Community Highlights: Meet Benjamin Griffes of Benjamin W Griffes, M.A., D.C.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Griffes.

Hi Ben, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Los Angeles to become a film director, having a Theatre Arts degree from a small college in Florida. Briefly went to USC Film School, but pursuing a career in film became less inviting with the passing months, and I was very upset. I actually was yelling at GOD to give me some sort of sign or clue as to what he wanted me to do. I was a waiter and working in upscale restaurants, so I wasn’t starving. One day a voice, out of the blue, said “chiropractor”. No one was around. I didn’t know any chiropractors and didn’t know what they did. My roommate and I discussed me becoming a D.C. and thought I’d be great, so this started me on the path.
In the 9 years it took to acquire the science prerequisites I needed to apply to chiropractic school, I was trained in a specialized form of physical therapy called Hellerwork, got married, and earned a Master’s Degree in Physical Education at Cal State Northridge. During the 3 1/2 years it took to complete chiropractic college, we had 3 children. I took over a practice in Tarzana in 1992 and have been practicing chiropractic, with my unique blend of chiropractic care, deep-tissue bodywork, and sports medicine to help people get out of pain and help them restore normal function.
In the past 35 years I have produced a cable TV show on health and chiropractic, taught numerous seminars for chiropractors on fitness and technique, coached youth soccer, youth track, written numerous articles for journals, wrote a book on stretching (now in it’s 3rd edition), and in my spare time I mountain bike, play disc golf, play harmonica and brew beer. I also have 5 grandchildren who want to play with grandpa.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is ever smooth, for if it was, you would never grow. As a new practitioner, multiple lessons and a long learning curve. Got burned by patients and associates. Had a rough period in our marriage that we weathered and came out closer together than ever. Managed to maintain a practice during the tough economic downturns. I will tell you this – I picked a wise and practical wife who managed our finances, and except for one or two periods, we not only survived but have prospered due to her wise and disciplined money management.

As you know, we’re big fans of Benjamin W Griffes, M.A., D.C.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
OK. As humbly as I can, I am one of only a handful of D.C.s in the world who have had the training I have had, first the Hellerwork training in structural integration and postural realignment. Secondly, the addition of a degree in physical education and sports medicine has allowed me to help people restore their health by being the unusual chiropractor. Other chiropractors and therapists come to me for help. I can’t always help everyone, but I do have a high success rate in helping people heal themselves and learning how to stay healthy. My motto is “Your Biomechanic on the Road to Good Health”.
I have written “Stretching for Life”, the easiest book on stretching you will ever use, and I just released the 3rd edition this past month. I have produced short videos for patients to improve their balance, their core strength, and to learn exercises to help prevent problems like low back pain, neck pain and headaches. I also teach athletes how to improve their game with basic biomechanical principles. After 35 years as a chiropractor and 44 years in the health field, I am now semi-retired, working only three days a week, but, I love what I do and will probably be in practice for another five or more years, part-time.
I play in a number of arenas – sports, music, the Gospel, volunteering, and I am able to lend my expertise, my time and my energy to helping people help others and themselves. There is a certain level of joy in my practice that I share with my patients, friends and neighbors, and I have been blessed, so I try to be a blessing to everyone around me.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
You know, there were times when I met different people and when I “chose” to date that girl, and when I became friends with that guy, or moved to a different restaurant, and it was “lucky” I knew them or was there to meet the next person that propelled me to the next turn in my path. I can’t think of ever having bad luck, but just good or fortuitous luck in moving me forward. I am also a lucky man to have the wife I have. Most of the time it was me hustling my ass off – going to school during the day and working in the restaurant at night. As a chiropractor, it was getting out and meeting people in all walks of life, and doing that for years, and that helped in the long run.

Pricing:

• Initial exam: $140 w/o insurance
• 30 min. visit: $70
• Stretching book, soft cover: $34.95
• Stretching EBook: free or $9.99 on Amazon

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bengriffesdc.com
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn/in/Benjamin-Griffes
• Youtube: YouTube/@drben_ben-jammin (Benjamin Griffes)

Image Credits
All mine