From Swimmer to Chiropractor: Carole’s Journey 

Dr. Carole Yoshiwara’s journey to becoming a chiropractor and triathlete is a tale of passion, perseverance, and finding joy in movement. From her early days as a swimmer to her current role helping athletes stay healthy, Carole’s life has been shaped by her love of sports and fitness. This is Dr. Carole’s journey from swimmer to chiropractor. 

Swimming Career

Carole’s swimming career started when she was just a toddler. “I think I had taken lessons since I was two or three years old,” she recalls. By age five, she was competing in summer league swim teams. At seven, she dove into year-round swimming, marking the beginning of a long and successful aquatic journey.

Swim Team

As she grew older, Carole’s talents in the pool became clear. In high school, she realized she might have what it takes to swim at the college level. After looking at several teams, she chose to walk on to the University of Hawaii swim team. “I was looking at a whole bunch of other teams, but that one fit well academically. And I was in the middle of the pack of speed wise. I wasn’t the slowest and I wasn’t the fastest, so right in the middle there,” Carole explains.

College Swimming Was Intense

College swimming was intense. Carole had to juggle classes, mandatory study halls, and over 20 hours of workouts each week. On top of that, she even worked part-time jobs. “At one point, I even worked at a restaurant,” she says. “And then you want to have a social life because you’re like gotta have fun while I’m here.”

Burnt Out

After graduating, Carole was burnt out. She decided to take a break from structured workouts. “I’m not going to work out until I feel ready,” she told herself. For two years, she didn’t swim, though she did enjoy surfing. “It was just more fun to be in the water. I don’t know. It wasn’t like, I’m going to work out. I’m just going to have fun and relax,” Carole remembers.

A New Passion

Eventually, Carole eased back into swimming. A few years later, she discovered a new passion: running. Her parents were part of a run club at their gym, and Carole started joining them. “I started going to keep them company and do something active and keep them motivated,” she says. This led her to try half marathons.

Journey into Triathlons

Carole’s journey into triathlons began when she bought her first road bike to commute to a bartending job. “I could just ride my bike to work. I was so close I could have walked, but I’m not going to drive when I’m two blocks away,” she explains. With her swimming background, newfound running skills, and a bike, Carole thought, “Why not start doing triathlons?”

She started with sprint triathlons and has since completed an Olympic distance race. Her competitive spirit still burns bright. “Now when I race, I’m still really competitive, and so if I race, I have to be top three in my age group,” Carole says.

Helping Athletes and Active People

Carole’s athletic background played a big role in her career choice. After working in the restaurant and hotel industry, she wanted a job that aligned more with her active lifestyle. “I never saw myself sitting at a desk working,” she says. This led her to become a chiropractor, focusing on helping athletes and active people.

At her practice, Motion Sports Chiro, Carole takes a holistic approach to treatment. “I wanted to actually incorporate more rehab and exercise to actually help with their actual condition,” she explains. Her sessions often include soft tissue work, adjustments, and rehab exercises. Carole’s goal is to educate her patients so they can take care of themselves. “You could do things on your own so you get stronger and so you don’t have to keep seeing me all the time,” she says.

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Understand Her Clients Better

Carole believes her experience as an athlete helps her understand her clients better. “I think knowing the athlete mindset definitely helps. That’s what I’m trying to cater toward, is more athletes and active people because they’re more motivated to get back at it and be, like, actually proactive with their recovery,” she explains.

Motherhood

Currently, Carole is embarking on a new adventure: motherhood. At 21 weeks pregnant, she’s adapting her workout routine. “I’m swimming. I’m able to still do flip turns, but they’re slower, they’re bigger, and I’m going over the side, but I could still do it,” she says. She’s switched from her triathlon bike to a road bike for comfort and is doing shorter runs with her dog.

Despite the challenges, Carole remains committed to staying active. “I’ve just been trying to trial by error, and I notice I can’t work out as hard. I get so out of breath,” she admits. But she’s not letting that stop her. Her current goal is to fit in one swim, one bike ride, a run, and a strength training session each week.

Constant Evolution and Adaptation 

Dr. Carole Yoshiwara’s story is one of constant evolution and adaptation. From competitive swimmer to triathlete to chiropractor to expectant mother, she’s always finding new ways to challenge herself and stay active. Her journey from swimmer to chiropractor shows that you can build the life you want with persistence and passion. 

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