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Rebecca Brouillette of North Star Chiropractic demonstrates a massage technique using a tennis ball at an event titled “Empowering Women: Exude Confidence” at her Biddeford office on Thursday night. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune
BIDDEFORD — Many women shy away from letting their true selves shine, says chiropractor Rebecca Brouillette, owner of North Star Chiropractic.
They may have been told not to be too loud or not to assert themselves, and thus become closed off and guarded, she said.
“Have any of you felt like the proverbial shrinking violet,” she asked a group of women Thursday night at an empowering women event at her office on the corner of Jefferson and Washington streets in Biddeford.
As child and teenager she was very shy and struggled with body image, and she still wrestles with feelings of insecurity today, Brouillette said.
Brouillette demonstrated the “high power” pose exercise, popularized by social psychologist Amy Cuddy.
In the exercise, the women held the “wonder woman pose” for two minutes, with their chests up, hands on hip and shoulders rounded back.
“It’s something that’s free, doesn’t require any technology and all you need is yourself,” she said.
Brouillette explained how the exercise impacts hormone levels. It increases the body’s levels of testosterone, which some may just associate with men but women also have, and decreases cortisol.
This replicates the hormone balance typical of powerful leaders, who tend to have higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol, she said.
“People think we (chiropractors) are just bone doctors, that it’s neck pain, back pain, headaches, but the thing that we’re actually working on is the nervous system,”Brouillette said.
Attendees of the event were given other health tips and also treated to mini massages and a posture assessment.
Lori Michaud of Wells, was one of the eight women who attended Thursday night’s event. Michaud sells natural health and beauty products as a NYR Organics consultant said she’s a very health-minded person. She said she was interested in meeting Brouillette, enjoyed networking and liked the empowering women aspect of the event.
Brouillette, a southern New Hampshire native, moved with her husband to Biddeford shortly after graduating with a doctor of chiropractic degree from Life University in Georgia.
Brouillette bought her office building site unseen and settled into business in October. Though she specializes in women and children, she does treat men as well.
She said she wanted to open a practice somewhere in the parameters of Portsmouth to Portland and fate brought her to Biddeford.
She’s passionate about helping other people and enjoys reaching out to the community,Brouillette said. She has an active Facebook presence where she offers helpful health tips, information about the benefits of chiropractic treatment and motivational posts.
Since opening, Brouillette has hosted events at her office nearly every month, and past events have included a “mommy and me” tea party, a guided meditation, and a hands-on bath bomb making class.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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