Stories and reflections from our community on transformation, nervous system care, and collective healing.

The Long Arc of Wellness: Stories From Patients in Long-Term Care

Healing rarely follows a straight line, and for patients like Ebony and Sarah, the long arc of wellness has been less about perfection and more about partnership. Ebony went from sleepless nights and stress-knotted stomachs to coaching tennis again with ease, crediting the way her physical healing unlocked mental clarity. Sarah found her footing too as clearer sinuses, newfound strength, and rooted confidence reshaped how she moves through the world. Their stories remind us that long-term care isn’t a quick fix; it’s a rhythm, a relationship, a shedding of old layers over time. And in that slow, steady transformation, liberation begins.

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The Body as an Elder

The body is an elder long before we ever notice it — carrying lineage in its posture, wisdom in its habits, and quiet truths in every ache and exhale. In many Asian and Indigenous traditions, the body isn’t just a biological machine; it’s a living archive that records storms and stillness, resilience and renewal. At Kaname Chiropractic, we meet the body as a storyteller, not a problem to fix. Each adjustment is a conversation with memory, a way of restoring flow so the nervous system can remember safety again. When you slow down and listen — really listen — you begin to hear what your muscles, breath, and bones have been saying all along: you’re held, you’re learning, and you’re still becoming.

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Indigenous Teachings on Healing and Relationship to Land

Caring for elders is one of the oldest forms of devotion, echoed in Japanese keirō, Chinese understandings of qi, and Indigenous traditions that honor wisdom-keepers as the anchors of memory and meaning. Dr. Mari often describes adjusting an elder’s spine as meeting a living archive — shoulders shaped by decades of carrying family burdens, hips that held entire generations steady, breath that has survived whole eras. At Kaname, we see elders as the kaname, the vital hinge through which love, wisdom, and lineage flow. Gentle chiropractic care becomes less about “fixing” and more about witnessing, restoring dignity, and reminding the body it is still cherished.

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Biohacking in the Family: A Lineage of Healing Across Generations

Visiting Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto with my family was a journey through Japan’s living history — from Benzaiten’s flowing wisdom to the preserved beauty of Kyoto’s temples. As a chiropractor rooted in Hiroshima heritage, I was reminded that healing and travel both begin with balance, presence and connection.

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Celebrating Filipino American History Month: Healing, Heritage & Community

At Kaname Chiropractic, Filipino American History Month is a time to honor healing traditions, heritage, and the values that unite our Fil-Am community — from hilot and bayanihan to modern chiropractic care. Led by Dr. Cassie Sum in San Mateo, alongside Dr. Justin Mariano and Dr. Kaylee Rivera, we celebrate the stories and movement that connect us all.

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Tools & Practices Marisa Sum Tools & Practices Marisa Sum

Back to School, Back to Balance: Posture, Nutrition & Wellness Tips for the Year Ahead

Backpacks, early mornings, homework—and a lot of sitting. The school year brings new challenges for your child’s posture, focus, and overall well-being. Small daily choices, from the way they carry their books to the food they eat before class, can make a big difference in how they feel and function. Here’s our Kaname Chiropractic guide to keeping kids strong, balanced, and energized all year long.

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Lean: On Healing, Home, and Taking Up Space

When Lean came to Kaname Chiropractic, they were seeking more than physical relief; they were looking for a space to feel seen, safe, and supported. In a world that often asks queer, fat and trans bodies to shrink, Kaname became a place where Lean could expand. This blog shares their journey of alignment—not just of the spine, but of identity, confidence and community—and how healing, here, became an act of resistance and belonging.

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Hi, I'm Dr. Marisa Sum, DC!

As a chiropractor, I specialize in central nervous system health.

As a nutritionist, I specialize in gut/brain/immune system health.

As a doula, mother & activist, I specialize in women's and children's health rights.

I am dedicated to helping you reclaim your mind, body and spirit. In order to serve more people, I am excited to share the same knowledge and resources I share with my patients here.