Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Riley Anderson.
Hi Dr. Anderson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
It truly all started back in 2007 with a leap of faith into massage therapy school. At the time, I had no idea why, however, I knew it was exactly where I needed to be. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that my journey into this “work,” as I call it, had to begin somewhere. And as a 20-year-old college dropout, my priorities were admittedly not in the most clear place.
A few years into practicing massage therapy, I decided to give college another try, this time with a focus in biology, more specifically pre-med. During my time in undergrad, I spent countless hours in observation of every health field imaginable, and unfortunately in most of them, I was absolutely bored out of my mind. Each one left me with this sense of unfulfillment. Which ultimately came down to the philosophy on what health and healing is. I could imagine myself waking up years down the road, locked into a “job” that I no longer had alignment with. After a couple years of this, I was at a loss. I had worked so hard for this pivotal moment, the next step in my personal evolution and I had no clue what I wanted to do with it. No “faith” to leap on in any of these professions. It wasn’t until a good friend of mine asked me why I hadn’t considered Chiropractic. In that moment, I hung up the phone and googled Chiropractic. The first thing that came up was like a giant beacon of light, reading, “There is a universal intelligence in all matter, constantly giving to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence.” That was the deep-rooted, rich type of philosophy I was looking for. Alas, something to “leap” for.
Upon entering Chiropractic school, I had an idea of what it was based off the principles on which it was founded. Quickly I learned that that is not how every Chiropractor saw it, and especially the school I had chosen, Parker Chiropractic College. It wasn’t until about 1/3 of the way through school that I finally met my mentor. In that moment, I like to think I was set free. Free from what school wanted me to be how I was “supposed” to practice in this modern world. Free to show up completely and authentically as I am and as I see this “work.”
Now four years into practice I feel I am just scratching the surface of what it means to hold space for someone to become more of themselves. To unlearn all the ideologies, preconceived notions, other people’s suggestions of what is or isn’t, how something should or shouldn’t be, was the real journey. To attempt to view the body, the mind, the spirit in a different way than conventional “health” professions do, including most of modern Chiropractic. That is now my purpose, my devotion, my dharma. To lead those who seek deeper within themselves. Using the body as an avenue into the subconscious mind. Holding space for those I serve to let go, to unlearn the stories they’ve bought into about themselves.
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?
Not exactly smooth, yet I see it all as necessary. One of the biggest bumps in the proverbial road was a pretty tough injury to my left forearm in late 2020. An injury such that ended up requiring four surgeries, two of which were reconstructive in nature, to which I am forever grateful to my surgeon at BSW. I was told that I may never be able to use my hand again, let alone practice Chiropractic. However, for me this was never an option. My mission was to get back to service as soon as I could. Chiropractic is about adaptation. The innate intelligence we come from only knows two things. Healing and adaptation. All we have to do is get out of its way. So, after about 100 days I was back in practice, altering the way I did certain things out of necessity, due to a limitation of matter.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am proud to say that I am a Chiropractor. However, that word elicits all kinds of responses in people when they hear it. So, I like to think that what I am truly here to do is free the imprisoned life force. So, my devotion is just that and I do it in such a way that I feel has artistry in it. There is a creative aspect to it in the sense that I am not giving everybody I see the same cookie-cutter routine or using a protocol to dictate what is done in each session, but rather deriving a place of connection or rapport through paying attention in such a way that the need is afforded to me. From there, I have one goal, and I keep the process of getting there open, playful, with a sense of wonder. This ultimately leaves so much potential for creativity or artistry. As we say, Chiropractic is the science, philosophy, and ART of all things natural.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I absolutely love working with students! Best words of advice I received right before starting practice was just keep showing up! Even when you are not at full capacity. Show up. If you can’t devote yourself to something in life, you will find it at times harder to get out of bed to go do that thing. And don’t stop wondering. Keep going deeper into what it is you are doing. Really dissect every little bit of it. Perpetually expand the lens through which you serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.entheoschiropractic.com/
- Instagram: @entheoschiropractic and @chiropractor.riles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553202472182
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=entheos+chiropractic&sca_esv=588105669&sxsrf=AM9HkKnjOBq5U1jUIxPt_lO1-u1rvWvybw%3A1701825537598&source=hp&ei=AcxvZZC1IautqtsPoaqLqA4&iflsig=AO6bgOgAAAAAZW_aEbZG2GgGZmz4BzUkl-tkvTCPyLaA&oq=enth&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IgRlbnRoKgIIADIKECMYgAQYigUYJzIIEAAYgAQYsQMyCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBMgsQABiABBixAxiDATIIEAAYgAQYsQMyCBAAGIAEGLEDMgsQABiABBixAxiDATIHEAAYgAQYCjILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEyCBAAGIAEGLEDSPkIUABYqQJwAHgAkAEAmAFuoAHKAqoBAzMuMbgBA8gBAPgBAcICERAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGMcBGNEDwgILEC4YgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBiKBRixAxiDAcICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIREC4YgwEYxwEYsQMY0QMYgATCAgUQABiABMICCxAAGIAEGLEDGMkDwgILEAAYgAQYigUYkgPCAggQABiABBiSAw&sclient=gws-wiz
