June 19, 2025 • 28 mins
Ready for a soulful mix of science, story, and straight-up perspective shifts?
In this episode of the Thrive After 45™, I sit down with Dr. David Yates, a chiropractor who’s part of the rare 2% practicing upper cervical chiropractic care - a powerful, nerve-focused approach that can completely change how your body functions and heals.
But that’s just part of the story.
Dr. Yates didn’t start his career in medicine.
He was a high school Spanish teacher, burnt out by a broken system, when a snowboarding accident cracked open a completely different path...
...one that would lead him to helping thousands of people find real, lasting relief.
His story is full of unexpected pivots, divine timing, and a deep commitment to helping others heal - not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually too.
We talk about how your body actually communicates through your nervous system, how stress and trauma can throw that whole system out of alignment, and what it means to truly support your body’s innate ability to heal.
He also shares about a surprising new technology called phototherapy that’s helping people activate their stem cells (without pills, potions, or prescriptions).
This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t just about fixing what’s broken -it’s about reconnecting with who you really are.
Dr. Yates brings both the heart and the science, and his journey will inspire you to get curious about your own.
Connect with Dr. Yates Here:
http://www.godhealthandrelationships.com/
drdave@godhealthandrelationships.com or text 425-802-0918
⭐️ Thank you so much for leaving us a review and sharing with a friend. I greatly appreciate your support!
Thank you for spending time with me today on the Thrive After 45™ podcast! If this episode spoke to you, be sure to hit that follow button so you never miss one.
And if you loved it, I’d be so grateful if you left a review - it helps more amazing women like you find this show!
Your journey doesn’t stop here - let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with me at denisedrinkwalter.com, and follow @thethriveafter45podcast for daily insp, tips, and support.
Remember, midlife isn’t the end - it’s just the beginning of a new, exciting chapter! Keep thriving, keep shining, and I’ll see you next time!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello and welcome to ThriveAfter 45, the podcast where we
redefine what's possible inmidlife.
I'm Denise, drink Walter, yourmidlife renewal coach Here to
help you embrace your power,purpose, and potential.
This is your space to let go ofguilt.
Navigate transitions rediscoverjoy and thrive for you by you
(00:22):
because of you.
It's an honor and a privilege towelcome Dr.
David Yates, a chiropractor with18 years of experience.
A focus on one of the mostpowerful and often misunderstood
areas of alternative medicine,upper cervical specific
chiropractic care practice byonly about 2% of chiropractors.
(00:47):
This nerve centered approachtargets the upper neck and
nervous system, the foundationof true wellness.
Dr.
Yates is passionate abouteducating others, reminding us
that chiropractors aren't paindoctors, they're nerve doctors.
Through his writing anddevelopment of his consulting
(01:07):
business, he's expanding hisimpact and helping people
understand how freeing thenervous system from interference
can change lives.
Let's dive in and welcome Yates.
Thank you, Denise.
Great to have you.
It's great.
It's great.
Great to be here.
If you see my daughter likewalking in the background, it's
(01:27):
because she just woke up andshe's getting ready to go have
lunch with her dad.
So hope that isn't distractingin the background.
We are so flexible here.
It isn't even funny.
That's fabulous.
I is.
I love flexibility.
Flexibility is very important.
In many ways, right?
Yeah.
I, I provide it for my patientsevery time I adjust'em better
(01:50):
flexibility.
Very good.
Very good.
Can you start by sharing whatstarted you into specializing in
the upper cervical chiropracticcare?
Because it's not very common.
And why did this become yourcalling, do you think?
Uh, I love the question.
I, I was in a snowboardingaccident back in 1996, um, which
(02:14):
led me to go to a chiropractorfor the first time.
Okay.
Um, the interesting thing aboutthat is all of my older sisters
had worked for one of the bestchiropractors in my town growing
up.
Um, but I never went, you know,I never knew anything about
chiropractic until, um, thissnowboarding accident, at which
(02:34):
time I was taken care of by awonderful chiropractor in North
Hollywood, California, fromAustralia.
I.
Um, loved, you know, theinteraction that we had, I felt
great after the, the care.
Um, but at the time I was, uh,teaching, uh, I was teaching in
the Burbank Unified SchoolDistrict and, uh, didn't have
(02:56):
any plans to be a chiropractor.
Hmm.
Um, but when, when I decided tokind of expand.
Beyond teaching.
You know, I got kind offrustrated with just the state
of public education, which isway worse now.
I'm, I'm glad I got out when Idid back in 2000.
Oh my gosh.
(03:17):
And, you know, um, I just feellike I was led by God into this
profession.
Um, because, because of thatgood experience and because of
things not working out as a, uh,high school Spanish teacher
mm-hmm.
Um, it, it really led me to, andI got married.
(03:38):
Um, I got married in 2000.
Um, my, my wife got pregnantsoon after that and, and here,
so it was a very liketransitional area.
Mm-hmm.
Or time I should say, in mylife.
Mm-hmm.
That led to me.
Looking into what is it thatDavid really wants to do that,
(03:58):
that he's gonna see himselfdoing for the rest of his life.
And so I did some research onchiropractic and what it takes
to become a chiropractor.
And I'm like, I can do that.
You know, it doesn't look toodifficult.
Um, and in my research, uh, thefirst website that I went to
when I, when I researched thiswas, uh, NUAs.
(04:22):
Uh, website, which is theNational Upper Cervical
Chiropractic Association.
Um, and I'm like, wow, I didn'teven know there was a specialty
like this.
Mm-hmm.
In chiropractic, you know, Ididn't know anything about the
specialty that I do now.
But you know, as God would haveit, um, that was the first
website that I looked at and Iwas looking at the research that
(04:46):
they had done and the resultsthat they were getting.
