like really want to get back to their roots and to like what matters, they realize that it's God, family chiropractic. And that the business will take care of itself if you're right with the other two.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Agreed. I mean, my parents were just here last week and, you know, they're so cute. Like they roll in the door and they'll get themselves all settled and then just walk in my office and sit down on the table. And I'm like, you need some help. They're like, Nope. I was like, okay, let's go.

 

This episode is brought to you by…

 

ChiroHD – More than an EHR; Practice Management, Simplified.

 

EVO Creative Media – A boutique, high quality video content co-op.

 

The Chiro Hustle Podcast is sponsored by ChiroHD, EVO Creative Media, 100% Chiropractic, Chiro Health USA, Imaging Services, Chiro Moguls, New Patients in a Box, PureChiroNotes, Titronics, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Life Chiropractic College West, Pro Hockey Chiropractic Society, Pro Baseball Chiropractic Society, and the IFCO.

 

Now, if you're looking to increase contributions toward preserving The Sacred Trust within the Chiropractic Subluxation model; in a way that honors our Innate and Universal Intelligence but lack the time and energy to launch a new initiative? Then, check out our Patreon page and choose the option that best fits your ability and desire to invest toward The Big Idea in support and restoration of freedoms to speech, medical and family health.

 

Now let’s hustle!

 

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  So, so you've kind of went back and forth about private practice, education sector, private practice, education sector. And why is it so important for quality education and knowledge when it comes to giving people the resources that they need?

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  It's a great question. So, I have, this is a discussion between my husband and I all the time. So I'm a everybody, I believe everybody in life has a little bit of some type of an addiction and mine is work. I like to work. I was like really amazing, good German work ethic. And so, like I like to be busy. And so, I have always, I mean, I started out right when I graduated educating and then I moved into post-grad and I educated. So, I've never not educated and practiced at the same time. And so that's been a little bit of my path as well as going to get more tools and information that educate. I think as we're all kind of moving through our practice and moving through trying to figure out how to best navigate helping people, sometimes we need to amass more tools in our toolkit. Whether it's certifications, whether it's diplomats, whatever the case may be. I think we need to, you know, some of getting back to basics is always a decent answer. Right? Like, and when I do functional medicine, it's like, let's clear out the big, ugly, easy things. Right? Like diabetes, like thyroid problems, like any of these clear stuff out. Because if we get back to basics, a lot of times like we can end up fixing people from a nutritional aspect. Chiropractic’s the same way where, you know, adjusting can be a very powerful tool all by itself. And we've just got to make sure that we're educating ourselves to educate the patients the right way.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  And I think having that information in both how to talk and educate the patients and something that they can understand combined with having tools to be able to help treat them and teach them to treat themselves is just an asset to them.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  But it's also for us as well.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Well, it's how you get people to commit.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Bingo. And you have to sell it to them. Like they have to understand why they are worthy of feeling good.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Give people what they want, sell them what they need. You know, that's the greatest lesson I ever learned in sales. Yep. Is given what they want, sell them what they need, given what they want, sell them what they need. Some will, some won't, so what, who's next? Someone's waiting. Correct. You know, like, that's Chiropractic sales 101.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Well, and it's true. And you know, I, you know, I got to the point when I was in Chicago that I used to have this, like, you know, month-long waiting list. And I would, and I was telling the students this, they're like, when I moved down here and I was teaching at the school, they were like, Dr. Tots, why did you leave practice? I said, what makes you think I ever left my practice? I'm like, I still practice. I was like, I will continue to still practice. I was like, no matter what I'm doing, I was like, because it's something that I believe is needed and it's something I feel I do well that I can give to the patients. So, I thought that was really interesting.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  And practice transcends, it matures, it evolves, it adapts. And I think that that's an identity thing too. Like, we have to be able to do that and be easy on ourselves with whatever choices we decide to go down or whatever path we decide to follow is like, look, we need to be a bit more, you know, somebody was telling me the other day, like, life's hard. Like, growing a practice is hard. Like, I'm like, but what if you made it easy?

