Nick Daniels remembers the first time he visited a chiropractor. He had a bad neck injury through his playing career in wrestling and rugby.

He felt pain down his arm, the loss of feeling in his hand. He tried different therapies and massages but couldn't find a resolution. Then, he visited a chiropractor, and got immediate results. The chiropractor adjusted his neck and upper back and relieved the intense nerve pain he was experiencing. Most of the pain went away after a couple of visits.

That moment opened Daniels' eyes and mind to the power of chiropractic. "There's something powerful to this," he thought. He saw how chiropractic could change his life.

These days, the former McMaster rugby and wrestling alumnus is going on his 24th year operating his own Chiropractic clinic – Sutton West Chiropractic in Sutton, Ontario.  Until that first chiropractic meeting, his life had been one of sports – forged from an early age.

He was born in England and started with soccer. He kept playing the sport when his family moved to Burlington. Then, at M.M. Robinson High School, he fell in love with rugby – the start of a career with many different clubs and teams, the Burlington Centaurs, Yeoman Rugby Club, North Halton Rugby, and Aurora Barbarians.

Daniels was already wrestling when he took up rugby, so he was attracted to the physicality and tackling. The camaraderie of the sport also struck him. "It's very social, and I just fell in love with the whole atmosphere of being part of the club and playing rugby," he said.

However, when it came time to decide on university, Daniels set his sights on wrestling. He was already training at McMaster from his time with the Hamilton Wrestling Club, so that became a natural fit. He found success in his youth as an OFSAA, provincial and national champion. Then, during his McMaster frosh week, he ran into a couple of rugby friends from his Team Ontario who convinced him to try out for the rugby team. So, he did.

Daniels was playing rugby from September to the first week of November. Then, he would transition to wrestling into the winter. That camaraderie he felt carried on. He remembers the road trips and memories with his teammates and lifelong friends. He still keeps in touch with some of them regularly. 

Daniels remembers being the rugby team captain for his last three years at Mac. He remembers blowing out his MCL in his third year of wrestling. He remembers setting a goal to return – capturing the OUA wrestling title the following year. He was happy and relieved when he did so. He's proud of his individual and team accomplishments.

After finishing his McMaster career with a kinesiology degree, Daniels had to decide what he wanted to do next. He went into teacher's college at Lakehead. "Just kind of went for it," he said. However, after being a teacher for several years, he saw the job cuts in his profession and looked at other options.

Then, he thought of his interest in chiropractic. He thought of how it helped with his neck injury – how it impacted him. He already developed an interest in human health and performance from his kinesiology studies.

So, he talked with his wife, Sue, about the career change. "Why don't you go back to chiropractic school then," she told him.

Daniels ended up applying for the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and getting in. He learned a lot there. By the time he graduated, he knew he wanted to open a private practice.

As it just so happens, a friend of his let him know a chiropractor was retiring and selling their practice in Sutton. Daniels visited there and saw it was a perfect fit. It was by the water with a small-town feel, and the style of practice fit what he envisioned.

When Daniels started running it, he went through a big learning curve of operating a practice. He leaned on Sue to help him with the business side of things. Sue helped him with advertising, marketing, investing and other business matters. She also provided invaluable emotional support.

Twenty-four years later, he still enjoys what he does. "I enjoy seeing people's lives change," he says. 

He sees the transformation in people who visit his clinic. He sees the impact he has on their health. He sees chiropractic become a part of their healthy lifestyle – being proactive for their health. 

Daniels knew the power of it from his first visit years ago. He knew it early on when he began helping people. He's reminded of it constantly. "You see something pretty cool on a regular basis," he said.

He expanded his range. He's always been an animal lover, so when he realized there was a niche in animal chiropractic that wasn't covered as much, he took it on. A former McMaster rugby teammate did chiropractic school before him and was certified in animal chiropractic. That piqued his interest. They talked about it.

Daniels would soon hear from horse owners about doing chiropractic on horses. The demand grew, so he eventually went to the Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas, for his animal chiropractic certification.

Once he did so, Daniels noticed similarities in anatomy between animals and humans. There were differences, but according to him, it wasn't that much of a stretch.

Nowadays, he adjusts horses, dogs and other small animals. He works with humans three days a week and animals the other two. He loves the variation it provides.

Speaking of variation, Daniels is still involved in sports. After finishing his playing career, he found coaching a natural transition. He's been involved in sports all his life, so coaching filled that competitive itch.  

He coached at the McMaster Sports Fitness School and was an assistant coach at Lakehead when he was in teacher's college. He coached rugby and wrestling.

Daniels also coached his three daughters on their path to competitive sporting careers. His oldest daughter, Rachael, played soccer at Brock and is still playing competitive soccer. His middle daughter Hannah played rugby at Queen's, as well as Canada Juniors, while his youngest daughter Chloe also played rugby at Queen's and is now a member of Canada's Rugby Sevens national team.

He continues to coach the Aurora Barbarians and Rugby Ontario U18 Girls Development Program, among others. However, when it comes to his daughters, he's now a spectator.

Daniels feels the butterflies but also the pride watching them compete. It's one of his favourite things to do.

When the family gets together – which they haven't done so much recently – it's a moment to cherish. "Those are my favourite times," he said. "Everyone is together and usually has fun."

Daniels hopes to do so this February in Vancouver when Chloe plays in an international tournament; the rest of them plan to watch.

Until then, he will continue with his chiropractic work and his coaching. Daniels gets a lot from helping his patients and athletes – as they get a lot from him. He feels the excitement and enjoyment from doing so. "A win-win-win," he calls it.

He still feels the camaraderie from his McMaster career. He'll chat with three or four wrestling alum friends and three or four rugby alum friends every week. Then he'll see other former teammates once a year. "It's like you never left," he noted. "You pick up right where you left off immediately."

When he thinks of his life and career, he thinks of the opportunities he's come across – and taken.

 "Things happen for a reason," he said. "Keep on keeping on, and things tend to work out, and it's been great. I don't think I would go back and change anything."

He keeps on working and coaching. He's still enjoying what he does. Daniels figures he's probably three years away from retirement. He wants to be around his kids and grand kids in the future – two of his daughters are currently in British Columbia. "We'll see where we're at in a few years and figure it out," he added.

He's going to keep taking the opportunities as they come. He's going to keep trying  to change people's lives.