And I'm like, that's what Iwanna do.
I wanna be a specialist.
I don't wanna be a generalchiropractor.
I wanna help people with chronicdisease.
Okay.
And these guys are getting theresults that I want to get.
Mm-hmm.
And so, mm-hmm.
Before I even started mydoctorate, I knew that I wanted
(05:08):
to specialize in the upper neckand the first day of my
doctorate program, I, I met the,um, he was the, um.
The director, the club presidentof the, the Blair Upper Cervical
Club at the college where Iwent.
Okay.
(05:28):
Cleveland Chiropractic Collegein Los Angeles.
And interesting enough, I was, Ibecame president of that club
the last three years of mydoctorate.
The club was just, we would meetat lunch mm-hmm.
On one day a week there oncampus, uh, as we were all
getting our doctorates inchiropractic.
Mm-hmm.
(05:48):
And we would learn about thetech, the technique, which is
the technique that I specializein, Blair, upper, upper
cervical.
And so I was teaching thistechnique to doctorate students.
The last three years.
And so, um, and I love to teach.
That's, that's my first love.
And so, right.
I was doing that while I wasgetting my doctorate in
(06:10):
chiropractic, and that's what Ido now.
Um, I do it at Invista Medicalin, uh, Bakersfield, California.
It's a, a fully integrated, oneof the most prestigious
integrated health clinics in allof California.
Um, and I've been with them onlysince August, so less than a
year.
I.
Okay.
Okay.
(06:31):
So isn't it incredible how yourteaching career didn't, there
were parts of it that aligned,but I love that you are going
and developing your consultingbusiness because again, that's
around the teaching aspect andyou were showing, you were
already doing that.
Back when you were being trainedat the same time.
That's so incredible.
(06:53):
So you're finding everything,everything's coming together and
that's what we want, right?
When that's what our, that is,that's what our audience wants.
So that's what I find, you know,the women that I support and
that, um, our program is aboutis to help people see what you
can do for you, by you becauseof you.
And, and there's no, um, there'sno limit.
(07:19):
There's absolutely no limit.
Anything is possible, and justeven opening ourselves up too,
and sometimes we hit transitionswhere we have a major accident
and our life changes andeverything falls apart, but
really it's making room for youto discover.
More of what's possible.
(07:40):
So your avenue was in youngerand your accident caused the new
door to open up.
And I hear this a lot.
I don't know if you, when you'reworking on patients, whether you
have that kind of connectionwith your patients, and that's
the type of thing that HA hashappened in any of your
experiences with patients, thatthey've had a calamity of some
(08:03):
kind that they come to see youfor and.
It's opening up new doors ofpossibilities as a result of
even conversation with you.
Do you find that or Absolutelyno.
Yeah.
Uh, every, every week, um, I, Ihave new patients that I start
seeing that, um, they've nevereven been to a chiropractor,
(08:24):
right?
So I have the opportunity tointroduce them.
To this fabulous modality andthe specialty within
chiropractic, because like youmentioned, only 2% of
chiropractors worldwide do thisspecialty.
And the history even goesfurther back than the
snowboarding accident that Ihad.
(08:45):
Mm-hmm.
Um, when I was 19.
I served a mission for my churchin Costa Rica, and this was the
foundational experience that ledme to where I'm going now into
my consulting business becausethat experience in a third world
country, I.
Of just being in the service ofothers without being compensated
(09:08):
for two years straight, 12 hoursa day, seven days a week was
Absolutely, and, and I'm sure alot of your listeners have had
experiences like that in theirlives where that defines what
they end up being and doinglater on in their life.
Right, right.
And, and when thoseopportunities exist, if it's a
(09:32):
challenging opportunity, one youdon't choose to participate in,
sometimes when you're in themiddle of it, it becomes
daunting and overwhelming andyou get lost in it all.
But what David and I are talkingabout today is.
Is an opportunity for you to beable to do some reflection.
Why is, why is this in front ofme right now?
(09:56):
What's the learning?
I talk about getting curious,get curious as to why these
things are presenting themselvesto you in the way they are.
You know, we, I don't know ifyou've heard this, I'm sure
you've heard this saying before.
You know, things happen inthrees, right?
So, oh, that's my three fortoday.
I'm done.
Forget it, right?
That's right.
If that's happening, it's like,well, wait a minute.
(10:20):
I need to look at what I'm doingto experience these, all these
things that are negative.
Perhaps I need to look at thingsdifferently.
What's the good that's happeningout of all those things that are
happening that, oh, that's threeI don't want anymore.
You know?
Well, I'll tell you, Denise, if,if I didn't have that mindset, I
wouldn't be sitting here talkingyou, talking to you today.
(10:42):
Um, I have been through somethings that.
I wouldn't wor wish on my worstenemy, and I, and I don't even
have enemies.
Um, right.
But right.
It, the power of three in ourlives, I mean, you know, God,
health and relationships.
The, the Godhead is made up ofthree.
Um, the number three is very,very powerful.
(11:05):
And, um, if I didn't have thatmindset of what can I learn?
From this experience that Ididn't choose, and I've had a
plethora of them in my short,you know, 56 years of life on
this planet.
Mm-hmm.
Um, we could talk for hours andhours about the experiences that
(11:27):
I've had that hasn't, that Ihaven't chosen, but that I've
learned from, and I wanna sharethat knowledge with others.
And that's, that's why where I'mgoing with this consulting
business.
Perfect.
And, and I find in today's dayand age, there's two ways to go.
You can become the woe is me, oryou can rise above and go, now
(11:51):
wait a minute.
How do I want to live my liferight now?
Because we only have thismoment.
Right.
That's correct.
