Dr. Makani Lew, DC, DACRB
(a little bit about me…)
Dr. Makani Lew is a distinguished chiropractor and rehabilitation diplomate with over two decades of experience. After a fulfilling 24-year teaching career at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Lew has retired from academia to dedicate her expertise to the Santa Cruz community.
Now practicing in a rehab-oriented office in Aptos, Dr. Lew focuses on providing patient-specific chiropractic care. Her approach is centered around the philosophy of empowering individuals through movement, helping each patient achieve optimal health and well-being.
Dr. Lew's extensive background in chiropractic education and hands-on patient care positions her as a trusted and knowledgeable resource for those seeking holistic and rehabilitative chiropractic solutions. She is committed to fostering a supportive and effective healing environment for all her patients.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Lew is also committed to advancing the field of chiropractic and musculoskeletal care through continuing education. She offers hands-on and online instruction, guiding practitioners on how to incorporate patient-specific chiropractic care and create supportive rehabilitative programming into their practices.
Bask in the elixir of nature
Breathe in. Breathe out.
(photo of the beautiful Aptos hills in the fall)
What else…
(the secret life of Dr. Lew?)
If someone asked Dr. Lew what her other passions or hobbies are she’d list these three: being creative and artistic, reading about behavioral economics, and constantly refining her grasp of mindfulness and DBT.
Behavioral Economics
Dr. Lew’s passion for behavioral economics started around 2010 when someone suggested she read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers. This led to an exciting non-stop rabbit hole of being motivated by TED talks and listening to and reading many books (yes, she loves audiobooks). It’s a funny field to be fascinated by because there really isn’t a shelf at the bookstore for the subject. It’s not psychology and it’s not economics. She learned that it’s defined as a field that explores how psychological factors influence decision-making and more. As she read more books, she found a need to document what she’d read and to avoid re-buying books! After reading Gladwell’s Tipping Point book, she realized she is a maven, and she loves to inspire others to think critically about the world around them. This is why Dr. Lew created her blog "Opened My Mind”, where she delves into topics that challenge conventional thinking and explore the intersection of human behavior, economics, and mindfulness. If you would like to see a list of the books that most inspired Dr. Lew over the past decade and a half, and though it needs to be updated, please visit here:
https://openedmymind.blogspot.com/p/booklist-web-links.html
And the list goes on….
Mindfulness
Dr. Lew is also a dedicated practitioner of mindfulness, with a particular interest in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). She draws inspiration from the work of Jeff Warren, whose teachings on meditation and mental clarity resonate deeply with her. Through mindfulness, she continues to explore the connections between mind, body, and behavior, integrating these practices into her personal life and professional philosophy. Dr. Lew’s every morning starts with listening to Jeff Warren’s Daily Trip meditations on the Calm App. After which, she takes time to journal and reflect on the message and how she’s weaving mindfulness into her thoughts and activities in her life.
Trust. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out even more slowly.
Focus in on your breathing or the nothingness or the surrounding sounds. And let them exist without judgment.
Notice things instead of judging them. Be present in mind about the things around you.
Breathe in. Breathe out. You’ve got this. Trust this process.
(Dr. Lew’s reflection inspired by Jeff Warren’s message that we can “tap into ease and connection” with meditation from his meditation called “The Great Transformer”.)
Creativity
In addition to her intellectual pursuits, Dr. Lew is an avid paper crafter, combining her love for creativity with tactile expression. She enjoys using rubber stamps as a foundation for her designs and then adding embellishments and personal touches to make each piece unique. She shares her paper crafting projects on her blog "Aloha Makani," showcasing her eye for detail and passion for artistic exploration. If you would like to see some of her art from days past (and hopefully soon to have more additions), please visit here:
“In terms of how to refuel yourself- It takes 15 minutes to visualize well-being. Take that bath or shower. Take that extra nap. Read or watch that funny cartoon. Sip that sweet herbal tea. Switch the energy inside... and then close your eyes and focus on lovely things that may be far from "what-is". A prayer or thought of appreciation is far more helpful than a prayer of worry.
Okay, so remember to see yourself as whole and beautiful. If you have a painful spot, thank it for all the good feelings it has given you through all your years so far. Ask this spot to forgive you for forgetting how wonderful it really is at its core essence and for thinking of it as ill.
Be the wellness you want to be.”
Makani Lew, June 3, 2012
https://openedmymind.blogspot.com/2012/06/feel-good-attract-well-being.html
Let's Begin Your Journey
(photo of the beautiful fog covered Aptos hills)