Our Practice
Rising Wellness is a practice about transition, both ours and yours. Starting in 1999, Barnings Chiropractic offered outstanding chiropractic care to residents of the Bitterroot Valley. Since then, our practice has grown, changed and reemerged as Rising Wellness to offer more types of treatment, and additional kinds of care. Our growth and commitment to continuing education, ongoing training and investments in technology ensure that you are enjoying the finest treatment possible.
At Rising Wellness, we can aid you in achieving the best physical quality of life you can attain, whether recovering from an injury, or just transitioning to the ongoing years.
Meet the Team
At Rising Wellness, we have experienced, caring practitioners to aid you in your recovery from an injury, or ensure your overall wellness, strength and comfort in daily living.
Dr. Mandy Barnings
Dr. Mandy Barnings is passionate about wellness and quality of life for her patients. Her journey to becoming a chiropractor began with a car accident. As a Red Raider at Texas Tech, Dr. Barnings was studying to be an engineer. After a high-speed car accident left her with neck pain and unrelenting headaches, it was a good chiropractor who was finally able to give her some relief and help her begin to heal. After her personal experience, she became an enthusiastic advocate of this non-invasive, all-natural healthcare field, and she changed her path. She got her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Parker University, and began practicing in Arlington, Texas. She did additional post-graduate work in advanced extremity adjusting. A fateful visit to the Bitterroot Valley of Montana and the desire to live in a smaller community led her to make the move and become a Montana resident in 1999.
Dr. Barnings is an examining doctor for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) and has been voted “Bitterroot’s Best Chiropractor” by valley residents more than eight times.
In her free time, Dr. Barnings is an enthusiastic patron of the arts, serving on the Advisory Board of the Bitterroot Performing Arts Council, a supporter of organizations supporting youth in need, a current swimmer, and a state record-holder for the US Masters. Dr. Barnings and her husband enjoy cooking together, and are travel enthusiasts.
Learn more about some of the local organizations Dr. Barnings serves and supports here:
Dr. Jared Hoyt
Dr. Hoyt earned his undergraduate degree from Utah State University in 2003 and graduated from Parker College of Chiropractic in 2009. During his doctoral training, he achieved the highest score in his graduating class on Part IV of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination, reflecting exceptional hands-on clinical skill and diagnostic proficiency.
He completed his clinical training in Bogotá, where he worked with Colombian Olympic athletes as well as two professional soccer teams. This international and high-performance experience shaped his ability to treat complex injuries while maintaining a thoughtful, patient-first approach that applies equally to elite athletes and everyday patients.
Dr. Hoyt specializes in sports chiropractic while also providing comprehensive traditional chiropractic care. He is certified in Active Release Technique (ART) and the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), allowing him to effectively address soft tissue injuries and challenging musculoskeletal conditions. His adjusting techniques include Diversified, Gonstead, Thompson, and Activator, enabling him to customize care based on each patient’s comfort level, goals, and lifestyle.
Highly proficient in spinal decompression therapy, Dr. Hoyt has achieved a strong track record of success in treating spinal disc injuries, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and arthritis. In many cases, his conservative, non-surgical treatment plans have helped patients avoid spinal surgeries that were recommended—and in some instances already scheduled—allowing them to regain function and return to active, fulfilling lives.
Above all, Dr. Hoyt is known for his compassionate, patient-centered approach. He takes time to listen, educate, and build genuine relationships with his patients, believing that trust, understanding, and individualized care are essential to long-term healing and success.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Hoyt enjoys outdoor sports and activities, especially triathlons, which reinforce his belief in movement, resilience, and proactive health. He is the proud parent of four wonderful adult children and is an avid animal lover.
Meg Ryan, D.C.
Experience the Art of Natural Healing in the Heart of the Bitterroot Valley
For over 30 years, Dr. Meg Ryan has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families restore balance, vitality, and whole-body wellness through natural chiropractic care. A graduate of Parker College of Chiropractic and Wellness Springs Massage Therapy School in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Meg brings decades of expertise in gentle, results-driven healing to every patient she serves.
Certified in the Brimhall 6 Steps to Wellness, Dr. Meg specializes in pregnancy, pediatrics, and advanced nutritional healing—combining both gentle instrument adjustments and precise manual techniques to help the body return to its natural state of harmony.
Today, Dr. Meg proudly serves families throughout the Bitterroot Valley, where her care has become trusted by local midwives, parents, and community members seeking a compassionate, holistic approach to health. Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, managing chronic stress, or simply seeking greater balance, Dr. Meg Ryan and Rising Wellness offer a space of true care and connection—rooted in the heart of the community and dedicated to helping you live your healthiest, most vibrant life. She and her daughter, Rose, love exploring all the special places the Valley has to offer—especially in search of the next best huckleberry shake!
Maureen Griffith-Whelan, BA, NCBTMB
Maureen is a graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute (now Cortiva-Boston) specializing in Orthopedic Massage and Sports Massage Therapy. She received her board certification from the National Certification Board for Massage Therapy and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and is licensed in the state of Montana.
Maureen has been practicing massage therapy since 2007 and holds a Bachelors in Psychology with a Concentration in Family and Community Systems from Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA.
Maureen completed her Oncology Massage training from Tracy Walton & Assoc. and is an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and NCBTMB. She is also certified in Prenatal/Postnatal Massage Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Massage Cupping Therapies and Injury Treatment.