You know if you're tomorrow,tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So when you lay your head downon the pillow tonight, how are
you going to do that in a waythat makes you feel like, uh,
(12:14):
and if you didn't knock it outof the park for yourself today,
there's always tomorrow, butmake sure you take advantage.
'cause we don't know.
When our last breath is gonna begreat.
Well, and that, that's the most,I, I ha I would have to say
that's the most importantattribute that I've developed
over the last 20 years has beenpatience.
Mm-hmm.
And, and also not, um, you know,I have very high expectations of
(12:40):
myself.
Mm-hmm.
Others, but I'm being constantlylet down.
By, you know, my family andpeople I know, and colleagues
and and whatnot.
And, and that can destroy you,Denise, if you let it, you
can't, you can't let thoseletdowns And that, that's really
what I've learned is, is that,um, every night when I put,
(13:03):
when, like I said, when I lay myhead down mm-hmm.
On the pillow, I'm like, youknow, I did the best that I
could today.
Right.
And, and I did.
And that's, and that's allthat's required.
You know, everything else, youknow, I don't have control over
what other people do, right.
Or say.
Um, and, and having thatattitude is, is, is paramount.
(13:26):
And having and, and having theperspective and the patience.
Um, with human beings becausewe're all imperfect.
We all make mistakes.
We're all going through thisjourney together, and we have to
be patient with each other andempathetic with each other.
Right.
And I would add to that in, inmy perspective, I would add it
(13:49):
even needs to.
Um, boomerang back even strongerto yourself.
Patience in yourself.
Absolutely love for yourself.
Guidance, absolutely foryourself.
All those pieces.
And that's what our show isabout, giving back for you by
you because of you.
And when we do that.
My experience has been that whatI refer to as my sphere of
(14:13):
influence and what I talk to myclients about is our sphere of
influence changes with us justgiving back to ourselves in ways
we don't normally do becausewe're always worried about
everybody else.
Right.
Well, if you don't, if you don'ttake care of yourself and you
don't love yourself, you can'tfully do that to other mm-hmm.
(14:34):
With other people.
Mm-hmm.
It starts with you and, andI've, I've learned this, um,
through the teachings of God,through the scriptures, through
studying the life of Christ.
Who is the, the example, the theultimate example of love giving
his life for all of us.
(14:56):
There's no greater example oflove than that, right?
And everybody has their way offinding what is their way.
So that is correct.
That is correct.
Right?
So some people refer to God,some people refer to angels,
some people refer to source.
Whatever your experience,whatever your desire, there is
(15:19):
no one way.
It's what works for you in termsof how are you going to be the
best you for you possible and.
Knowing that you are not doingit for everybody else, but you
also take priority in youreveryday life.
Um, so something I will, well,and that's, that's one of,
(15:40):
that's one of the greatestmanifestations and examples of
love that we have from God isthat that was his plan for all
of us on this planet was to havewhat I like to call free agency.
We, we have the freedom tochoose.
Ex and what you just said,what's gonna be the direction
(16:02):
for us that that was the firstgift that God gave to us after
he created us, was our freeagency.
Our freedom to choose what we'regonna do in this life.
Right.
Right.
Um, I, I'm interested to hear alittle more around the idea of
(16:23):
freeing the nervous system.
What do you mean by that?
What, what does that mean?
How does that happen?
So the nervous system, like ourbody is dynamic.
Okay.
There is constant communication.
24 7 unbelievable amounts ofdata that's being transferred
(16:46):
from our brain to our body andback to our brain via the
central and peripheral nervoussystem throughout our lives.
Okay?
And, um, it, it really is thefoundation.
Function.
I mean, our bodies would notfunction without this system
constantly working.
What happens is that this systemis protected by our spine, okay?
(17:12):
Okay?
Mm-hmm.
By our vertebra 24 vertebra.
Um, and if you look at the, theanatomy of the actual nervous
system, the top of the neckhouses, what's called our
brainstem.
Okay.
Our brainstem is the first thingthat developed after conception.
(17:33):
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
And it, it controls andregulates everything in our
body, our cardiovascular system,you know, from there developed,
uh, our heart and our heartbeat,you know, so life begins and
ends with our brainstem.
Okay.
Okay.
I like to use the analogy acouple analogies.
(17:55):
You know, back in the day when,when hang, when, when hangings
were popular, that was thequickest way to kill somebody.
Why?
Because it immediately destroyedtheir brainstem.
If you look at the anatomy, thedens of C two would be crushed,
basically, and crush thebrainstem, and that's what would
kill them instantly.
(18:15):
Right?
Another very vivid example ofthis when it comes to health is
Christopher Reeves.
When Christopher Reve Oh, right.
Had his, his, uh, equestrianaccident.
He fractured C two.
Okay.
And, you know, we all, we allremember him being.
Uh, you know, quadriplegic fromthat accident.
(18:39):
But what really stands out to meis that he had breathing issues.
He had, um, cardiovascularissues, he had digestive issues,
and that's because his brainstemwas so irre reputably damaged in
that accident, and that that'swhat led to his early death.
(18:59):
I mean, there are quadriplegicsthat live for years and years
and years, but because of theposition of his accident that
led to his demise.
Okay.
Yeah.
And, and that, and that's why Ispecialize in the upper neck
because first of all, it's oneof the most unstable areas of
the spine.
(19:19):
Um, so if you're gonna be achiropractor and you're gonna,
you know, correct misalignment.
Vertebra if you're not fun, ifyou're not focused on the upper
neck, you're really doing yourpatient a disservice because
that's where the majority ofsubluxations or misalignments,
um, are in the spine and they domore harm because of the
(19:42):
brainstem.
And so by me focusing on thatarea and very gently and
specifically, uh, adjusting inthat area.
I've seen results with everychronic disease that you could
imagine.
