“Wellness, to me, is quiet and intentional,” says Dr. Bushra Helmandi, founder of both APT Chiropractic Group and Beauty and Body NYC. “It’s not about extremes or constant optimization—it’s about regulation, consistency, and honoring the body’s innate intelligence.”

Dr. Bushra Helmandi is an expert when it comes to our beauty needs—especially when it comes to the early days of January weather. And some of her best skincare tips—hydrating serums, sleeping with a humidifier, decreasing use of retinoids and exfoliants, not shying away from sunscreen, and using vitamin D—are all useful ways to combat that dry winter air.

In a recent interview with PhotoBook, Dr. Bushra Helmandi explores aging, the future of chiropractic care, and why nervous system health is central to beauty and longevity.

Dr. Bushra Helmandi, how do you define wellness in a way that feels sustainable and elevated?

Sustainable wellness supports you daily, almost invisibly. Elevated wellness is when care is integrated seamlessly into life, rather than pursued only in moments of crisis.

You’re deeply involved in philanthropy with the Alzheimer’s Association. What inspired that commitment, and how does it inform your work in healthcare?

Alzheimer’s is a profound loss of continuity—memory, identity, presence. Witnessing that shaped how I understand healthcare at its core. It reinforced my belief that care should preserve dignity, cognition, and quality of life, not merely manage decline. It also deepened my commitment to prevention and longevity, where nervous system health plays a central role.

What has been the most challenging—and most rewarding—part of building a multidisciplinary practice in New York?

The challenge is cohesion—bringing together multiple disciplines under a shared philosophy of care while maintaining rigor and excellence. New York demands credibility. The reward is watching patients feel fully supported by an integrated system—where care feels intentional, seamless, and deeply personalized.

You specialize in Active Release Technique and soft tissue work. Why is soft tissue health so foundational to how we move, age, and even carry ourselves?

Soft tissue holds the narrative of our lives—stress, posture, injury, adaptation. When tissue becomes restricted, movement loses fluidity and posture collapses inward. Healthy soft tissue restores elasticity, ease, and confidence. It allows people to move—and exist—in their bodies with greater openness and presence.

Beauty culture often prioritizes surface-level fixes. What does “aging with power” look like when the nervous system is supported rather than stressed?

Aging with power is about regulation, not resistance. When the nervous system feels safe, the body expresses vitality naturally—through posture, facial tone, breath, and composure. It’s the difference between looking controlled and looking grounded. True beauty emerges when the body isn’t bracing against stress.

Tennis, travel, and community outreach are all part of your life. How do movement and balance show up in your own self-care?

Movement is both discipline and joy for me. Tennis keeps me expressive and sharp. Travel reminds me to stay adaptable. Community work keeps me rooted. Balance isn’t static—it’s responsive. I listen closely to what my body needs in each season and honor that without guilt.

Your work centers on improving “total function,” not just relieving pain. What does total function mean in modern wellness and beauty?

Total function is when the body moves efficiently, recovers fully, and responds calmly to stress. It’s posture, breath, sleep, digestion, cognition—all in dialogue. In modern beauty, total function shows up as ease: how someone stands, speaks, and occupies space. Pain relief is simply the entry point.

What are the most common misconceptions people still have about chiropractic care today?

Many people still associate chiropractic care solely with cracking or short-term pain relief. In reality, it’s about optimizing nervous system communication and movement patterns over time. Chiropractic care is proactive—it supports longevity, resilience, and performance.

A sense of calm often reads on camera. How does nervous system regulation influence posture, expression, and presence?

The nervous system governs everything—posture, facial tone, breath, expression. When someone is regulated, their spine lifts effortlessly, their face softens, and their presence feels composed without effort. Calm is not passive—it’s a state of readiness without tension, and it’s visually powerful.

Looking ahead, how do you see the role of chiropractic care evolving within modern beauty and longevity culture?

Chiropractic care will become foundational to longevity culture. As people recognize that beauty is neurological, structural, and metabolic, chiropractic will no longer be supplemental—it will be central. It supports how we age, how we move, and how we inhabit our lives. The future of beauty is functional.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Dr. Bushra Helmandi
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Hair: Corey Tuttle at Exclusive Artists
Makeup: Alyssa Riggi-Bruno
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Brya Sheridan, Assistant to Editor-in-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine
Studio: Love Studios NYC

Aging With Power: Inside Dr. Bushra Helmandi’s Functional Beauty Philosophy