Dr. Manwaring grew up in Woods Cross, Utah. After completing his bachelor’s degree at USU & BYU-Idaho in social work, he worked for a time and then switched gears and went to St. Louis, Missouri for a Doctorate of Chiropractic at Logan University. In addition, he serves as an adjunct professor for Logan University, serves on the Chiropractic DOPL board, has attained his diplomate with the International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and serves as the Chairman for their Injection Therapies Committee. He owns a separate continuing education company called Whole Body Institute.

“As a social worker, I saw that the systems in place treated people with a lot of drugs that masked symptoms and issues. It never treated causes. While I spent the most time with people, I had the least amount of control in their care. I had to sit silently as I saw families ripped apart when they were supposed to be helped.

“I stumbled upon chiropractic treatment during this time, and immediately connected with the idea of conservative care and allowing the body to more or less do its own healing. Bettering life without the use of drugs and surgeries? Was it possible? It was and it is! Now, in the position of an entry-level provider, I can treat patients as I see best. I have the ability to help. Better still, I can focus on causes rather than symptoms only.  Being able to listen to patients and treat their issues is very rewarding. I also find that I’m doing more counseling now than I did before.

“Our physical health influences our mental, emotional, and spiritual health (and vice-versa). Though our focus is on the physical we see a lot of great victories in the other areas as well. It’s extremely rewarding to see people get better, gain hope and confidence, and get back to what they love. Living a longer life isn’t as difficult as it used to be. However, life in a vegetative state with a dependency on medication is not my goal. I’d rather focus on moving longer than simply existing longer. That’s our aim.”

Dr. Carlson grew up watching the Jack LaLanne Show and doing his exercises. He graduated from USU as a mechanical engineer, got a job and hated it. He knew he had to change. He was very interested in fitness and looked up to Lou Ferrigno, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Franco Columbo. He found out the latter was a chiropractor. He learned physical therapists were not entry-level providers so chiropractic looked like his route and would fit with fitness.

At the time he had purchased a small gym and was running it. He moved it with him up to Portland, OR where he attended Western States Chiropractic College. As a freshman, he won the Mr. Natural bodybuilding competition for Oregon. The school made a big deal about it and he talked them into letting him set up his gym on campus. Later, he created the first rehab/exercise course for the school. Eventually, he graduated valedictorian and moved down to Layton, UT to work with another chiropractor.

Unfortunately, he found out this doctor was more concerned with making money than making people better. So Dr. Carlson moved up to Logan and set up his gym (Jake’s Gym) – where Al’s is currently located – and eventually got his clinic going as well. When he made the move to Hyde Park he was sure to include space for a gym – now Hyde Park Fitness.

For Dr. Carlson, it started with fitness and It’s always been about the gym, working out, and getting people better. His 4 facets of life are that you are what you eat, stress has to be managed, exercise is the great equalizer, and sleep is a priority.