Could you gimme an example ofone of the chronic diseases?
Well, multiple sclerosis is one.
(20:03):
Okay.
Um, fibromyalgia is anotherpopular one where, you know,
doc, you go to a doctor and youhave fibromyalgia and they're
like, well, I don't, I don'tknow what to do.
You know?
Um, because medical doctorsdon't treat cause they treat
symptoms.
They can prescribe medicationsfor any symptom out there, but.
(20:25):
You have to look at what'scausing that symptom that that's
abnormal.
You know, you don't have thatsymptom because of a lack of
that medication.
There's an underlining cause andI found that the underlining
cause in most cases, not all,because it's not a silver
bullet, I'm not gonna say thatof course, that this is a cure
all.
(20:45):
But, um, for most chronicdiseases.
It starts in the upper neck andyour body has an incredible
ability to heal itself.
It can heal itself of anything.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
There are plenty, thousands andthousands of documented cases of
this in medical journals andthroughout the world.
(21:07):
Um.
And, and it just, I, I focus onthat area because yeah, there's
other aspects of mental health,you know?
Right.
Emotional health, spiritualhealth.
Mm-hmm.
But what can I do physically asa doctor to improve the function
of this person?
It's in the upper neck there.
If you're not working in thatarea, you're doing your patient
(21:31):
a disservice.
Thank you for that.
Very thorough.
I like that and I appreciate theexamples.
That really helps.
Um, could you tell us aboutPhototherapy technology just
before we wrap up?
For sure.
You know, this is a technology Iknew nothing about, um, up until
January of last year.
(21:52):
Mm-hmm.
2024.
I was introduced to it by.
Um, somebody I didn't even knowon LinkedIn.
Um, and it was a perfect timingfor me to be introduced to this
technology because I've all,I've never been a products guy.
You know, there's a lot ofchiropractors out there that
push supplements and differentproducts in their clinic, and
(22:13):
it's great because they're greatsupplements.
Um, I, you know, I was involvedwith a company years ago, um,
that had a wonderfulnutraceutical that I just loved,
but.
This.
The reason that phototherapyresonated so much with me is
that it's not a supplement.
It's not a potion.
(22:34):
It's not like a pill.
It's not something that you takeinto your body.
What it is, is it's a littleround patch that you put on your
skin and what that patch does.
Is that it redirects theinfrared light that your body
admits constantly back into yourskin and your nervous system
(22:55):
elevating or diminishing certainchemicals in the body, um, that
help you function at a higherlevel.
So as, as far as products go.
This, this incredible, uh, patchand we ha and, and the, the
manufacturer life wave is amanufacturer of the, of these
(23:17):
patches.
They've been around since, uh,two, 2004.
Okay?
So this is a company that's beendeveloping.
These phototherapy patches, um,over years and we have like 10,
11, or 12 different patches, butthat all do different things
based on the manipulation of theinfrared light that our body
(23:40):
admits because we know that lifehas different wavelengths, you
know, and things like that.
And, and that's what impressedme so much about the, the
founder of this company is thathe's found a way to manipulate.
The certain wavelength ofinfrared light that our body
admits to activate dormant stemcells in the body.
(24:01):
Okay.
And so, you know, this intriguedme because I know as a doctor
that, you know, we're, we're allaging, we're all getting closer
to dying, but how can we slowdown that process?
Well, this is a great way to, todo it because after the age of
40, we, you know, our, our, ourstem cells go inactive.
(24:23):
And after the age of 60, wepractically had no, no active
stem cells in our body at all.
But, but that's how, that's howwe grow.
We were born with this millionsand millions of stem cells, and
that's how our body developsover time.
And so this technology is reallyfascinating to me because what
(24:44):
it does is it, it helps.
Rejuvenate actual cells andtissues in the body apart from
what the nervous system is doingfunction-wise.
Structurally, this helpsrestructure, uh, uh, cells and
tissues in the body, and I knewnothing about it.
(25:05):
Um, you know, prior to Januarylast year, right?
Right.
Thank you for that.
I've never heard of it before.
So thank you for, for givingthat thorough review.
I appreciate it.
Is there anything that you wouldlike to share with our audience,
midlife women on how to, um,give back to themselves for you,
(25:28):
by you because of you throughthe avenue of the work that you
do with regards to yourchiropractic care and your
overall wellbeing?
You know, I, I, I've talked alot about, uh, the benefits of
my chiropractic care.
I've talked a little bit aboutthe benefits of phototherapy.
Um, really, uh, something that,that everyone can do.
(25:54):
Okay?
And that is, I.
Improve your relationship withwhoever your God is.
Mm-hmm.
You know, if that's, if that'snature, if that's, you know,
Buddha Absolutely.
If that's something else,absolutely.
Improve your relationship withyour higher source of, of
(26:14):
wellbeing.
Okay.
Because I.
You know, I have my particularbeliefs and everybody does, and
I respect everybody's belief.
But that would be the greatest,um, bit of advice that I could
give to women 45 and older, um,that are dealing with.
(26:35):
Life and everything that lifethrows at us, you know, I can, I
can help balance your bodyphysically, you know, with, with
what I do pro, but your mind isvery, is so important, you know?
Mm-hmm.
And what I've done to basicallynurture my mind and my emotions
(26:55):
is getting to know my creator.
Who I consider my creator.
Mm-hmm.
Getting, you know, patternpatterning my life after his and
trying to be like him has madeall the difference in the world
because, you know, I have, Iknow people that I.
Constantly have, um, healthissues despite chiropractic
(27:21):
care, despite, you know,phototherapy.
Right?
And what helps them more thananything is their relationship
with their creator or theirhigher source of, uh,
inspiration.
Perfect.
Perfect.