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  But it does, like, that's a mindset.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah, it doesn't have to be hard. It doesn't have to be hard.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  And my patients and my coworkers at the VA are funny. They're like, you're always happy. I'm like, I am mostly happy and that is a choice. I'm like, I could come in the work and complain to you about the stuff that's not going right in my life, but like, like a track's like, so I'm like, I choose to focus on the things that are good, not to ignore the things that aren't. I will still work on those in the background, of course, all day. But, you know, it doesn't, what am I, if I'm bringing that in the door and in with the patients, like they feel that, they know that. Yeah. I mean, you have to, you know, leave that stuff at the door and come in.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. So continuing education, back to education again, I think that's a cornerstone of today's interview session. You help people get their certifications and I know that you just got a pediatric chiropractor of the year award. Yeah. I mean, congratulations. Like, that's a big thing in this world is to be recognized by your peers.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Big time. I have to say like, you know, I mean, this has been a big labor of love. So, we've been Dr. Mary Minzer and I were put together as the co-educational coordinators for the ACA's Pediatric Diplomate. And so, we just launched our first cohort of people coming through in September. And, you know, Jenny Brocker, who is the president of the board approached me years ago when I was a new council president for the acupuncture council. And we had just, you know, we're a newer council. We're only around for about 10 years now. And we were at ACA Ignite together and she was like, hey, we're starting to build things. I might need some help. And I was like, sure, if you need some help, let me know. I'm like, little did I realize it was like, can you build the program? I'm like, oh, okay. So yeah, I have a specialty certain in education. So, we put some, you know, with Mary's help, we put a bunch of things together and we rounded up 27 different experts, a couple of which actually you've already had on your podcast. That are lecturing, which is really great.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah, one of my coaches would always tell me just because you can doesn't mean you should. But kudos to you for stepping in. Yeah.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Yeah. Yeah. It's like, you know, it's so funny because they're like, and still for the next cohort. And I'm like, we're out. I'm done after this one. Like no more.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  So, I think that that's a really good place for us to land right now is like, who has been somewhat of an influence on you? Who are some of the heroes that you've had along this journey? Who's helped get you to where you are today?

