The Price Is Right

A few months ago, I began to search for a power yoga studio with fees that would fit within my budget. This is where I ran into difficulty. Since yoga has gained popularity, prices have increased with the demand. If the cost was within my budget—approximately $10 per class, then that particular discipline of yoga was not what I was looking for. And vice versa, when I found a studio that offered the yoga practice that I preferred, the fee was usually $15 to $20 per class.

After about a month of searching, I overhead one of my colleagues talking about a yoga class she had been taking for about a year that ran on a donation basis. She directed me to the website, www.poweryoga.com, for class schedules and directions. My interest was piqued when I read the philosophy of the yoga instructor, “My primary objective, besides turning more and more people onto a healthier, more peaceful lifestyle that continually challenges them to grow, is to teach a system of exercise that fully integrates the body, mind, and spirit. The new trend towards yoga is not surprising, given that the body is limited and the mind is limitless. The combination of body and mind creates an incredibly broad range of fulfillment, including top physical condition and a calm, peaceful, clear mind.”

This is exactly what I had been searching for—exercise that improves both within and without. This yoga studio has exceeded all expectations to the point where I am paying more than $10 per class. Without begrudging the cost.

Could this same concept be applied to health care? My question was answered when I was handed a letter given to my advertising director’s wife by her chiropractor, Chris Shafer, DC, of Shafer Chiropractic Center, Tarzana, Calif.

The letter reads, “Dear Friend: There have been many changes in our office, but none as important as the most recent change. When I became a chiropractor, I had but one mission...to deliver the Innate healing power of chiropractic to as many people as possible. To accomplish this mission, I cannot and will not allow any barriers to interfere. The largest barrier these days is financial. Now, we have eliminated [this] by implementing what we call the “Box on the Wall” concept. Simply put, we have suggested fees and you pay what you can. It may be more, less, or the exact amount. From this point on, I will not know how much each patient pays. This new policy allows...anyone to get care regardless of inability to pay. We are here to help you in your mission for a healthier life. Help us in our mission. Spread the word about the pure chiropractic that is Shafer Chiropractic Center...”

Shafer says that his practice has doubled since implementing this new donation concept last June. Although it was slow at first because his patients had to become used to the idea that they decided the worth of chiropractic care and wellness, he reports that the dollar-per-visit has increased by $2 and referrals have also increased.

What made him change his whole approach to running his practice? “I adjusted a 10-month-old infant who had difficulty falling asleep,” Shafer said. “Other doctors had suggested puncturing his ear drum to relieve pressure. I asked the parents whether they had been informed that this might cause permanent damage. They replied that they were not told of the consequences of this procedure. After I had used a pediatric toggle piece to adjust the baby, the parents called the next day to report that the infant had finally fallen asleep. Unfortunately, after a few visits, they could not afford to come anymore.

“After much thought and soul-searching, the next day, I ripped out a hole in my office wall to install the ‘Box on the Wall.’ I decided not to run my practice as a business, but rather as a place to help my patients.”

The emotional value that is attached to services should not be discounted, especially when it involves health and well-being. In my case, the price that I pay is nothing compared to the benefits I receive.

The price is right, not just for some, but for all. 

Miwon Seo
mseo@medpubs.com