About Us
I chose a career in medicine because I like working with people and I believe in the body's ability to be healthy. My medical training (University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine and Family Practice Residency at Santa Rosa) was inspirational for its devotion to the sharing of human experience but disappointing for its miniscule glimpse into the makings of health. After graduation, my studies of nutrition, homeopathy and the existing medical research into lifestyle questions has enabled me to fashion an integrative medical partnership with my patients.
In both office-based and hospital care, from migrant and rural health clinics to emergency departments and private practice, I have integrated conventional medicine, alternative care, nutritional and lifestyle education for all my patients. I studied Classical Homeopathy in my pursuit of treatments that would meet the criteria of the Hippocratic Oath, "First, do no harm." If you're unfamiliar with homeopathy (it's not herbs and vitamins!) I encourage you to turn to the homeopathic section of the website.
Homeopathic treatment can be life altering when we determine the right remedy, but I believe I love better creating health partnerships with my patients. A great surprise occurs when we have created a relationship where I can share information about maintaining or recovering health, and find later on - sometimes years later - that I haven't seen a patient in a while because their self-care has become so excellent that they no longer need such frequent doctor-care.
Many conventional medical practices—massive over-prescribing of expensive medicines, ignorance about basic nutritional information, unnecessary operations—do real damage to our people and our planet. Recent interest in alternative health will follow the same dangerous path unless we realize the difference between cheap, synthetic vitamins in heroic doses and the wise use of food as medicine, and food-based supplements as gentle health reminders to our bodies. I'm convinced that the kind of medicine I practice—integrative, healthy, organic—will make a huge difference to your life as it has to mine. At the same time, together we will be changing our families, our communities and our world.
Outside of these grand passions, I help direct the Siskiyou Challenge, an Oregon-based annual sports event that raises money to educate children about life on the farm, raise chickens and ducks in my backyard, and row on a beautiful lake just outside my hometown of Ashland, Oregon.
Carol Porter has been successfully guiding hundreds of clients on their personal paths to fitness for over 10 years. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and yoga teacher with additional credentials in weight management, functional training, senior fitness and elite performance training.
Whether someone is new to fitness or an older athlete, Carol custom designs a holistic, balanced training plan specific to each client's interests, personality and long-term goals.
Her philosophy of “perfect practice makes perfect” keeps an important focus on good posture and form throughout each exercise. Carol also integrates core strength and flexibility for an intelligent whole body workout and cultivates awareness of the body in space, to create a firm foundation for movement.
By incorporating instruction throughout each session, Carol makes sure her clients understand the purpose of each movement. With the kindness of a yoga teacher and the resolve of an athlete, she reviews principles of alignment, unconscious perceptions of movement as well as functional movement, as often as necessary.
Carol's educational background includes a Bachelors Degree from Humboldt State University, and ongoing course work in physiology, anatomy, strength and resistance training in the UCLA Fitness Certificate Program.
Her sports interests are cycling, running, yoga, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and cross country skiing. She lives in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. You can contact Carol at carol@porterpersonaltraining.com.
Ian R. Luepker, N.D., DHANP is a homeopathic and naturopathic physician specialized in the pediatric treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, including Asperger Syndrome, and of other behavioral, developmental, and learning issues. He is president of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP).
Dr. Luepker is co-author of the acclaimed book: A Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism: Homeopathic Care for Exceptional Kids.
In addition to ASD, Dr. Luepker treats patients throughout the life span for a spectrum of problems, ranging from colds to chronic health issues; depression and anxiety to autoimmune conditions and cancer. Dr. Luepker has extensive experience working in conventional inpatient psychiatric settings and has worked for over eleven years in the mental health field.
Dr. Luepker lives in Ashland, Oregon where he enjoys being outdoors, weaving, and playing music.