Dr. Tanya Clarke-Young

About Dr. Tanya Clarke-Young

After high school graduation from “Cow High” in Duncan, I decided to pursue my ultimate dream to make it to the top ranks in my favorite sport: freestyle skiing; moguls and acro/ballet-skiing. I spent the next 11 years pursuing my athletic dream. This included 8 years on the Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team.

Finally, after 11 years of intense training, I made it to my ultimate dream as I competed for Canada at the 1992 Olympics. It was an incredible honour to wear the Canadian uniform as I walked into the Olympic opening ceremonies.

Shortly after the 1992 Olympic Games, I decided to retire from sport. At that time I chose to redirect my focus to university studies.

As an athlete, I had been treated by chiropractors and I discovered how chiropractic care helped me, not just in injury recovery, but also with prevention of injury.

I remember one notable chiropractic experience when my chiropractor, Dr. Geoff Hicks, noted that my shoulders were too tight with all the weight lifting that I had been doing. He demonstrated and encouraged me to work on certain stretches. For some reason, I didn’t take his advice seriously enough. Two months later, during a national team testing and training camp in Ottawa, my trainers pulled me aside and explained that if I didn’t make a change in my shoulder flexibility, I was destined for injury. I went humbly back to my chiropractor and admitted that he was correct about my lack of shoulder flexibility. He showed me stretches and worked on my shoulders with many different chiropractic adjustments and mobilizations. A few months later, at another National Team training and testing camp, the testers were absolutely shocked to see the change that my chiropractor and I had achieved with my shoulder mobility. After that, I was convinced on chiropractic and was very compliant with my chiropractor’s recommendations for stretches and exercises!

Because of the above experience and numerous other great experiences with chiropractic care as an athlete, I chose to start the long road to become a Doctor of Chiropractic.

To be accepted into chiropractic school, one needs at least 3 to 4 years of university education, so I chose to study Nutrition at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto and then continued my chiropractic studies in Toronto for another 4 years. After 8 years of postsecondary education, I graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic with Clinic Honours and an award in chiropractic research.

After graduation, I was eager to move back home to Vancouver Island. Fortunately, it was easy to convince my husband that Vancouver Island is an awesome place to live.

In 2000, I joined Dr. Ian Gregory at his chiropractic clinic in Duncan. It was an extremely valuable experience working with a senior doctor. When Dr. Gregory retired, I met Dr. Andrew Nadon and was very impressed with his many different chiropractic techniques and varied chiropractic education. At that time, I invited Dr. Nadon to join me at my clinic.

I have been a chiropractor for 15 years and every day I am amazed and excited to see how chiropractic, by helping to move joints and muscles, can help people lead more comfortable, healthy, productive lives. My practice includes people from all age groups and from all walks of life.

The main treatment techniques that I use include: Diversified Spinal Manipulation, Thompson Technique (drop table); ART (Active Release Technique) general massage; Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy, traction machine; and exercise prescription.

I continue to upgrade my education by taking many courses each year in the field of health. My professional memberships include College of Chiropractors of British Columbia, BC Chiropractic Association and Canadian Chiropractic Association