Full body assessment and examination
How your frame carries daily load, then segment by segment along the spine to find exactly where it is bracing.
Finds the weak and dysfunctional areas that need attention.
Your first visit
What to expect on your first visit
Your first visit at our clinic in Toorak Village is one unhurried assessment of how your nervous system is holding stress, before any care begins. A complete Gonstead examination with objective measurement, so nothing is left to guesswork.
What happens
Nothing rushed, nothing left to guesswork
Every patient starts the same way. A full workup of how your nervous system is currently running, measured rather than guessed at, so any care that follows is built on real information.
Stage one: Book an initial consultation
One visit, $99, ordinarily $189. A full history and examination so we understand what your body has been carrying and for how long.
Stage two: Neurological scans and Report of Findings
Dr Arthur Kaganovitch (Chiropractor) explains all the different scans and results and comes up with a bespoke, unique plan for your needs.
Stage three: Nervous system first chiropractic care
Specific, gentle adjustments directed at what the scans and examination found, re-measured against your own baseline so you can see what has shifted.
Back problems are common: 15.7% of Australians reported them in the National Health Survey, the second most common long-term condition in the country (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022).[1] What differs from one person to the next is why. That is what the first visit sets out to establish, before anybody talks about care.
How long does the first visit take?
Allow around forty five minutes at our Toorak Village clinic. That covers your case history, the spinal examination, posture analysis, the neurological examination and both nervous system scans, without anyone hurrying you through it. You are not asked to make a decision on the day. We gather the full picture first, then bring you back for a Report of Findings to explain what it means.
What should I wear or bring?
Wear something comfortable you can move in. Soft, stretchy clothing is easier for the posture and spinal work than a fitted suit, and flat shoes are easier than heels. Bring any previous X-rays, scans, specialist letters or reports you already have, and your private health card if you would like to claim on the day. No referral is needed to see a chiropractor in Australia, so you can book directly.
Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
Usually not. The first visit is the assessment, and we do not adjust a spine we have not yet understood: regulation comes before adjustment. Your examination findings and both scans are reviewed first, and your results and any recommended plan are explained at the Report of Findings, which is your second visit. If something needs attention sooner than that, we will tell you on the day rather than wait.
What we measure
Objective data, not an opinion
Four measures in the one visit. Together they show where your body is bracing and how your nervous system is coping with it, and they give you a baseline to measure any change against.
Heart rate variability
A short reading of the gap between your heartbeats, taken at rest. It shows how your nervous system is balancing stress and recovery right now, not how you feel about it.
The gold standard of nervous system health measurement.
Thermographic scans
A rolling scanner reads skin temperature along your spine. Uneven patterns point to where the nervous system is working hardest.
Measures irritation and inflammation in the spine and nervous system.
Neurological examination
Reflexes, balance, coordination and nerve function, tested by hand. It tells us how well your brain and body are communicating.
Gives us an insight into where your body needs extra help.
Our offer
Choose your
first visit
Two ways in. Both start with a single visit, and you decide what happens after. Not sure which one? Book either and we will match you to the right assessment at the clinic.
New patient offer
Standard Chiropractic Initial Assessment
For people looking specifically for chiropractic care. $99, ordinarily $189.
Book the $99 Initial AssessmentWhat's included:
- Health history and assessment
- Complete Gonstead examination
- Posture analysis
- Thermography scan
- Heart rate variability (HRV) scan
- X-rays if clinically indicated
- Free PDF: which five stretches are hurting your neck and back
New patients only. One per person. Any imaging is charged by the imaging provider and is not included in the $99.
New patient offer
Aura Nervous System Reset™ Examination
An assessment designed for people who feel stuck in their fight or flight response. $99.
Book the $99 Initial AssessmentCommon symptoms we see:
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Brain fog
- IBS
- Chronic inflammation
- Exhaustion and chronic fatigue
- Low immune function
New patients only. One per person. No obligation to continue.
What does the $99 Initial Assessment include?
