Check Out Aaron Bannister’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Bannister.  

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began my education at Western Michigan University, staying for only a year after realizing that I didn’t really know what I wanted to do for a living. I moved back home, attending criminal justice courses at a local community college after which I hired in with the Michigan Department of Corrections. While working at the Thumb Correctional Facility, a friend told me about a massage school in Lapeer called the Health Enrichment Center, which I attended for three years, attaining an advanced practitioner certification. While at the school, I developed kidney stones which required surgical intervention and shockwave treatment known as lithotripsy. After my second encounter with kidney stones in a year’s time, I asked my urologist what I could do to prevent them, but all he could offer was a list of foods to avoid. A nurse at the correctional facility mentioned a nutritional chiropractor that she was going to see at a seminar and invited me along. The man speaking was passionate about his work, and I decided that I had to get in and see what he could offer me by way of treatment. He explained why the stones were forming, placed me on a few nutritional supplements to help my body function, and it worked! I never had another issue with my kidneys. I decided after my treatment that I wanted to pattern my career after this doctor. I completed my BS at Siena Heights University with a massage therapy emphasis. I finished my prerequisite classes at LCC and headed off to Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2005. I completed my doctorate in chiropractic in 2008, graduating second in my class. After school, my plan was to open a practice in Henderson, Nevada, which was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. at the time. However, the housing market crash dried up funds that I was counting on, and I decided to move back to Michigan instead. In 2009, I was hired as an associate doctor at a practice in Ann Arbor, where I worked for six years before starting my own practice in Brighton. My first office consisted of only two treatment rooms and a very small waiting room. The practice was built over the course of the following seven years mainly by direct referral. During that time, I also completed a one-year certification in applied kinesiology and a one-year certification in whole food nutrition. In 2022, we moved into a large suite with 9 treatment rooms and a digital X-ray room. Our staff has increased to a naturopathic doctor, two massage therapists, and myself. We are hoping to add a second chiropractor in the coming months. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The housing market crash in 2008 lost me all funding for my own practice. Working for another chiropractor limited what I was able to offer my patients and also limited me financially, making it difficult to open my own practice. My practice began in the second bedroom of my apartment, which I shared with my girlfriend/office manager. We then tried sharing space with another chiropractor, which ended very quickly. Next, we tried subletting a space in a salon, but that fell through as well. We knew we needed to find something, so we just got in the car and started driving up and down every street in Howell and Brighton until we came across our first office. We opened our doors with equipment bought on credit and only a few patients each day. We were able to make it through thanks to the generosity of a great friend who was able to donate a large sum of money to the practice to keep us afloat. Beyond the initial start-up, we saw a massive decline in visitation during Covid and had to rebuild close to half the practice. Now we are busier than ever and having a blast! 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I offer low-force chiropractic combined with clinical nutrition and years of experience in muscle work. This provides my patients with a full-body approach that allows them to maintain their health naturally. My main technique is applied kinesiology, which allows me to use muscle testing to asses function of different areas in the body and determine the proper intervention, whether it be chiropractic, massage, nutrition, stretching, exercise, etc. I am most proud of the kids that I’ve been able to help. Several years ago, I had an infant patient who was suffering with a distended abdomen from an inability to have a normal bowel movement. The muscle testing allowed me to determine that she was sensitive to the formula being fed to her, in particular the main ingredient, corn. Once the formula was replaced, she no longer experienced any more problems. Years later, her older brother was in to see me. He was complaining about intermittent fevers, pain in his abdomen, vomiting, and overall lack of energy. Recognizing that he and his sister likely inherited this issue from their mother, I recommended he also remove corn from his diet. Within a few weeks, his symptoms completely resolved, and he was able to avoid exploratory surgery. What sets me apart is that I am driven to find solutions for my patients. When they get their results, I cheer high five and hug them. It’s my favorite thing in the world when I am able to help people. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see a lot of people turning toward holistic care. The past few years have really shaken faith in big pharma and the medical industry, and I think a lot of folks are looking for solutions for their health that they might not have considered in the past. 

Pricing:

• We offer a complimentary consultation
• We offer family discounts for those without insurance coverage
• We offer discounted pre-paid packages
• Typical first visit is under $200
• Typical follow-up visits are under $75

Contact Info:

• Website: tworoadswellness.com