We’re proud to spotlight Dayanara Thompson, DC, Class of 2021, who has already made a significant impact in southern California by bringing chiropractic to underserved communities. Founder of Align Your Vibes, she is a chiropractor and wellness advocate dedicated to helping people heal naturally through holistic, culturally-rooted care. Dr. Dayanara is the recipient of CalChiro’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, recognized for her deep commitment to community healing. From adjusting evacuees and first responders during California wildfires to advocating for systemic change, her service extends far beyond the adjusting table.
Known to many as “Dr. Day,” she is a San Francisco native of Guatemalan and Jamaican descent whose passion for healing was shaped by both personal adversity and a lifelong commitment to service. While earning a degree in physiology with a focus on health disparities affecting BIPOC communities she worked as an EMT and first responder in Oakland. Her path toward chiropractic became deeply personal after a serious accident at age 21 that left her unable to use her left leg from the knee down. This injury inspired her to find various ways to heal herself using her own natural healing abilities. Through chiropractic care, spinal rehabilitation, sound healing, and energy medicine, she experienced a transformative recovery that inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others heal holistically.
While at Life West, Dr. Day was an exceptional leader, including as President of the Student Council and President of SABCA (Student American Black Chiropractic Association). She also founded the sorority on campus and continues to mentor students by being a Life West preceptor doc. She proceeds to lead with her heart and from an integrative perspective.
Dr. Day has been shaped by fire. While in college, Dr. Thompson lost her home to fire, and this increased her empathy for victims of fire. In January 2020, her life was again touched by fire when she was evacuated from her home due to wildfire. Upon returning to the area, she was moved to organize a group of DCs and chiropractic students to provide care to fire victims and first responders. Several doctors and students volunteered to serve at WalkGood LA, a nonprofit focused on Black wellness in Los Angeles, adjusting displaced individuals and volunteers who had been tirelessly assisting others. For many, it was their first chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Day’s involvement in supporting victims of this fire deepened when she volunteered at the Malibu firebase. “I met Dr. Fil Troy, DC, who had been serving daily and had already provided over 500 adjustments to first responders. My time on base was deeply nostalgic, reminding me of my three years working in an ambulance. I connected with so many firefighters, performing 50 adjustments in just two half days. Many of them had been sleeping in their rigs and were on their 11th straight day of work. Firefighters had traveled from all over California, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and even Mexico and South Africa to help. There were also incarcerated firefighters serving both on the fire lines and on base, helping with food preparation. There was plenty of food and LMNT electrolyte packets to sustain the crews, but the toll on their bodies was immense. Many had severe tension in their thoracic spines, like bricks locked in a sympathetic response. While that state is necessary for their work, it underscored the critical need to help them shift into a parasympathetic state to recover after their shifts.”
This experience taught me so much about resilience, the human spirit, and the importance of recovery, not just for individuals but for communities. It also inspired me to push for systemic changes to include chiropractic as a primary support for first responders.
Once licensed, Dr. Day was able to open her dream practice, Align Your Vibes, which has expanded to two locations with a third coming soon. Dr. Day describes her practice: “At Align Your Vibes, we are a holistic wellness center dedicated to supporting you on your wellness journey, whether it involves physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual challenges. Our protocols are meticulously crafted by doctors, licensed therapists, and licensed nutritionists to ensure comprehensive care. Our team includes chiropractors, functional holistic nutritionists, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, massage therapists, stretch therapists, energy healers, and personal trainers. Together, we strive to provide well-rounded support for your health and well-being.”
“Getting to where we are today has been a journey of faith and inner guidance. Establishing and growing this business has been the most challenging yet rewarding endeavor of my life. Navigating the complexities of running a business has been a learning experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to thrive and grow every day. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to embrace life’s ups and downs and to enjoy the journey, rather than just focusing on the destination.”
“The greatest motivation for me is seeing my patients transform their lives. It reminds me of the times when I needed support and didn’t find it in traditional Western medicine. This drives my passion for holistic wellness and reinforces the importance of working from a place of unconditional love. Keeping my purpose and mission close to my heart has been crucial. When your purpose and mission are in alignment, nothing can derail your plan. The will of God is steadfast, and having the faith to trust in this plan, even during challenging times, is essential. Trusting the process, even when it feels overwhelming or uncertain, is key to our continued success and impact.”
