Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Hoover.
Hi Daniel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At the age of 13, I became immersed in martial arts and was fascinated by the fact that the same pressure points used for self-defense were also used for healing with acupuncture. This realization became a seed that would later lead me to the path I am on today. After high school, I became a certified massage therapist to learn a trade to pay my way through college. It was during this time that I was exposed to chiropractic medicine for the first time and saw firsthand its power. While working as a massage therapist in a chiropractor’s office, I was blown away by how specific adjustments that took only seconds to perform could make patients feel instantly better. This led me to study both chiropractic and acupuncture, but first, I wanted to get a deeper understanding of herbal medicine. I went on to study and obtain my master’s degree in Western herbology. During this time, I also began studying Tai Chi Chuan with Tai Chi Masters to deepen and complement my martial arts training.
Interestingly, the same year I graduated from chiropractic and acupuncture school, I was promoted to the rank of Master (5th-degree black belt) in Shaolin Kempo, the same martial art that had planted the seed about pressure points years earlier. One of my martial arts teachers told me that the highest form of martial arts is healing, and I learned that many kung fu masters of the past were also acupuncturists and bone setters, which is similar to, and some say a predecessor to, chiropractic medicine. This combination of my training became the culmination of my previous experiences that came full circle from my start at 13 years old.
During chiropractic and acupuncture school, I began teaching a free community Tai Chi class at the park in Long Beach. Through practicing and teaching Tai Chi, I experienced many health benefits and decided to incorporate my passion for it into my physical therapy department when I graduated. This inspired me to name my health center SOHMA, which stands for School of Healing Martial Arts. Soma also means body in Latin.
Also, this is my short biography: Dr. Daniel Hoover has a rare combination of skills that adds to the depth of knowledge that he passes onto his patients and students. He is a doctor of Chiropractic, licensed Acupuncturist, Master Herbalist, Certified Chiropractic Sports Medicine Physician, 5th-degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo, Tai Chi Master, and an Ironman, He is a proud husband and father of two children.
In an effort to create a more comprehensive holistic approach to healing, Dr. Hoover founded SOHMA Integrative Health Center in Long Beach, CA in 2014. They were recently voted Best of Long Beach 2022 in the categories of Best Health Care Facility and Best Chiropractor. He merged the School of Healing Martial Arts into SOHMA to bring together ancient wisdom with modern practices. In 2021 he added a second practice in Lakewood, CA which now offers regenerative medicine. His mission is to help people get out of pain, into balance, and back to play!
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?
The road has not been smooth, but my commitment to my purpose has been strong and constant which has greatly helped me through the difficult times. Around the time I started martial arts, I was also diagnosed with ADHD. This was very painful for me because I didn’t think anything was wrong with me and yet the psychiatrist my parents had me see prescribed Ritalin for the ADHD. I never felt right taking this medication. Even my parents said it seemed to turn me into a bit of a “zombie.” I went from being full of energy and life (and a little out of control sometimes, according to my teachers and parents) to sedate. Something in me always knew taking this medication wasn’t right and there had to be another way. So I took on learning to focus my mind on my own, and with the help of meditation in martial arts and using some herbs, I was able to stop taking the medication and raise my grades. A few months later my mom realized that she hadn’t renewed my Ritalin prescription and asked me about it. I asked her to look at my grades which had gone up beyond the acceptable range.
From that point on, my parents never renewed my ADHD medication. This experience further strengthened my commitment to seeking alternative ways to health. Working my way through college was not easy. I started a mobile massage business that helped me pay my way through my undergrad and pre-med school, but when I finally got to grad school, there was no time for work. I was in a dual graduate program, working simultaneously on a doctorate and master’s degree to be completed in four years. I averaged 32 units per semester. I had to overcome many limiting beliefs about my ability to handle so much work and my ability to learn. On top of that, I met my wife (to-be) during my first year of this program. Finding the love of my life while pursuing this insanely challenging dual program was no easy task. There was such a high dropout rate that soon after I graduated, the university no longer offered the dual program. Students had to pick one program or the other. My class started with over 40 students and only five of us ended up graduating together.
After I graduated and received my dual licenses in 2014, I decided to open my own practice SOHMA Integrative Health Center. I had only enough money for first and last month’s rent and a couple of thousand dollars to buy a few office supplies and an EHR software systems to keep medical records. I had an old Chiropractic table I got off of Craigslist that I could also use for acupuncture. I taught martial arts classes at night and treated patients by day to keep the lights on. I was burning the candle at both ends and getting burnt out quickly. I realized that it was time to let go of my martial arts classes so that I could focus on the healing practice. Along the way, I learned to ask for help especially when it came to business. I was well-trained to treat patients and help them get well, but I wasn’t exactly qualified to grow and scale a practice. I got help from various sources including the SBDC, BNI, friends, coaches, and mastermind groups. The old saying, “when the student is ready, the teacher will arrive” definitely applied to me on my journey as I met new mentors that helped me to grow my practice. Special shout out to my old martial arts friend Dustin Edwards who I got to reunite just before I started practice. He has a successful property management business and has provided invaluable business advice that has helped me grow over the years.
