We had the good fortune of connecting with Todd Gewant and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Todd, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I made a promise to God minutes before going under for my 3rd of 6 surgeries to keep my left arm on me, that I would give back forever and help people heal if he just lets me keep my arm. When I woke and felt my arm and hand were still mine, I told my Mom when she came into the recovery room: “I have to become a doctor and give back forever. I made a promise to God and he kept his part.”. So years later, I became a Chiropractor and named my website: GIVINGBACKCHIRO.COM, always “giving back”!

What should our readers know about your business?
I took a possible disaster of my youth, needing 6 surgeries to keep my left shoulder on me and after making that promise to God to give back if he would just leave my arm on me. He did, and so I kept my promise. After moving to California 22 years ago, I’ve bounced around a few offices in Santa Monica, until I found the right spot to open an office with the way I wanted things run, and to make it a place people walk in and say “WOW”, i’ve never seen or been to a doctors office like this. Being a martial artist for years, and a product of the Karate Kid generation, I became the “Mr. Miagi” of Chiropractic and made my office a Zen environment, using Mr. Miagi’s backyard as motivation. My book series What I Wish I Was Told teaches unification and anti-racism, and so I practice with the same approach and indiscriminately treat the public to help each and every person who walks through my office door peace of mind, body and spirit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, to be honest, I would involve my wife on that one. She grew up Culver City and Alumni of UCLA. She knows all the in and outs of LA. We would for sure go to Taisho restaurant and a night at the Hollywood Bowl. We would do a hike up Will Rogers and follow it up with lunch at Gladstones on the PCH. We would enjoy a night of drinks at The Chestnut Club in Santa Monica, and perhaps some fun at Universal Studios. If time permits, SM Pier and some beach time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well, its ironic who I am today and what I’ve accomplished. After the curve ball of 6 surgeries for a series of tumors that took over my shoulder, and years of religious and color bullying and discrimination against me; I want to shout out and thank God for blessing me with a treatable disorder, which led me to becoming the Chiropractor I am today and for the last 22 years. I also want to thank and shout out to every horrible teacher and bully who verbally and physically hurt me, for today I am the author of two books teaching peace, love, respect to self and others, etc. and have been acknowledged by Pope Francis, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, our current President Joe Biden, and the amazing Jane Elliott who endorsed my books and called them the “future bible of unification”. I also became a Black Belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu and plan on teaching for free next year, kids who can’t afford martial arts and have been bullied in past and present. Funny how the dramas of youth so pave the way for the character of our future selves. I accept every curve ball of my past, for they allowed me to hit grand slams in the future.

Website: www.givingbackchiro.com and www.whatiwishiwastold.com

Yelp: Todd Gewant DC, Chiropractic Corp

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