Last week I was telling a dear patient a story about my summers working out west in the National Park Service 18 years ago.

She laughed till she cried and said I should write a book about my life.

While writing a book on “How to heal your back pain in 5 easy steps” has been on my mind for about a year now, I thought a quick email on 12 things you didn’t know about Dr Kiberd would be quicker in delivery.

So here it goes:

1. I worked for Yellowstone National Park in the Bear Management Department for a summer. We used to trap, tag, and relocate the “problem bears” that would lean on tents and tear off car doors after getting a taste of salty human food.

We would airlift them to Idaho and they would find their way back a month later to the same exact spot. Those bears are so smart!

Don’t believe me?

Here’s me about to measure the rectal temperature of this black bear.

2. I often get tight and stuck in my TL junction (where my midback meets my low back) from hunching over and treating patients day in and day out. Here’s a sneak peek into how I get myself out of pain.

3. I’ve been healing my gut, thyroid, and hormonal eczema for about a year now. It’s been a journey with our dear friend Dr Gabrielle Lyon at The Ash Center, but check out the before and after photos at @urbanwellnessclinic on IG.

And then go ahead and follow us for all of our movement tips and daily doses of inspiration.

4. I was never really sure I wanted kids, but along came baby Elvis (he was a honeymoon baby) and my heart exploded open and I’ll never be the same.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the mams and mamas to be, and love treating them and hearing their birth stories. If you want to read what I learned about having a baby that no one tells you, dive in to the 10 Real Truths After Baby Arrives.

5. I had a homebirth with Baby Elvis. I’ve never written about it until now.

6. This one you have to know already. I’m obsessed with movement.

Why?!?!

When I was 14 years old I sprained my ankle playing soccer and a couple months later I was getting chronic headaches. It was due to the sloppy ankle making its way up the kinetic chain and my neck was locking down to stabilize for my unstable ankle.

That’s why we have every patient take a walk down our “catwalk” in the hallway of our office no matter what injury they have. And why we are always looking outside the box that the pain area may not be the root cause in order to create the best experience at Urban Wellness Clinic.

7. I don’t love being in front of the camera, I think I have a strong RBF (Google it). Despite this fact, I felt it was important to get all of the exercises we give in the clinic into how-to demonstrational videos online. You can find them all at your fingertips. They are gold.

8. Bethany was one of the first people I met when I moved to NYC in 2007. We’ve worked together and have known each other for 11 solid years. Urban Wellness Clinic would be nowhere without her hard work and dedication.

9. I met Matt learning to press 70 lbs over my head for 5 reps training for Strong First six years ago. Every Wednesday we sit down to huddle, compare notes and training techniques and cueing.

Want to learn everything I know from practicing for 10 years and Matt training clients for 21 years in 1 weekend? Sign up for our 2 day Essential Movement Method workshop. The next workshop dates are September 15-16 and it’s going to be fabulous!

10. For the first six months in practice, I did everything myself. When I say everything, literally everything! Picked up the phone, scheduling, billing, verifying insurance, and treating patients. I’m so grateful to have an amazing team to help run the office smoothly like the #bossladies that they are so that myself and the other practitioners can do what they do best!

11. I’ve always lived on the F line since it drops off right at the bottom of the Urban Wellness Clinic building. BUT now that train station is closed for remodeling until December 2018. Yikes! Well the next subway closest lines to the office are the NQRW at 57th and 7 Ave, or 59th and 5 Ave. Or the BDFM at Rockefeller Center 47-50th St.

12. I’m always looking to be 1% better every day. I’m curious what our patients are looking for if we were to deliver online content. Take a survey here.

Be Well,

Dr. Emily Kiberd