It includes a full case history, a spinal examination, posture analysis, a neurological examination, heart rate variability measurement and thermographic skin-temperature scans, plus a referral for spinal imaging if that is clinically indicated. The fee is $99, ordinarily $189, for new patients only, one per person, as a one-off payment with no obligation to continue. The table below sets out what each part of it tells us.
| Item | What it tells us | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Full case history | Your history, previous injuries, and what has already been tried | Yes |
| Spinal examination | Where the spine is restricted or bracing, segment by segment | Yes |
| Posture analysis | How your frame carries daily load | Yes |
| Neurological examination | Reflexes, balance, coordination and nerve function | Yes |
| Heart rate variability (HRV) measurement | How your nervous system is balancing stress and recovery at rest | Yes |
| Thermographic (skin-temperature) scans | Where along the spine the nervous system is working hardest | Yes |
| Spinal imaging (X-ray) | Bone position and structure, where the examination points to it | Referral only if clinically indicated, billed by the imaging provider |
Why do you measure heart rate variability?
Heart rate variability is the small variation in timing between heartbeats, and it reflects how your nervous system is balancing stress and recovery. Psychological stress is associated with reduced heart rate variability (Kim et al, Psychiatry Investigation, 2018).[2] Taking that reading at rest on your first visit gives us an objective number rather than an impression, and a baseline of your own to compare later readings against.
Is an X-ray included?
No. Spinal imaging is a referral, made only if it is clinically indicated by the examination, and it is charged by the imaging provider rather than by Aura, so it is not included in the $99. If you already have recent X-rays, scans or reports, bring them and we will read those instead of repeating the imaging. Where nothing is indicated, no referral is made.
What happens at the Report of Findings?
The Report of Findings is your second visit. We explain what the examination and the two scans found in plain language, show you your own baseline numbers, and tell you honestly whether care at Aura is right for you. If it is, we set out your options, including the 12-week Aura Nervous System Reset™. If it is not, we will say so and point you in a better direction.
Before you arrive
The practical details
- How long it takes
- Allow around forty five minutes. The first visit is an assessment, not a treatment: we gather the full picture first, then explain it.
- Where to come
- Shop 32, Trak Centre, 443/449 Toorak Rd, Toorak VIC 3142. Get directions
- What to bring
- Any previous X-rays, scans or reports you have. No referral is needed: you can book directly.
- What it costs
- $99, ordinarily $189. New patients only, one per person, one-off payment, no obligation to continue. Any imaging is charged by the imaging provider and is not included in the $99.
- What happens after
- You come back for a Report of Findings. We explain your results in plain language and whether care at Aura is right for you.
Coming from Toorak, South Yarra, Malvern or Armadale? Each suburb page has the parking, tram and walking details for getting here.
Sources
- 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey: health conditions prevalence, 2022. View source
- 2. Kim HG, Cheon EJ, Bai DS, Lee YH, Koo BH. Stress and heart rate variability: a meta-analysis and review of the literature, Psychiatry Investigation 15(3):235-245, 2018. View source
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual care. The population figures and guideline positions above are drawn from the cited sources. Observations attributed to Dr Arthur Kaganovitch (Chiropractor) reflect his clinical experience at Aura and are not claims of guaranteed outcomes.
The first visit is $99, ordinarily $189. It is for new patients only, one per person, as a one-off payment, with no obligation to continue. Any imaging is charged by the imaging provider and is not included in the $99.
No. Chiropractic is a primary contact profession in Australia, so you can book directly, with no referral needed.
Chiropractic sessions are claimable under most extras cover, and we provide item-coded receipts. The DNA profiling and the HRV and thermographic scans are generally not claimable. It is worth checking your level of cover with your fund.
It is our 12-week evidence-based program, personalised to your DNA. It combines in-clinic chiropractic care with DNA profiling, monthly re-measurement of your nervous system, personalised supplement guidance, and the Aura Biology Reset course. It is a separate decision you can make after your first visit, never a requirement.
Aura was founded by Dr Arthur Kaganovitch (Chiropractor). Dr Michael Black (Chiropractor) also practises at the clinic.
Written by Dr Arthur Kaganovitch (Chiropractor). Last reviewed 8 September 2026.
Your body has been stuck in protection long enough
One visit to measure it. $99, ordinarily $189, no obligation to continue.