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  So, I've had a couple, which is really interesting. So, when I was at national, there is this really amazing, he's a DC PhD anatomist. His name's Barclay Bakam. And Vic, who eventually became one of my awesome confidants while I was working at national, he was so, he was such an amazing human being. Like we were an anatomy, and he could go from table to table to table. And he'd be like, talking about TV, and then he'd talk about sports, and then he'd answer anatomy questions. And he could like, space shift as he went from table to table. But he was an amazing adjuster and a really awesome chiropractor, but he was hard-nosed. Like I remember going into my, into his office arguing about an anatomy tagged question. And I was like, but that's the biceps. He was like, are there more two headed muscles in the body? And I was like, yes, but we're working on the leg right now. He was like, how do I know that? And I was like, he was the man that taught me to be specific in language and how I write. And so, I was like, okay, great. And then when I got about halfway through chiropractic school, I decided that I wanted another tool. And I started studying acupuncture and Dr. John Sunderland, who actually helped the Wilkes case, by the way. He was an awesome human being. And he was a full legit Midwestern farm boy that had studied all over the place. And he taught acupuncture, and he was my very first acupuncture teacher. And I was having all kinds of health issues. And he did some testing and he's like, you have parasites. I'm like, all you AK people say, I have parasites. I don't, I don't believe you. And he's like, just take these supplements and let me know. And then six weeks later, something really disgusting came out of my body. And I was like, and then everything started getting better. And I was like, okay. I got it. And so, you know, and so I started teaching with him. I started teaching acupuncture with him. And I still teach his patterns of health and wellness. So he was a huge influence in me like studying acupuncture, but then also like integrating it in with chiropractic. So much so that I actually went on and got a separate master's in acupuncture.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Well, as they say, and as you probably heard before, we do stand on the shoulders of giants.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Yes, very much so.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  And it is very important for all of us to know where we came from. And to pay reverence towards that path that we've been on and to thank people for taking the time to pay attention to us enough to put us on a path for greatness. And I think it's really, it's a quality thing when people build relationships and support and help each other and nurture each other into greater heights of where we can all go together. So I know that's another part that we wanted to touch on before the interviews over. But one of those things is interpersonal relationships within the profession to refer to the chiropractic family and to case manage together.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  All day. Yeah, I mean, there are so many people that have taken time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears and put this into advanced education, whether it's getting a McKenzie certification or getting diplomats, where we're getting a diplomat in neurology or an internal medicine in acupuncture and pediatrics. I think it's important that we know where we fit in the paradigm of things. And we need to keep in mind what's best for the patient that's in front of us. So, if something's not served well for you, I used to have people in Chicago come into me and I felt really comfortable treating Lyme disease, but they'd be like, so I have mold. I'm like, I'm not your person. And I was like, I have people that are so your person that do this way better than me all day every day. I'm like, go to them.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. And I think that's really encouraging. And one of the things I really appreciate is the philosophy diplomat. And when people understand that part of chiropractic, they can teach the future chiropractors why it's important to stay in the green books and stay philosophically grounded. And I grew up in the camp of chiropractic biophysics. So, I love what an ideal spine is supposed to look like and rehabbing people back to what is ideal. And I think that we all take whatever toolbox we have, and we do our best to support people on their journey back to vitality and better quality of life. And I love the fact that you're like, well, if you're dealing with this concern, I have somebody for you. And I can't tell you how many times a week people will just reach to me and say, hey, I need a chiropractor in Akron, Ohio, or hey, I need a chiropractor on Laguna Hills, or hey, I need a chiropractor in Orange County, or I need this person here. I mean, I can't tell you how many weekly posts I put for people that are actually chiropractors that are saying, hey, I need a patient that's going somewhere, or I'll have a friend just randomly reach out to me and say, hey, I have sciatica. Who do I go to in the city? Or I tweak my back lifting. And I'm in Miami. Who do you send me to? So I think that that's really important for us is to say, all right, great. I put your legs at 90 degree angle, like get a STEM unit if you need it. But make sure that they do x-rays, make sure that they do a proper exam, make sure that they're going to process you and tell you what's going on, how much concern there is, and let them tell you how they can help you build the relationship with them and stick with them. Exactly. Exactly. And

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  it's so funny too, because all of my friends from the Midwest, right? I mean, it's snowboard season. So they're all like, Hey, totes. You got somebody in Pensacola. I'm like, that's six hours away from me. Florida's a big state. But it turns into that it's the telephone game of people that I know now through the state. And we can get you somebody who's over in Pensacola or wherever it is, right?

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Yeah. And I think that that's also a really important thing to talk about is like, we should support each other. And one of my mentors that helped me start a podcast, he would always say, we're more alike than we are different. And I believe that there's unity through diversity. Like not every chiropractor does it the same way, but you should go have lunch with the ones that do it different than you. So you can, so you can make some friends and you can get adjusted too. So I always, I always encourage people to make friends within their city rather than to say, yeah, there's not enough patience to go around. Yeah, no, nobody's starving, right? I mean,

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  this is what it boils down to, right? There's enough food for everybody. I remember when we graduated, it was probably about three years later, a friend of mine moved out to Berkeley. And she bought an activator practice and go in the national, right? Like we don't have to be here. And so I looked at her, I said, how long did you intern with this guy? And did you go to the classes to learn how to do it? And she was like, yeah, so I went out there and I was like, do it, treat me. I've never had activator done. I'm like, do the whole thing. I'm like, I've had bastardized activator done, sure. Like I have a device, right? But I was like, do the whole leg check, like do the whole system. She's like, all right, put these shoes on and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, do it. And I was like, I got up and I was like, I do feel different, you know, and it's like, but you have to be receptive enough to have the open mind to see what it feels like. Like I'll try anything once or twice to see if I like it and see how it feels, you know, yeah, I do a lot of cranial work like that when trips people out.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Well, I met with a doctor last night for dinner and he does torque release technique. And I mean, I know Jay Holder, the guy that invented the technique. So it's interesting to me, when somebody follows their path, and they believe in it so much that that becomes their practice. And then the patients believe in it that much that you see 400 a week. Like how powerful is that? Like when you create that type of a momentum, it changes generations, it changes families, it changes the individual. It makes people cool.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  It makes people happy. It does. I will tell you, I got off the phone with a friend of mine today, and she's a she's a dabsie, a diplomat and internal man. And she was two seconds away from becoming a CPM so that she could home deliver babies and stuff. And she was so funny. She's like, yeah, Chris, she's like, I don't know, my next new patients in June of next year, she's like, and I'm only taking kids 12 and under. Like that's all she's doing now. She's like, so I have these like expanding fast growing families. And I was like, good for you.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  When you become a specialist, people will beat your door down to be seen by you. Very much so. So at this juncture, we're almost at the edge of our time together. Is there anything I didn't ask you that you were hoping that you could talk to our audience about today?