One other challenge/opportunity that arrived was when I was two years into practice and my friend and colleague Dr. Jonathan Lin, DC, LAc, asked me to be his best man and for his bachelor adventure, we’d go to Nepal for a leadership trek for two weeks in the Himalayas. I couldn’t turn him down, but how would I leave my patients for two weeks? Einstein is quoted as saying, “around every difficulty lies opportunity.” So I turned this into an opportunity and asked for help. I decided to hire a substitute chiropractor in my absence. As fate would have it, the next BNI meeting, I asked my group if they knew of a chiropractor that would be interested in coming to SOHMA. That day there was a guest that had never been to our group before who said she knew a chiropractor that she used to work with that lives two blocks away from SOHMA! That referral turned into my first chiropractic hire, Dr. Kroeze who’s been with us now for over seven years. I was able to go on this two-week trip with my friend, and to my humble surprise, all the patients reported feeling better! I learned that I don’t have to be “the one” delivering the medicine and for me to have a larger impact, I have to find other great healers. That is when the expansion began. Since then, we’ve hired multiple chiropractors, an acupuncturist, physical therapists, a holistic medical doctors, nurse practitioners, massage therapists and the list keeps growing. We are now a certified integrative clinic with Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS). That means their chiropractors, acupuncturists, and physician assistants can come do their internships at SOHMA and get school credit to graduate.
The next and largest challenge in my career was when the world shut down in March of 2020. We had an all-hands team meeting at SOHMA to find out who wants to work, who needs to work, who’d like some time off. One of my employees emotionally said, “I’m the only one in my family who still has a job.” That really struck me and had me raise my context and commitment to one where I’m responsible for all my employees and patients. One of the employees asked me what I thought about all this and what I’m going to do. I said, “I’m prepared to be the last person here. If no one wants to work, I’ll answer the phones and treat the patients.” It was at that moment that the team rallied behind me as a leader. We embraced the fact that we are an essential business, did our research to create the safest possible space according to CDC guidelines by getting PPE, infrared thermometers, six-foot space stickers, wiping off tables and equipment between each patient, etc., and we got the word out that we are open. We never closed during COVID, and as a result of being a stand for my employees and the community, we grew. In 2021, I was offered to purchase a second practice in the City of Lakewood from a friend and colleague that I knew since high school. I haven’t looked back since.
We’ve been impressed with SOHMA Integrative Medicine, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At SOHMA Integrative Medicine, we combine Eastern and Western medicine without the use of drugs or surgery to help people get out of pain, into balance, and back to play. We unify ancient wisdom with modern technologies. Our integrative approach weaves together a wide range of holistic healthcare services. We offer regenerative medical services such as cellular tissue products (CTP), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), IV therapy, Chiropractic, Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression, Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, Functional Medicine, Massage Therapy, Medical Tai Chi, and herbal pharmacy. We are most known for our ability to help people avoid invasive surgeries such as joint replacements and back surgeries so that they can get back to doing the things they love.
We have gotten worldwide recognition for our Tai Chi for Beginners program which has over 2.2 million views on YouTube to date: https://youtu.be/oCnCSOWgIUU. We host Southern California’s largest free weekly Tai Chi class that’s been going on since 2010. We currently have an average of 50 students in attendance. One of the things we’re most proud of is how our providers and case managers work together as a team in a truly integrative way. We prioritize meeting daily to review patient cases and coming up with the best integrative treatment plan for them. The thing we want your readers to know is that the type of conditions we are sought out for the most and we have the most success in treating are back pain, sciatica, neck pain, joint pain, and peripheral neuropathy. We accept many types of medical insurances including all PPOs, Medicare, Tricare/Triwest, ILWU, and more. Also, we offer a nationally recognized Tai Chi Instructor certification program that can be taken online or in person.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My commitment to the call to heal is not only a purpose but a duty. Additionally, here are our Core Values which I believe are characteristics that the SOHMA Team and I embrace:
Accountability: Do what you say you will do.
Service: Patient-centered care and teamwork.
Responsiveness: Take action today, follow up, & follow through.
Professional: High standards that well represent our professions.
Team: Work together in an egoless environment.
Self-care: Get adjusted, work-life balance.
Play: Have fun! Express yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: sohma.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sohma_health/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sohmahealth
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sohma-integrative-health-center
- Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/@sohma_health
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SHealingMartialArts
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sohma-integrative-health-center-long-beach
- Other: https://youtu.be/oCnCSOWgIUU
Image Credits
Samir Janjua
