Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Nimira Alibhoy.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since childhood, I’ve grown up with two seemingly opposing beliefs. On one hand, I have this spiritual belief that our bodies were designed perfectly. The we were created to last. On the other hand, I’ve always loved the sciences and I still get the chills every time I share with someone how cool I think it is when you have that realization that our bodies, the chairs we’re sitting on and the screens we’re staring at are ALL made of atoms – and that’s science! When it came time to pick a career, I knew I wanted to help people, I also knew I didn’t want to follow the traditional medical model. I’d seen how it wasn’t really helping my family members get better – just helping them stay functional at best.
After some research, I chose a path in osteopathic medicine. I thought maybe it would be the closest thing I could do that had somewhat of a more holistic approach while still fulfilling my need for a scientific approach. A week before I left for school, my car was hit and it flipped over twice. I was taken in an ambulance to the hospital where the only procedures done was having an x-ray taken of my elbow to remove the glass from the windshield that had shattered on impact. It wasn’t until a few days later that my mom’s colleague who also happened to have just finished chiropractic school found out about the accident and was shocked to find that no one had checked me for whiplash or any of the other underlying injuries that may have come up from this type of accident. His kind, no-pressure approach is what convinced my mom to bring me in to get checked.
This was my first introduction to chiropractic. I learned during this short experience that that brain and nervous system control everything in the body, and that it is self-healing, self-regulating, and self-maintaining. It was the first time the values and philosophies of a profession lined up with my values and philosophies about life – and I was hooked!
For me, chiropractic care represents a change in mindset that really recognizes the power that is the body. Typically, when people think about chiropractic bones and muscles are the first thing to come to mind. It’s really the brain and nervous system that control everything and when you can make sure there are no blocks or limitations in nervous system function then the body can actually do which it was designed to do – heal itself. I love what I do because it’s a beautiful blend of science and holistic health.
I’ve been blessed to see the amazing things our bodies are capable of doing in the last few years – just with the simple removal of that interference.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think any business that goes against the norm of what is expected is bound to have its fair share of bumps in the road, as well as some twists, turns and unexpected trees falling out of nowhere! Upper cervical care is very different from traditional chiropractic work, so of course, educating patients is a big focus of my practice.
From a personal standpoint, I started my practice when my daughter was 15 months old, with an hour commute in each direction to my Santa Monica office. Those three years there were the hardest. Not only did I have to spend the time educating potential patients on how I was different than most chiropractors they’d met, I also had the physical demands of my commute and sleepless nights from nursing my child! During those years, I truly found my strength and passion for what I have to offer.
I was ready to bring to an end the exhaustion of my commute, and I moved my practice to Agoura Hills, and then became pregnant with my little boy. Networking and building community has created a reputation for me here in Conejo and truly helped me grow my practice, even while pregnant and then with an infant in the office. Thankfully, more people are understanding the unique advantages of upper cervical care, and the idea that minimal adjustments can bring major results.
So, as you know, we’re impressed – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I help people feel better in their bodies, which I absolutely love! I practice upper cervical chiropractic (UCC) care, which is different from traditional chiropractic in several ways.
First, it’s a minimalist approach. Only the top two bones in the neck are adjusted, and corrections are more accurate and less frequent. Our bodies have an amazing ability to heal and adapt when the upper neck bones are aligned because they protect the brain stem. When those top bones in the neck are out of alignment, they can interfere with the nervous system and cause pain, stiffness, headaches, sleep problems and many other health concerns affecting the entire body.
UCC focuses on locating brain stem interference within those top bones in the neck and making a tiny correction to “unblock” that interference. It’s really just a nudge in the right direction that lets the healing process being – no popping, twisting, cracking involved! With no interference, the rest of the spine can reset on its own, and the whole body can heal. UCC is very effective, but it doesn’t involve continuous adjustments over a long period of time. Many patients see dramatic results in about six months of care, as their bodies are able to adjust and adapt on their own.
The other notable difference is that UCC uses nervous system testing — a scientific scanning method that shows me when the body is adapting (or healing itself) and when it’s truly stuck. At each visit, I can see a patient’s neurological patterns in real time.
When we continue to see these same patterns over and over, the body has lost the ability to adapt. I can then make a tiny, specific correction, and do another scan to make sure that a change was made. When a patient comes in for a check and doesn’t need an adjustment, that’s because the body is actually healing.
This approach is scientific and holistic, and it gets lasting results that hold, by allowing the body to do its job. I love my patients, but my goal is to see them a lot less over time.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Over the last few years I’ve noticed a trend in my practice. While I do see both men and women, my practice tends to attract women who need balance in their lives- in a broad sense. Mostly women who are in their 40’s to 60’s who have spent most of their adult lives putting their career and the family first, compromising their own health in the process. A lot of these women start feeling older than they used to, and are waking up the with the aches and pains that they previously could ignore. Some of their symptoms are compounded by menopause or even perimenopause, which can start earlier than many women realize.
I’ve really enjoyed helping this group of women and have started catering a lot of my practice to helping them find balance in their lives in terms of overall wellness, not just the chiropractic care.
Once we’re able to help them reset their physical patterns then having the community to support balance of work, family, and wellness is key. As I move into the future, I’d really like to become a strong resource in my community for this group of women who want to re-focus on their health. I know having this support system will allow them to thrive and continue to be strong, focused, and successful in fulfilling the purpose and passions.
Pricing:
- $300: Exam – Including history, exam, nervous system testing, necessary x-rays.
- $2500-$2800: – 6-month care protocol, depending on specific recommendations.
Contact Info:
- Address: 28348 Roadside Dr #102B,
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 - Website: http://www.DrNimira.com
- Phone: 805-244-6769
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnimira
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrNimira/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrNimira
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nimira-alibhoy-dc-agoura-hills
Image Credit:
Rachael Michelle
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