Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Kershaw.
Hi Michael, 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 was born and raised in Utah. We spent the first 10 years of my childhood living in a trailer park as my parents worked and attended school. I think watching my parents struggle and work multiple jobs and absurd hours really instilled the value of work into me at a young age. They were shining examples of how you can get yourself out of a tough situation if you really, genuinely put your mind to it.
Thankfully, we were able to move out of the trailer park and into the house they still call home. I was a very social kid and liked trying new things. I ended up being a part of as many extracurricular activities as I could. You could find me on the football field, running on the track, or in the orchestra, choir, and theater rooms as a teenager.
I was in high school when I went to see a chiropractor for the first time. I have scoliosis, and combined with the aggressiveness of football, I had begun to experience some shoulder and back pain that was preventing me from sleeping, inhibiting my focus, and was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. It isn’t an understatement to say that chiropractic changed my life. Within a few weeks, my pain was completely gone and, on top of that, I felt better than I ever had. It was incredible. I could walk into that office in really bad pain, and walk out feeling like a new person. From that moment on, becoming a chiropractor was at the top of the list of things I wanted to be.
As I went through college, I explored a few different options. I knew I liked interacting with people, I didn’t want to sit at a desk all day, and I liked helping people, so I looked at physical therapy, personal training, etc. Nothing ever quite resonated with my values and views on health quite like chiropractic did. So, after completing an LDS mission to Mexico and graduating with a degree in Exercise Science from Utah State, I packed up and moved down to Dallas, Texas to pursue my Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
Chiropractic school was grueling. I’m not sure people know how much schooling we actually need to complete in order to practice, but we have a lot of similar classes and requirements as medical students. I learned so much while I was at school, and although it was challenging, I managed to retain the lessons of hard work I learned from my parents back in the mobile home. I learned more about my values and what I wanted to offer as a chiropractor after graduation. Through some stellar mentors, I learned what it meant to be a great chiropractor instead of just an average one. I learned to bet on myself and that I could be successful as a business owner despite my worries.
Once I graduated, I moved back to Utah to finally live out the goals and dreams I’d had since I first wandered into that chiropractor’s office in high school. I opened Simple Chiropractic & Wellness in March of this year, and have already gotten plenty of opportunities to help people get out of pain, perform at the highest level, and maintain a health and wellness lifestyle that keeps their quality of life high. I’ve partnered with the Salt Lake Senate developmental football team to work with their athletes and dancers, as well as with the Salt Lake Gladiators, a local up-and-coming rugby team. I want to change Utah’s perspective of health from passive to proactive and advocate for solutions to health that promote disease and injury prevention while avoiding dependency on drugs or life-altering surgery. I want to show them how much better you can feel and how high your quality of life can really be if you take steps every day to take care of yourself. I’m excited about the opportunity.
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?
As I mentioned in my story, growing up in a trailer park wasn’t the ideal starting point. There were certainly other struggles along the way too. Unexpected family emergencies, financial difficulties, and tough decisions had to be made all the time. I don’t think, for the most part, that the bumps on my road were any different or outstanding compared to the average person. Things come up and we deal with them one day at a time. That attitude has helped me overcome the obstacles and accept the sacrifices that I had to make the get to this point, and overcoming challenges has shaped me into a better person.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Simple Chiropractic & Wellness is a patient-centered, results-driven, holistic practice focused on delivering high-quality chiropractic care and functional movement to help you improve your quality of life.
We aren’t your typical pop-your-back-and-leave kind of chiropractor. We spend time with you to understand what you’re feeling, get to the root cause, and work with you to get you back to feeling your absolute best. When you come in for your first visit, I take time to understand your health history and listen to your concerns and questions before guiding you through a thorough exam process including neurologic and orthopedic tests, a chiropractic spinal analysis, a movement and posture scan, as well as taking x-rays to assess your spinal structure. After the conclusion of your first visit, I review all of the collected information so that I can give you a comprehensive report about what is going on and what I can do to help you. When you come back for subsequent visits, I present my findings for you and create a care plan specialized to help you achieve your health goals.
We really believe that health and wellness should be Simple, and that anyone can live better and happier by incorporating wellness principles into their lives.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Utah, it’s home for me. I feel a real sense of community here. I love being near the mountains and having so much outdoor entertainment available at my fingertips. People here are friendly, family-oriented, and genuinely care about what happens in their communities. I always used to joke that Utah was the country’s best kept secret.
That being said, I don’t think it’s fair to say it’s much of a secret anymore. The influx of people has made traffic a little less enjoyable and we aren’t expanding to meet demand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplechirout.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplechirout/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplechirout
Image Credits
Natalie Miles Photography
Ashley Armstead Photography
