20 Aug Introducing Jamie Titus!

Today I’m excited to introduce Jamie Titus from Emanata Chiropractic. Many of my mamas see Jamie for chiropractic care. I think partly it is because her office is only a few blocks from my home office. I think the other part is that she has magic hands, and once someone sees her for the first time, they just don’t ever want to stop going back! I’ve seen a lot of chiropractors in my life, and I’ve got to say, the work that Jamie does is very unique. It is incredibly gentle, but at the same time, makes huge changes! Her work is extremely tailored to each client, and I think that because of that, her adjustments hold much longer. Jamie is also trained in acupuncture, and that skill has helped a few of our moms get into labor. And on top of all that, she is well versed in applied kinesiology (muscle testing) which she uses not only to help determine which chiropractic adjustments a body needs, but also to help identify food or environmental allergies in adults and infants. I always get pretty excited when I am telling someone about Jamie, but what amazes me is that she herself is one of the most grounded, down to earth, no-drama kind of people I know. Anyway, enough from my perspective…I’ll let her speak for herself. Enjoy!

Name:
Jamie Titus

Occupation:
Chiropractor

Family:
Husband, Josiah, and our son, Hank (6 Months)

Hometown:
Minneapolis, MN

Lives in:
South Minneapolis

Favorite weekday lunch:
Garlic chicken, extra spicy

Favorite Workout:
Long walks and workout videos

Favorite downtime activity:
At the moment, watching the Olympics

Kate: When did you know you wanted to be a chiropractor?
Jamie: I was in my late teens when my family started seeing a chiropractor. The experience was transformative. We changed how we ate, how we spent our time, what medications we were taking, and most importantly, we raised our expectations for quality of life. I was discovering, I now realize, the inherent power of the human body. And I was hooked.

Kate: Tell me a bit about your practice. 
Jamie: I’m lucky in that I have my own clinic, which affords me a freedom that would otherwise be impossible. When someone walks into Emanata Chiropractic, I think it’s clear that a lot of thought went into the space. That same thoughtfulness extends to the care and to the overall experience.

I use a method of chiropractic care called Applied Kinesiology (AK). Essentially, what this means is, I pose questions to the body and use muscle strength to determine answers. This allows me to identify problems and more effectively restore balance.

I also use muscle testing to look for food sensitivities. This is a matter of unearthing the body’s likes and dislikes, deficiencies and needs. Someone might not be lactose intolerant, but that doesn’t mean their body enjoys processing dairy.

Within a relatively short amount of time, the human diet has gone from being largely meat and vegetable based to being heavy in wheat, sugars, salts and dairy. Muscle testing for food sensitivities helps us navigate this newfound dietary reality. It’s not a blanket statement about what is good or should be avoided. Rather, it’s a window into a body’s specific dislikes and needs.

Acupuncture is also incorporated into the care that I provide. The human body is inherently harmonious. My job is to restore and preserve that harmony. Adjustments, tendon work, muscle work—these are all means to that end. Acupuncture is no different. It stimulates the body’s planes. That is, it promotes a smooth flow of energy and resources.

My client base is diverse. While I don’t have any particular niche, I do provide a lot of natal-related care, both to the mother and to the newborn. Birth is an extraordinary event, and it’s a tremendous gift to a mother and newborn to be adjusted. I feel privileged to be able to offer this gift to new mothers and their babies.

Kate: What is the best part of your job?
Jamie: The human body is miraculous. It has always enthralled me how nuanced and beautiful of a system it is. And now it’s my job to work on that system. I learn new things everyday, and I leave most days with a renewed sense of awe.

This enthusiasm sometimes rubs off on my patients, and when it does, I feel very proud and grateful to be doing what I’m doing.

Kate: I’ve seen firsthand how moms who get adjusted throughout pregnancy have smoother and shorter labors. Can you explain why that is?
Jamie: It’s really a matter of balance. Even the most mundane activities become laborious if the body is misaligned. Imagine, then, the impact misalignment can have on the birthing process. What I do is remove the things that stand in the body’s way.

Kate: How would you say adjusting a newborn is different than adjusting an adult?
Jamie: It’s actually very similar. I still use AK to determine need, only here the mother stands in as a conduit. Really, the biggest difference is that babies respond to the slightest touch, which makes adjusting them a matter of soft pressure and gentle massage. Cranial work on a newborn, for instance, requires only the slightest bit of pressure.

When my son was born, he was adjusted by my colleague (who also happened to be our Doula). The impact was immediate. He was able to latch more effectively and within a few minutes fell into a deep and restful sleep.

Kate: Sometimes people are worried about getting adjusted if they’ve never been to a chiropractor before. How would you describe what you do?
Jamie: People have come to me with all sorts of chiropractic-related anxieties. In some cases, it’s that they’ve never been adjusted. More often, they’ve had a bad experience. My style is low intensity, and I would never do an adjustment that a patient was uncomfortable with. Trust is central to our time together, and we don’t begin until that trust is intact.

I would describe what I do as putting the body’s components back in proper working order. This doesn’t require any violent twists or snaps. It’s only ever painful if I’m digging through damaged tendons or muscle attachments, and even then the relief is immediate and, I’m told, well worth any discomfort.

Kate: How would you say that you are unique from other chiropractors in the community?
Jamie: I’m reluctant to speak to the effectiveness or methodologies of other chiropractors. What I can say is that there is a full spectrum of care-styles and talents out there, and that I find myself on the holistic end of that spectrum.

I am lucky to know and be able to learn from a strong and supremely talented group of chiropractors. I also like to think that I have a natural knack for this work.

Kate: Do you have any advice you’d like to share with our pregnant readers?
Jamie: Be mindful of this moment in your life. Sleep soundly, eat real food, take walks, pay close attention to your body and to the things it’s telling you.

Most importantly, be peaceful.

Kate: Do you have any advice you’d like to share with new moms and dads?
Jamie: Have your baby tested for food sensitivities. This might mean a change in the diet for a nursing mother, but the outcome will be worth it. And be careful with your shoulders and necks. You’ll be carrying things more awkwardly and looking down more often than you ever have before.

As a new mom myself, I’ve seen how expectations can sabotage a good thing. Let the journey be filled with mystery and try not to worry. If things need to change, trust that you will know where to go for guidance and answers. Be peaceful and kind—to each other, to your baby, and to yourselves. You are in a wonderful place in the journey of life. Have fun.