Get grounded.
Become who you truly are througha variety of ways of finding out
(27:47):
what works best for you to feelgood inside your body with your
heart, your mind, your soul.
And thank you, Dr.
Yates for spending your timewith us today.
It was quite a little challengefor us to get ourselves
together, but eventually we didit and we said before we came
live, everyone, we were like, wedid it.
(28:08):
It's happening today and, andchallenges, you know, make us
better people, make us stronger.
Um, and help improve ourknowledge, um, how to do things
better and how to, to better bein tune with ourselves.
For sure.
Exactly.
Thank you so much for your timetoday.
(28:29):
Make sure that you follow, um,our podcast, thrive After 45.
Give us reviews, share anyinsights that came through for
you today in our show notes, andcheck the show notes because
that's where you can find outmore about.
Dr.
David Yates, have a wonderfulday, everybody, and take care of
(28:49):
yourselves for you.
Bye, you because of you.
Bye.
Hello and welcome to ThriveAfter 45, the podcast where we
redefine what's possible inmidlife.
I'm Denise, drink Walter, yourmidlife renewal coach Here to
help you embrace your power,purpose, and potential.
This is your space to let go ofguilt.
Navigate transitions rediscoverjoy and thrive for you by you
(00:22):
because of you.
It's an honor and a privilege towelcome Dr.
David Yates, a chiropractor with18 years of experience.
A focus on one of the mostpowerful and often misunderstood
areas of alternative medicine,upper cervical specific
chiropractic care practice byonly about 2% of chiropractors.
(00:47):
This nerve centered approachtargets the upper neck and
nervous system, the foundationof true wellness.
Dr.
Yates is passionate abouteducating others, reminding us
that chiropractors aren't paindoctors, they're nerve doctors.
Through his writing anddevelopment of his consulting
(01:07):
business, he's expanding hisimpact and helping people
understand how freeing thenervous system from interference
can change lives.
Let's dive in and welcome Yates.
Thank you, Denise.
Great to have you.
It's great.
It's great.
Great to be here.
If you see my daughter likewalking in the background, it's
(01:27):
because she just woke up andshe's getting ready to go have
lunch with her dad.
So hope that isn't distractingin the background.
We are so flexible here.
It isn't even funny.
That's fabulous.
I is.
I love flexibility.
Flexibility is very important.
In many ways, right?
Yeah.
I, I provide it for my patientsevery time I adjust'em better
(01:50):
flexibility.
Very good.
Very good.
Can you start by sharing whatstarted you into specializing in
the upper cervical chiropracticcare?
Because it's not very common.
And why did this become yourcalling, do you think?
Uh, I love the question.
I, I was in a snowboardingaccident back in 1996, um, which
(02:14):
led me to go to a chiropractorfor the first time.
Okay.
Um, the interesting thing aboutthat is all of my older sisters
had worked for one of the bestchiropractors in my town growing
up.
Um, but I never went, you know,I never knew anything about
chiropractic until, um, thissnowboarding accident, at which
(02:34):
time I was taken care of by awonderful chiropractor in North
Hollywood, California, fromAustralia.
I.
Um, loved, you know, theinteraction that we had, I felt
great after the, the care.
Um, but at the time I was, uh,teaching, uh, I was teaching in
the Burbank Unified SchoolDistrict and, uh, didn't have
(02:56):
any plans to be a chiropractor.
Hmm.
Um, but when, when I decided tokind of expand.
Beyond teaching.
You know, I got kind offrustrated with just the state
of public education, which isway worse now.
I'm, I'm glad I got out when Idid back in 2000.
Oh my gosh.
(03:17):
And, you know, um, I just feellike I was led by God into this
profession.
Um, because, because of thatgood experience and because of
things not working out as a, uh,high school Spanish teacher
mm-hmm.
Um, it, it really led me to, andI got married.
(03:38):
Um, I got married in 2000.
Um, my, my wife got pregnantsoon after that and, and here,
so it was a very liketransitional area.
Mm-hmm.
Or time I should say, in mylife.
Mm-hmm.
That led to me.
Looking into what is it thatDavid really wants to do that,
(03:58):
that he's gonna see himselfdoing for the rest of his life.
And so I did some research onchiropractic and what it takes
to become a chiropractor.
And I'm like, I can do that.
You know, it doesn't look toodifficult.
Um, and in my research, uh, thefirst website that I went to
when I, when I researched thiswas, uh, NUAs.
(04:22):
Uh, website, which is theNational Upper Cervical
Chiropractic Association.
Um, and I'm like, wow, I didn'teven know there was a specialty
like this.
Mm-hmm.
In chiropractic, you know, Ididn't know anything about the
specialty that I do now.
But you know, as God would haveit, um, that was the first
website that I looked at and Iwas looking at the research that
(04:46):
they had done and the resultsthat they were getting.
And I'm like, that's what Iwanna do.
I wanna be a specialist.
I don't wanna be a generalchiropractor.
I wanna help people with chronicdisease.
Okay.
And these guys are getting theresults that I want to get.
Mm-hmm.
And so, mm-hmm.
Before I even started mydoctorate, I knew that I wanted
(05:08):
to specialize in the upper neckand the first day of my
doctorate program, I, I met the,um, he was the, um.
The director, the club presidentof the, the Blair Upper Cervical
Club at the college where Iwent.
Okay.
(05:28):
Cleveland Chiropractic Collegein Los Angeles.
And interesting enough, I was, Ibecame president of that club
the last three years of mydoctorate.
The club was just, we would meetat lunch mm-hmm.
On one day a week there oncampus, uh, as we were all
getting our doctorates inchiropractic.
Mm-hmm.
(05:48):
And we would learn about thetech, the technique, which is
the technique that I specializein, Blair, upper, upper
cervical.
