Lifestyle basics from Liza, an Entrepreneur and Chiropractor from Toronto

Q: Where do you live?
I live in Toronto, Canada.

Q: What inspired you to become a Chiropractor?
I completed my undergraduate degree in pharmacology and did not like the concept of only using medication and surgery as treatment options for many common health complaints and injuries. I therefore decided to venture into a profession where I could help patients using a drug free and preventative approach.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your practice, the [clinic]?
the[clinic] is an executive Chiropractic health centre in downtown Toronto. We created it as not only a place where patients could go for comprehensive therapy but also to relax, enjoy complimentary refreshments and even take a nap. We use state of the art equipment in addition to our hands on approach to ensure that each patient is comfortable and benefits from our treatment approach.

Q: Do you have many patients who are single, and if so what are some of the most common issues/concerns?
I would say about 25 percent of our patient base is single. Their issues and concerns are mostly the same as everyone else's except instead of having marriage problems they experience 'dating issues' such as going on blind dates, being dumped for absurd reasons and searching out places to meet potential partners. Another common issue is the lack of support when dealing with serious injuries. For example, following a car accident a lot of patients need help with things that they were independent in prior to the accident, and single patients are more likely to move in with their parents or a friend than a married patient to attain that support.

Q: What are the 3 biggest mistakes people make when it comes to healthy living and how can they go about making improvements?
I can't say for sure what the 3 biggest mistakes are that people make but I can comment on the 3 most common mistakes that I have seen in my practice. The first is trying to overhaul your lifestyle in a short amount of time. Healthy living is something that requires gradual changes so that you stick with them long term. Number 2 is with exercise. A lot of people are sedentary during the week and in an effort to be healthier they spend all weekend exercising and return to work on Monday in serious pain. To reduce the risk of injury people should maintain their activity through the week so they don't feel the need to overcompensate on the weekend. And last but not least is sleep. For our bodies to function adequately and to maintain optimal health we need around 7-8 hours of sleep. A lot of people skimp on sleep to get in an early morning workout thinking that they are better off running than sleeping. Lack of sleep leads to increased stress hormones which can actually facilitate weight gain. A better option is to go to bed earlier or workout after work.

Q: For many individuals launching a business is a concern, especially when it comes to finances. What measures did take to ensure success?
It's a little tough to "ensure success" but to strive for success we did our research and produced a complete and thorough business plan. We also allotted room in our business plan for adaptation. Sometimes a new business can be pretty unpredictable and it becomes necessary to make changes quickly to accommodate for shifting social trends and the economy.

Q: Any other advice or tips you would like to share with our readers?
The biggest advice I can give is to not let stress get the best of you. Chances are if you are stressing out about something, a million people around the world are probably dealing with something that is actually worth stressing about.