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Body Harmony Chiropractic
by Beth Davis Dr. Katie Fahnel D
r. Katie Fahnel, owner of Body Harmony Chiropractic, in Minneapolis, was well on her way to a life filled with test tubes while attending Viterbo University, in
Wisconsin, where she was a biology major training in labora- tory techniques and research. She loved the thrill of discov- ery and excitement of possibility, but after doing a research internship, she found it to be monotonous and boring. On a whim, she took a nursing course called Body
Mind Therapies. She learned techniques in massage and experienced energy healing for the first time. “It was in that class that I discovered the power of touch and was exposed to the wellness paradigm,” Fahnel says. “I realized that we could actually prevent disease from happening instead of waiting for things to fall apart.”
Her science background paired with her new perspective on health seemed like a natural fit in chiroprac- tic. She actually had never been to a chiropractor herself and was amazed by the positive change in her posture, body tension and sense of well-being. Inspired, she began chiropractic school, in 2005, at Northwestern Health Sci- ences University, in Bloomington. “Although I enjoyed chiropractic, I still felt as if something was missing,” says Fahnel. “I was craving more of a mind-body connection so was exploring Reiki and other energy work when my roommate explained to me that I didn’t have to do traditional chiropractic.” Halfway through her studies, she found the missing piece that she had been seeking. She was exposed to the transformational power of Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) chiropractic, an evidence-based approach to wellness and body awareness created by Dr. Donald Epstein of Colorado. “I was shadowing a gentleman the first time I saw it, and I thought it was the weirdest thing I had ever seen,” Fahnel laughs. “But I was also amazed and intrigued. I knew this was it.” In 2008, she began her instruction in the technique. Today, as a licensed chiropractor and NSA practitioner, Fahnel offers her patients at Body Harmony Chiropractic a holistic approach to care by treating the whole person, not
just the symptoms. Fahnel says that NSA helps to reduce pain and by
activating the body’s innate ability to heal. “NSA seeks to enhance higher brain awareness of the body, the spine and its environment,” she explains. “Through this awareness, the body increases its ability to self-regulate and create new adaptive strategies. This ability allows us to see greater op- tions and possibility in our lives.” The technique utilizes special low-force contacts throughout the spine. The specific cues activate the body’s in- nate ability to reduce pain and tension while creating more wellness-promoting strategies throughout the mind as well as the body. Perhaps most important, NSA is a holistic model of chiropractic that looks at all aspects of patients and their lives, not just where they are experiencing symptoms. According to Fahnel, NSA is so safe and gentle that everyone can benefit from it, regardless of their age or health. And those benefits are numerous, she says. Patients of- ten report improvement in their relationships and overall health and well-being, as well as their ability to cope with daily problems. Fahnel’s patients have experienced increased relaxation, greater compassion for others, decreased moodiness, improved temper, less anxiety, reduced pain, better spinal flexibil- ity, more energy and less fatigue, fewer cold and flu symptoms, and less frequent head- aches.
Fahnel helps patients who are experiencing such chal-
lenges as chronic pain, tension, infertility, post-traumatic stress and stiffness. Every individual is unique, she notes; therefore a specific treatment plan is developed for each patient. “No two people are alike, so it’s important that we explore different options,” she says. Every day, Fahnel’s patients inspire her. “I love the mini- miracles I am able to witness,” she says.
Body Harmony Chiropractic is located at 2101 Hennepin Ave., Ste. 101, in Minneapolis. For further information or a free consultation to see if Spinal Network Analysis is right for you, please contact Dr. Katie at 612-356-2872 or visit
BodyHarmonyChiropractic.com. See ad on page 21.
natural awakenings March 2013 13
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