The Yoga -Chiropractic Connection
The Ancient Connection Between Yoga and Chiropractic: Insights from B.J. Palmer and the Green Books
By Dr. Theodore Berlingeri, DC, RYT – Brain & Body St. Pete
As both a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Registered Yoga Teacher, I often find myself combining the philosophies of two healing arts: chiropractic and yoga. Though they emerged from different corners of the world — one from modern American vitalism and the other from ancient Indian philosophy — these systems are far more intertwined than they may seem. In fact, even B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, acknowledged the yogic path in his writings. Yes — chiropractic’s Green Books contain references to yoga and the yogi.
So let’s dive into how yoga and chiropractic not only complement each other but are philosophically aligned at their core — supporting the body’s innate intelligence, alignment, and capacity to heal. It also brings to question, how influenced the Palmer family was by Yoga philosophy.
Innate Intelligence & Prana: Two Sides of the Same Coin
One of the foundational principles in chiropractic philosophy is Innate Intelligence — the idea that the body possesses a built-in, self-regulating wisdom that governs health and healing. In yoga, this is mirrored by the concept of prana, the vital life force that flows through the subtle energy channels (nadis) and governs mental, physical, and emotional balance.
B.J. Palmer spoke of the nervous system as the conduit of Innate Intelligence. Similarly, yogic texts describe how prana travels through the spine via chakras and the sushumna nadi, emphasizing alignment and openness for proper energy flow. In both paradigms, health is not something we give to the body — it’s something we unleash by removing interference.
B.J. Palmer, the Green Books & Yogic Influence
In the Green Books, B.J. Palmer refers to yogis with admiration, acknowledging their deep spiritual discipline and connection to body wisdom. He famously said:
“The chiropractor is the modern-day yogi. He understands the power that made the body heals the body.”
Palmer believed that chiropractic adjustments clear interference to allow Innate to express fully — the same way yogic postures (asanas) and breathwork (pranayama) create balance for prana to move freely. He recognized that both practices honor the body's divine intelligence and that the spine is central to that flow of healing.
The Spine as a Channel of Consciousness
Both chiropractic and yoga view the spine not just as a mechanical structure, but as a vessel for consciousness. Chiropractors focus on the alignment of the vertebrae — especially the upper cervical spine — to enhance neurological integrity. Yogis work through spinal extension, inversion, and twisting to release physical and energetic blocks.
What’s even more striking is how each discipline respects the relationship between the spine, brainstem, and overall consciousness. In yoga, awakening the kundalini at the base of the spine allows it to rise through the chakras toward expanded awareness. Chiropractic sees an aligned spine as the pathway for nervous system coherence, helping the brain and body communicate clearly and heal.
Movement as Medicine: Asana Meets Adjustments
In my practice at Brain & Body St. Pete, I often combine gentle upper cervical care with therapeutic movement practices rooted in yoga. This helps patients not only release structural tension but reconnect to the somatic and emotional patterns held deep in the body.
Yoga allows patients to become active participants in their healing. Chiropractic offers the structural clarity that enables yoga to work more effectively. Together, they form a biomechanical and energetic partnership that supports total body integration.
Breath, Nervous System, and the Vagus Nerve
In both yoga and chiropractic, the breath is a central tool for nervous system regulation. Practices like pranayama (breath control) tone the vagus nerve, which governs our parasympathetic state — often referred to as “rest and digest.” Similarly, upper cervical chiropractic adjustments can restore balance to autonomic function by relieving pressure on the brainstem where the vagus nerve originates.
This synergy not only reduces stress and inflammation but also improves digestion, immune function, and emotional resilience. We’re not just chasing pain relief here — we’re supporting whole-body coherence.
Final Thoughts: From Adjustment to Awakening
B.J. Palmer saw the chiropractor as a facilitator of inner wisdom — a modern mystic who uses science to restore spiritual order in the body. That’s not so different from the yogi, who aligns body and breath to access higher states of being.
Whether you're on a yoga mat or an adjusting table, the goal is the same: to liberate life force, align with truth, and awaken the full potential within.
In that light, I consider chiropractic and yoga not just complementary, but profoundly co-creative disciplines that together guide the body back home to itself.