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  The big thing is, is making sure I think chiropractic gets this reputation of circling the wagons and firing the guns inward. I would definitely like to see that stop happening where we need to stop beating each other up. Like one thing may work for one person and one thing works for another. And if we all go by the creed of what we took in school for the first go around, the first do no harm. I think that's the biggest thing we can do. But that's not just an action that's in words and speech as well. And I think that that's something that needs to be done. The other thing that I would say is, so, you know, from this fun selfish side of things, I do have a continuing education company. I love that. Yeah, which is called FusionCare. And it's fusion-care.com and the care is an acronym. So it stands for chiropractic acupuncture and related education. We realize that people's continuing education dollars and their time are both precious. And we want to bring quality education to you at your home for as much as we can. And help get you in the hybrid model, amped up and ready, so that when you come in the class, the theory and knowledge and the information is there and we can spend time hands on doing the stuff that it is that we need to do, whether that's acupuncture and acupuncture techniques.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  or chiropractic skills. I love it so much. FusionCare.com, check out Dr. Chris's program. Thank you for being on with us today. Thank you for being such a receptive interview subject just because, you know, you never know what you're going to get when you jump on a live interview. And I hope you had a lot of fun. I did. And my big takeaway for you today was, I became a chiropractor because I didn't want to sell it to the AMA. And I think that we do need to protect the sacred trust, but we also have to know why we do what we do, who we do it for, and what keeps us motivated to keep doing the things that we love. So, I like the fact that you're helping people understand that acupuncture and chiropractic can live in the same household. And the more that you provide care to people, the better their outcomes are. And I think it's really important that people learn that and they learn it from somebody that has the passion for it. So thank you for being the episode 575 of the Chiro Hustle podcast.

DR KRIS TOHTZ DC (GUEST):  Thanks so much, James. Thanks so much for what you're doing for the profession. Like, I don't think that we can probably thank you enough for what you do. Well, the channel's open.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  It's Chiro Hustle.com. Come over, become a subscriber, share episodes, listen to episodes. And yeah, I just, I think that BJ Palmer said it best. He says, I love you because you love what I love. And that's chiropractic. And then when I close out my episodes, I always say, you're just one story away, keep hustling. I'll see you guys on the next episode. Dr. Chris, have a great night down there in Florida. And I hope to talk to you soon.

JAMES CHESTER (HOST):  Thanks for listening to Chiro Hustle. Don't forget to subscribe and check back next week to continue hustling.

 

This episode is brought to you by…

 

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The Chiro Hustle Podcast is sponsored by ChiroHD, EVO Creative Media, 100% Chiropractic, Chiro Health USA, Imaging Services, Chiro Moguls, New Patients in a Box, PureChiroNotes, Titronics, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Life Chiropractic College West, Pro Hockey Chiropractic Society, Pro Baseball Chiropractic Society, and the IFCO.

 

Now, if you're looking to increase contributions toward preserving The Sacred Trust within the Chiropractic Subluxation model; in a way that honors our Innate and Universal Intelligence but lack the time and energy to launch a new initiative? Then, check out our Patreon page and choose the option that best fits your ability and desire to invest toward The Big Idea in support and restoration of freedoms to speech, medical and family health.

 

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