Inspiring Conversations with Dr. Tyler Suh of MYOBALANCE Chiropractic & Acupuncture

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Tyler Suh.

Hi Dr. Tyler, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in 1988 in Independence, Missouri, and moved to South Korea when I was just three years old. Around 1997, South Korea was hit hard by the IMF crisis, which devastated countless families—including mine. My parents’ business struggled, their marriage fractured, and the emotional toll deeply shaped my early years. In 1999, at the age of eleven, my younger brother and I were sent back to Kansas City, Missouri to escape the instability.

During that time, I carried deep emotional uncertainty—not knowing when or if my parents would rejoin us. My mother, still in Korea, once asked me a question no child should have to face: whether I wanted to be an orphan or go live with extended family. That moment left a mark on me. Eventually, about a year and a half later, she returned to the U.S., and the three of us—my mom, my brother, and I—relocated to Oregon, where she found her first job and began rebuilding our lives. My father remained in Korea, and their separation became final. Though this move offered stability on the surface, I still carried anxiety, depression, and a sense of disconnection that would take years to understand and heal.

Adjusting to life in America was incredibly difficult. I didn’t speak English, felt culturally isolated, and developed a range of health issues—severe asthma, chronic allergies, daily nosebleeds, and persistent back and neck pain. I was a shy, timid kid who always felt out of place.

Everything began to change in 2013 during a serious asthma attack that sent me to the emergency room. Soon after, I visited a chiropractic clinic in Portland, Oregon. The relief I felt wasn’t just physical—it was emotional. For the first time in my life, I felt something shift inside me. I walked out of that clinic with tears in my eyes, not just because the pain had eased, but because something deeper had been released. After just a few treatments, not only did my spine pain improve, but my asthma and food allergies also disappeared. It was a turning point. I realized that my unhealthy body was speaking the language of my unprocessed emotions.

That experience sparked my journey into healing. I earned my Doctor of Chiropractic in 2016, but the deeper I went, the more I realized that bones and muscles are just one part of the human story. Our emotional health, diet, internal organ function, and spiritual balance all play essential roles. That realization led me to leave my home in Oregon and move to Los Angeles to pursue a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. It was a leap of faith—and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

My mother, a Yoga and Tai Chi master, was a huge influence from early on. She taught me the importance of the connection between a healthy mind, a healthy body, and a nourished soul. That philosophy stayed with me as I built my career. In November 2023, I opened MYOBALANCE Chiropractic & Acupuncture in Los Angeles. “MYO” refers to muscle, and “balance” speaks to our whole mission: to restore harmony in the spine, mind, and heart. Our logo—shaped like a brain and heart—symbolizes this integration. The brain represents the mind and spirit, while the heart reflects the physical body we influence through chiropractic and acupuncture care. Together, they embody our approach to holistic healing. Our motto is simple but powerful: “Balanced state of spine, balanced state of mind.”

In addition to my clinical practice, I’ve been fortunate to serve globally—bringing care to underserved communities in Haiti, Honduras, and El Salvador. In Haiti, locals called us the “touch healers” for the hands-on chiropractic relief we provided. In Honduras, I was part of a meditation and detox program, and in El Salvador, I worked with schoolchildren through brain education programs. I’ve also offered acupuncture services to elderly communities in Las Vegas. Earlier in my training, I worked with homeless youth and individuals recovering from addiction through the VA Health Clinic and Volunteers of America—experiences that taught me how deeply healing is needed across every corner of our society. These moments deepened my belief that true healing is universal—and that my calling is not limited to a single zip code.

Reading Simon Sinek’s Start With Why helped me articulate what I already knew intuitively: my purpose is to help others feel whole again. I see pain as a messenger—an invitation to reconnect with parts of ourselves we’ve ignored. I believe healing happens when we treat the full person, not just the symptoms. My dream is to expand MYOBALANCE and eventually create a global outreach program to bring integrative care to communities around the world. This work is more than my career—it’s my calling.