And so I was teaching thistechnique to doctorate students.
The last three years.
And so, um, and I love to teach.
That's, that's my first love.
And so, right.
I was doing that while I wasgetting my doctorate in
(06:10):
chiropractic, and that's what Ido now.
Um, I do it at Invista Medicalin, uh, Bakersfield, California.
It's a, a fully integrated, oneof the most prestigious
integrated health clinics in allof California.
Um, and I've been with them onlysince August, so less than a
year.
I.
Okay.
Okay.
(06:31):
So isn't it incredible how yourteaching career didn't, there
were parts of it that aligned,but I love that you are going
and developing your consultingbusiness because again, that's
around the teaching aspect andyou were showing, you were
already doing that.
Back when you were being trainedat the same time.
That's so incredible.
(06:53):
So you're finding everything,everything's coming together and
that's what we want, right?
When that's what our, that is,that's what our audience wants.
So that's what I find, you know,the women that I support and
that, um, our program is aboutis to help people see what you
can do for you, by you becauseof you.
And, and there's no, um, there'sno limit.
(07:19):
There's absolutely no limit.
Anything is possible, and justeven opening ourselves up too,
and sometimes we hit transitionswhere we have a major accident
and our life changes andeverything falls apart, but
really it's making room for youto discover.
More of what's possible.
(07:40):
So your avenue was in youngerand your accident caused the new
door to open up.
And I hear this a lot.
I don't know if you, when you'reworking on patients, whether you
have that kind of connectionwith your patients, and that's
the type of thing that HA hashappened in any of your
experiences with patients, thatthey've had a calamity of some
(08:03):
kind that they come to see youfor and.
It's opening up new doors ofpossibilities as a result of
even conversation with you.
Do you find that or Absolutelyno.
Yeah.
Uh, every, every week, um, I, Ihave new patients that I start
seeing that, um, they've nevereven been to a chiropractor,
(08:24):
right?
So I have the opportunity tointroduce them.
To this fabulous modality andthe specialty within
chiropractic, because like youmentioned, only 2% of
chiropractors worldwide do thisspecialty.
And the history even goesfurther back than the
snowboarding accident that Ihad.
(08:45):
Mm-hmm.
Um, when I was 19.
I served a mission for my churchin Costa Rica, and this was the
foundational experience that ledme to where I'm going now into
my consulting business becausethat experience in a third world
country, I.
Of just being in the service ofothers without being compensated
(09:08):
for two years straight, 12 hoursa day, seven days a week was
Absolutely, and, and I'm sure alot of your listeners have had
experiences like that in theirlives where that defines what
they end up being and doinglater on in their life.
Right, right.
And, and when thoseopportunities exist, if it's a
(09:32):
challenging opportunity, one youdon't choose to participate in,
sometimes when you're in themiddle of it, it becomes
daunting and overwhelming andyou get lost in it all.
But what David and I are talkingabout today is.
Is an opportunity for you to beable to do some reflection.
Why is, why is this in front ofme right now?
(09:56):
What's the learning?
I talk about getting curious,get curious as to why these
things are presenting themselvesto you in the way they are.
You know, we, I don't know ifyou've heard this, I'm sure
you've heard this saying before.
You know, things happen inthrees, right?
So, oh, that's my three fortoday.
I'm done.
Forget it, right?
That's right.
If that's happening, it's like,well, wait a minute.
(10:20):
I need to look at what I'm doingto experience these, all these
things that are negative.
Perhaps I need to look at thingsdifferently.
What's the good that's happeningout of all those things that are
happening that, oh, that's threeI don't want anymore.
You know?
Well, I'll tell you, Denise, if,if I didn't have that mindset, I
wouldn't be sitting here talkingyou, talking to you today.
(10:42):
Um, I have been through somethings that.
I wouldn't wor wish on my worstenemy, and I, and I don't even
have enemies.
Um, right.
But right.
It, the power of three in ourlives, I mean, you know, God,
health and relationships.
The, the Godhead is made up ofthree.
Um, the number three is very,very powerful.
(11:05):
And, um, if I didn't have thatmindset of what can I learn?
From this experience that Ididn't choose, and I've had a
plethora of them in my short,you know, 56 years of life on
this planet.
Mm-hmm.
Um, we could talk for hours andhours about the experiences that
(11:27):
I've had that hasn't, that Ihaven't chosen, but that I've
learned from, and I wanna sharethat knowledge with others.
And that's, that's why where I'mgoing with this consulting
business.
Perfect.
And, and I find in today's dayand age, there's two ways to go.
You can become the woe is me, oryou can rise above and go, now
(11:51):
wait a minute.
How do I want to live my liferight now?
Because we only have thismoment.
Right.
That's correct.
You know if you're tomorrow,tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So when you lay your head downon the pillow tonight, how are
you going to do that in a waythat makes you feel like, uh,
(12:14):
and if you didn't knock it outof the park for yourself today,
there's always tomorrow, butmake sure you take advantage.
'cause we don't know.
When our last breath is gonna begreat.
Well, and that, that's the most,I, I ha I would have to say
that's the most importantattribute that I've developed
over the last 20 years has beenpatience.
Mm-hmm.
And, and also not, um, you know,I have very high expectations of
(12:40):
myself.
Mm-hmm.
Others, but I'm being constantlylet down.
By, you know, my family andpeople I know, and colleagues
and and whatnot.
And, and that can destroy you,Denise, if you let it, you
can't, you can't let thoseletdowns And that, that's really
what I've learned is, is that,um, every night when I put,
(13:03):
when, like I said, when I lay myhead down mm-hmm.
On the pillow, I'm like, youknow, I did the best that I
could today.
Right.
And, and I did.
