Teaching in Switzerland
Some of my favorite things are the outdoors, mountains, exercise, chiropractic care, animals, family & pregnancy (yikes what I am forgetting?) and this past week has been an unbelievable combination of all of them. In the fall of 2023, a colleague asked me to speak at her retreat in Switzerland – talking about pregnancy, pediatrics & chiropractic care, all in a beautiful outdoor location. How could I say no? It’s a bucket list trip, a dream to go to the Swiss Alps, why not? Fortunately, I have an amazing husband and son, and a fantastic staff that was able to back me on this adventure, taking care of things both at home & the office – so across the big pond I went.
I arrived in Zurich on a Thursday morning and then took a 2+ hour train ride to Interlaken, a beautiful city at the bottom of the Swiss Alps. I spoke for several hours on Friday morning and then we took off on a mountain hike, climbing 2000 feet up in just 2 miles! The reward was an amazing view of the city & lakes below. On Saturday we headed up the Alps, another 2+ hour train ride UP the mountain to the “Top of Europe” (11,000 feet up), a place where you are guaranteed snow 365 days a year. It was cold but not freezing and it was covered with snow. We spent several hours there, with the highlight being going tubing, in the Swiss Alps, in July!! It was truly breathtaking and so much fun! (check out our social media posts in the next week to see the highlights). We explored an ice palace, took photos in front of a glacier, did snow angels, threw snowballs and had so much fun.
We then headed down the mountain, ate lunch looking up at the snow-covered Alps, then headed back to Interlaken for an evening of learning. I continued to talk about chiropractic care and pregnancy and welcomed great questions and discussion from the other chiropractors and physical therapist in attendance.
Sunday was a 4+ mile hike alongside a mountain overlooking the Alps, walking among lots of cows with cowbells, followed by more continuing education class (this time someone else was teaching). On Monday, we had more class time, then it was time for a run exploring the city, followed by a massage. It was a busy yet amazing trip, squeezing in 12 hours of classroom time with lots of adventures, eating great food, and seeing incredible sights. The two foods Switzerland is known for is fondue and chocolate – not the healthiest of choices but yes I did indulge, and even brought a lot home as gifts.
While I was there, I got adjusted, and also adjusted a pregnant woman who was on the trip with us (no crazy laws in Switzerland so adjusting was easy). We all talked about our offices, what we could improve on, we shared ideas, we learned new things, and I am back with a new “to do” list to make the office even better. And I also came away really connecting better with a few other chiro friends.
I then spent a day in Zurich checking out the city before heading back to Atlanta. I say it was a bucket list adventure yet am looking at the opportunity to go back next year to teach again….and I hope to. I’d love to explore more, do things I didn’t do this time, improve on the teaching that I did, and meet more people.
~ Dr. Pam ~