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?
My journey began in uncertainty—caught between two countries, separated from my parents, and struggling to understand where I belonged. The economic collapse in South Korea disrupted my family, and even after moving to the U.S., the instability continued. My parents lived in two separate homes, and I carried the weight of emotional confusion and isolation throughout my childhood. I didn’t speak English, had few friends at first, and struggled with chronic illnesses. My asthma was debilitating. I bled from my nose almost daily. I was overweight, fatigued, and in constant back and neck pain from middle school onward.

I was raised by a single mother who worked long hours, barely earning above minimum wage, while trying to care for me and my younger brother. Meanwhile, my father remained in Korea, having lost his career in the aftermath of the financial collapse, trying to start over from nothing. Our household faced ongoing financial strain, but both my mother and father, in their own separate ways, did everything they could to keep us afloat. The sense of survival was constant, and though we had little, I grew up learning how to endure, adapt, and stay hopeful.

The emotional challenges of my upbringing were just as real. I was a sad, quiet kid—often overwhelmed, insecure, and withdrawn. School was difficult, and I often felt invisible or out of place. But over time, through sports, close friendships, and my parents’ efforts to provide stability from afar and at home, I slowly emerged from that shell.

The biggest turning point came in that chiropractic office in 2013. That healing experience changed the course of my life. For the first time, I saw how deeply the body and mind were connected. I learned that pain is not the enemy—it’s a messenger. And I began dedicating myself to learning how to decode those messages for others.

Choosing to leave Oregon and move to LA for further education was another challenge. It meant starting over financially, culturally, and professionally. It was scary. But I knew I needed to expand beyond chiropractic—to study energy, emotions, herbal medicine, and traditional healing systems that treat the whole person.

Now, as the founder of MYOBALANCE, I carry those early struggles with me—not as burdens, but as reminders of why I do this work. I embrace those challenges because they shaped me. If I had never experienced poor physical health, emotional distress, and financial hardship, I might never have realized the powerful connection between mind and body. My philosophy, and even the name MYOBALANCE, comes directly from those lived experiences. I know firsthand that true healing begins when we bring the body, mind, and spirit back into balance. Every patient I treat is a chance to give back the kind of healing I once desperately needed. And my goal moving forward is to take that healing global—to reach underserved communities and support the people who serve others. Because balance isn’t just a physical state—it’s a way of life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
MYOBALANCE Chiropractic & Acupuncture is a wellness clinic based in Los Angeles that blends evidence-based chiropractic care with the wisdom of Eastern medicine. The name “MYOBALANCE” reflects our mission: restoring balance to the body by addressing muscle imbalances (“myo”) and integrating physical, emotional, and energetic healing. Our approach combines spinal alignment, acupuncture, herbal therapy, and rehabilitative movement to support the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

Our logo—a heart and brain—symbolizes this holistic philosophy: the heart representing the physical body and the brain symbolizing the mind and spirit. At MYOBALANCE, our motto is “Balanced state of spine, balanced state of mind,” and we live by it. We don’t just relieve pain—we help patients rediscover their inner harmony.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The future of healthcare is integrative. More people are seeking care that treats the root cause of illness—not just the symptoms. As stress-related conditions, chronic pain, and emotional burnout continue to rise, patients are turning to holistic providers who can support them on all levels: physical, mental, and emotional.

Chiropractic and acupuncture are no longer on the fringes—they’re gaining recognition as essential components of whole-person care. The demand for natural, non-pharmaceutical healing options is growing rapidly, and the line between Eastern and Western medicine is becoming more collaborative.
At MYOBALANCE, we’re proud to be part of this shift. We envision a future where wellness clinics serve as both treatment centers and community hubs for education, prevention, and empowerment. Our long-term goal is to expand globally—bringing integrative care to underserved communities and helping the healers themselves stay balanced.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://myobalance.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myobalancela?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578059494675&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/WUawBLLoid
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YKQRvjzwtcar6ZUd7?g_st=ipc