And that's, and that's allthat's required.
You know, everything else, youknow, I don't have control over
what other people do, right.
Or say.
Um, and, and having thatattitude is, is, is paramount.
(13:26):
And having and, and having theperspective and the patience.
Um, with human beings becausewe're all imperfect.
We all make mistakes.
We're all going through thisjourney together, and we have to
be patient with each other andempathetic with each other.
Right.
And I would add to that in, inmy perspective, I would add it
(13:49):
even needs to.
Um, boomerang back even strongerto yourself.
Patience in yourself.
Absolutely love for yourself.
Guidance, absolutely foryourself.
All those pieces.
And that's what our show isabout, giving back for you by
you because of you.
And when we do that.
My experience has been that whatI refer to as my sphere of
(14:13):
influence and what I talk to myclients about is our sphere of
influence changes with us justgiving back to ourselves in ways
we don't normally do becausewe're always worried about
everybody else.
Right.
Well, if you don't, if you don'ttake care of yourself and you
don't love yourself, you can'tfully do that to other mm-hmm.
(14:34):
With other people.
Mm-hmm.
It starts with you and, andI've, I've learned this, um,
through the teachings of God,through the scriptures, through
studying the life of Christ.
Who is the, the example, the theultimate example of love giving
his life for all of us.
(14:56):
There's no greater example oflove than that, right?
And everybody has their way offinding what is their way.
So that is correct.
That is correct.
Right?
So some people refer to God,some people refer to angels,
some people refer to source.
Whatever your experience,whatever your desire, there is
(15:19):
no one way.
It's what works for you in termsof how are you going to be the
best you for you possible and.
Knowing that you are not doingit for everybody else, but you
also take priority in youreveryday life.
Um, so something I will, well,and that's, that's one of,
(15:40):
that's one of the greatestmanifestations and examples of
love that we have from God isthat that was his plan for all
of us on this planet was to havewhat I like to call free agency.
We, we have the freedom tochoose.
Ex and what you just said,what's gonna be the direction
(16:02):
for us that that was the firstgift that God gave to us after
he created us, was our freeagency.
Our freedom to choose what we'regonna do in this life.
Right.
Right.
Um, I, I'm interested to hear alittle more around the idea of
(16:23):
freeing the nervous system.
What do you mean by that?
What, what does that mean?
How does that happen?
So the nervous system, like ourbody is dynamic.
Okay.
There is constant communication.
24 7 unbelievable amounts ofdata that's being transferred
(16:46):
from our brain to our body andback to our brain via the
central and peripheral nervoussystem throughout our lives.
Okay?
And, um, it, it really is thefoundation.
Function.
I mean, our bodies would notfunction without this system
constantly working.
What happens is that this systemis protected by our spine, okay?
(17:12):
Okay?
Mm-hmm.
By our vertebra 24 vertebra.
Um, and if you look at the, theanatomy of the actual nervous
system, the top of the neckhouses, what's called our
brainstem.
Okay.
Our brainstem is the first thingthat developed after conception.
(17:33):
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
And it, it controls andregulates everything in our
body, our cardiovascular system,you know, from there developed,
uh, our heart and our heartbeat,you know, so life begins and
ends with our brainstem.
Okay.
Okay.
I like to use the analogy acouple analogies.
(17:55):
You know, back in the day when,when hang, when, when hangings
were popular, that was thequickest way to kill somebody.
Why?
Because it immediately destroyedtheir brainstem.
If you look at the anatomy, thedens of C two would be crushed,
basically, and crush thebrainstem, and that's what would
kill them instantly.
(18:15):
Right?
Another very vivid example ofthis when it comes to health is
Christopher Reeves.
When Christopher Reve Oh, right.
Had his, his, uh, equestrianaccident.
He fractured C two.
Okay.
And, you know, we all, we allremember him being.
Uh, you know, quadriplegic fromthat accident.
(18:39):
But what really stands out to meis that he had breathing issues.
He had, um, cardiovascularissues, he had digestive issues,
and that's because his brainstemwas so irre reputably damaged in
that accident, and that that'swhat led to his early death.
(18:59):
I mean, there are quadriplegicsthat live for years and years
and years, but because of theposition of his accident that
led to his demise.
Okay.
Yeah.
And, and that, and that's why Ispecialize in the upper neck
because first of all, it's oneof the most unstable areas of
the spine.
(19:19):
Um, so if you're gonna be achiropractor and you're gonna,
you know, correct misalignment.
Vertebra if you're not fun, ifyou're not focused on the upper
neck, you're really doing yourpatient a disservice because
that's where the majority ofsubluxations or misalignments,
um, are in the spine and they domore harm because of the
(19:42):
brainstem.
And so by me focusing on thatarea and very gently and
specifically, uh, adjusting inthat area.
I've seen results with everychronic disease that you could
imagine.
Could you gimme an example ofone of the chronic diseases?
Well, multiple sclerosis is one.
(20:03):
Okay.
Um, fibromyalgia is anotherpopular one where, you know,
doc, you go to a doctor and youhave fibromyalgia and they're
like, well, I don't, I don'tknow what to do.
You know?
Um, because medical doctorsdon't treat cause they treat
symptoms.
They can prescribe medicationsfor any symptom out there, but.
(20:25):
You have to look at what'scausing that symptom that that's
abnormal.
You know, you don't have thatsymptom because of a lack of
that medication.
There's an underlining cause andI found that the underlining
cause in most cases, not all,because it's not a silver
bullet, I'm not gonna say thatof course, that this is a cure
all.
(20:45):
But, um, for most chronicdiseases.
It starts in the upper neck andyour body has an incredible
ability to heal itself.
It can heal itself of anything.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
There are plenty, thousands andthousands of documented cases of
this in medical journals andthroughout the world.
