Dr. Susan Quigley was exposed to chiropractic medicine as a young child. At the age of two, she was very pigeon-toed, so her parents brought her to a chiropractor. By correcting her hips, she was able to avoid surgery. It was also beneficial to her brother, who had asthma and ear infections. While in her teens, it helped her again with endometriosis and that, along with the right nutrition, is what she believes enabled her to conceive a baby years later.
In 2009, Dr. Susan became a doctor of chiropractic medicine, and since then, has been inspired to heal others. “In 2011, with a 2 month old baby, I started my own brand and business,” she says. “SuNu means ‘New Beginnings.’ It was a new beginning for me as a business owner and a mom. I was fortunate to find a space in Minnetonka, a lovely healing setting surrounded by a wonderful community.”
SuNu Wellness has since grown to include another center in Linden Hills, which is owned by her best friend, Dr. Liz Gingrey, and has a combined total of 32 staff members. “From the beginning we’ve been continuing to learn and grow together, and constantly come back to our pillars: Commitment, Trust, Honesty, Empathy, Gratitude, Awareness, Collaboration, Service, Personal Growth and Personal Responsibility,” says Dr. Susan.
In addition to Chiropractic services that include pediatric, infant, prenatal/Webster technique and sports/rehab, there are massage and bodywork (including Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, prenatal and postpartum massage, and shiatsu), holistic nutrition and quantum integration (muscle testing), bioressonance scans (hair and saliva lab test for nutrient deficiency, food sensitivities, and underlying immune challenges), acupuncture and herbs, reiki, sound bowl therapy, hypnobirthing classes and mental health therapies. SuNu basically covers the whole spectrum of health.
“Our collaborative approach sets us apart,” she says. “Feedback we get from our clients is that SuNu is a ‘one stop shop’ for health. We tailor a treatment plan for each client to meet their health goals, and our practitioners collaborate on their care throughout their wellness journey. We strive to create a safe space that is welcoming to all.”
A doctor of chiropractic, Dr. Susan explains, uses a hands-on approach to health care that focuses on how bone, joint and nerve problems affect overall health. “Chiropractors detect and remove subluxations, or misalignments of the spine, allowing proper communication between the brain and body, therefore restoring function to the nervous system. As a result, many patients experience improvements in a variety of conditions. Chiropractic doctors utilize this drug-free approach since they treat the whole body as a holistic system, focusing less on symptoms and more on maintaining a healthy body.”
A common misconception, she says, is that chiropractors only “crack bones” or treat back pain. “At SuNu, we use a very gentle approach and can help so many different conditions just by removing interference in the nervous system (we’ve had success helping with carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, migraines, vertigo, insomnia, and pregnancy symptoms, as well as back/neck pain and stiffness). Our organ systems and muscles are all connected through our nervous system and the spine.”
SuNu’s six female doctors are certified in many different techniques and have additional training in pediatrics and prenatal care, and utilize soft tissue modalities, sports medicine, and craniosacral. “There have always been skeptics and non-believers of ‘alternative medicine’ but science and research is showing more and more what many have already intuitively known - our health and wellness depends on our structure and function,” says Dr. Susan. “I believe that this industry will be the leaders in healthcare in the future.”
Dr. Susan, who lives in Edina with her husband, Josh, and two sons, Desmond, age 10, and Jasper, age 3, enjoys guiding people towards being their best selves on their wellness journeys. She and her family have a regenerative garden, since she also believes in using food as medicine.
“It’s so rewarding to empower people to understand their bodies and partner with them toward their health goals,” she says. Here, she gives us advice on practices we can implement today to improve our health:
· Get ample sunlight and fresh air
· Aim to eat 30 different plants per day! A plant-based diet full of diversity is what builds a healthy microbiome. Our gut health directly impacts our brain and immune system
· Exercise - any movement, especially a walk in nature, helps to ground us
· Find stress reducing practices like meditation, yoga, and breath work
· Spend time barefoot – it balances our nervous system
· Plant a garden
· Pay attention to media consumption to reduce stress and cortisol
To learn more, SuNu offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to answer any questions before scheduling. And readers of Minneapolis Lakes Lifestyle will get $25 off their first session! Just mention Edina Lifestyle magazine when you call. 952.314.7035 www.sunuwellness.com