(21:07):
Um.
And, and it just, I, I focus onthat area because yeah, there's
other aspects of mental health,you know?
Right.
Emotional health, spiritualhealth.
Mm-hmm.
But what can I do physically asa doctor to improve the function
of this person?
It's in the upper neck there.
If you're not working in thatarea, you're doing your patient
(21:31):
a disservice.
Thank you for that.
Very thorough.
I like that and I appreciate theexamples.
That really helps.
Um, could you tell us aboutPhototherapy technology just
before we wrap up?
For sure.
You know, this is a technology Iknew nothing about, um, up until
January of last year.
(21:52):
Mm-hmm.
2024.
I was introduced to it by.
Um, somebody I didn't even knowon LinkedIn.
Um, and it was a perfect timingfor me to be introduced to this
technology because I've all,I've never been a products guy.
You know, there's a lot ofchiropractors out there that
push supplements and differentproducts in their clinic, and
(22:13):
it's great because they're greatsupplements.
Um, I, you know, I was involvedwith a company years ago, um,
that had a wonderfulnutraceutical that I just loved,
but.
This.
The reason that phototherapyresonated so much with me is
that it's not a supplement.
It's not a potion.
(22:34):
It's not like a pill.
It's not something that you takeinto your body.
What it is, is it's a littleround patch that you put on your
skin and what that patch does.
Is that it redirects theinfrared light that your body
admits constantly back into yourskin and your nervous system
(22:55):
elevating or diminishing certainchemicals in the body, um, that
help you function at a higherlevel.
So as, as far as products go.
This, this incredible, uh, patchand we ha and, and the, the
manufacturer life wave is amanufacturer of the, of these
(23:17):
patches.
They've been around since, uh,two, 2004.
Okay?
So this is a company that's beendeveloping.
These phototherapy patches, um,over years and we have like 10,
11, or 12 different patches, butthat all do different things
based on the manipulation of theinfrared light that our body
(23:40):
admits because we know that lifehas different wavelengths, you
know, and things like that.
And, and that's what impressedme so much about the, the
founder of this company is thathe's found a way to manipulate.
The certain wavelength ofinfrared light that our body
admits to activate dormant stemcells in the body.
(24:01):
Okay.
And so, you know, this intriguedme because I know as a doctor
that, you know, we're, we're allaging, we're all getting closer
to dying, but how can we slowdown that process?
Well, this is a great way to, todo it because after the age of
40, we, you know, our, our, ourstem cells go inactive.
(24:23):
And after the age of 60, wepractically had no, no active
stem cells in our body at all.
But, but that's how, that's howwe grow.
We were born with this millionsand millions of stem cells, and
that's how our body developsover time.
And so this technology is reallyfascinating to me because what
(24:44):
it does is it, it helps.
Rejuvenate actual cells andtissues in the body apart from
what the nervous system is doingfunction-wise.
Structurally, this helpsrestructure, uh, uh, cells and
tissues in the body, and I knewnothing about it.
(25:05):
Um, you know, prior to Januarylast year, right?
Right.
Thank you for that.
I've never heard of it before.
So thank you for, for givingthat thorough review.
I appreciate it.
Is there anything that you wouldlike to share with our audience,
midlife women on how to, um,give back to themselves for you,
(25:28):
by you because of you throughthe avenue of the work that you
do with regards to yourchiropractic care and your
overall wellbeing?
You know, I, I, I've talked alot about, uh, the benefits of
my chiropractic care.
I've talked a little bit aboutthe benefits of phototherapy.
Um, really, uh, something that,that everyone can do.
(25:54):
Okay?
And that is, I.
Improve your relationship withwhoever your God is.
Mm-hmm.
You know, if that's, if that'snature, if that's, you know,
Buddha Absolutely.
If that's something else,absolutely.
Improve your relationship withyour higher source of, of
(26:14):
wellbeing.
Okay.
Because I.
You know, I have my particularbeliefs and everybody does, and
I respect everybody's belief.
But that would be the greatest,um, bit of advice that I could
give to women 45 and older, um,that are dealing with.
(26:35):
Life and everything that lifethrows at us, you know, I can, I
can help balance your bodyphysically, you know, with, with
what I do pro, but your mind isvery, is so important, you know?
Mm-hmm.
And what I've done to basicallynurture my mind and my emotions
(26:55):
is getting to know my creator.
Who I consider my creator.
Mm-hmm.
Getting, you know, patternpatterning my life after his and
trying to be like him has madeall the difference in the world
because, you know, I have, Iknow people that I.
Constantly have, um, healthissues despite chiropractic
(27:21):
care, despite, you know,phototherapy.
Right?
And what helps them more thananything is their relationship
with their creator or theirhigher source of, uh,
inspiration.
Perfect.
Perfect.
Get grounded.
Become who you truly are througha variety of ways of finding out
(27:47):
what works best for you to feelgood inside your body with your
heart, your mind, your soul.
And thank you, Dr.
Yates for spending your timewith us today.
It was quite a little challengefor us to get ourselves
together, but eventually we didit and we said before we came
live, everyone, we were like, wedid it.
(28:08):
It's happening today and, andchallenges, you know, make us
better people, make us stronger.
Um, and help improve ourknowledge, um, how to do things
better and how to, to better bein tune with ourselves.
For sure.
Exactly.
Thank you so much for your timetoday.
(28:29):
Make sure that you follow, um,our podcast, thrive After 45.
Give us reviews, share anyinsights that came through for
you today in our show notes, andcheck the show notes because
that's where you can find outmore about.
Dr.
David Yates, have a wonderfulday, everybody, and take care of
(28:49):
yourselves for you.
Bye, you because of you.
Bye.
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