THERAPEUTIC BODY WORK

ZERO BALANCING

      Zero Balancing sessons are received while clothed, and no oils/lotions are used

Common Experiences of/during/after a Zero Balancing session:

Muscular or joint restrictions/tightness/pain/discomfort eased up or disappeared

Feeling more spacious/ lighter inside

An increased sense of Inner Balance, leading to an increased sense of Well-Being

Stomach/intestinal pain or discomfort relieved

Calmer

Delightfully re-energized

Pleasantly slowed down

Easier to breathe

Less anxious

Clearer of thought

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Zero Balancing works primarily with key foundation and semi-foundation joints. These are joints which have minimal movement, such as the sacro-iliac ("SI) joint, or joints where the ribs meet the spine. Although these joints are often not addressed during therapeutic bodywork sessions, their restriction or ease has a profound effect on the ease with which we move/rest in stillness.

 The work we do at these, and other,  joints quickly promotes release of restrictions, both at joints and in musculature. Release from pain, and increased freedom, ease in use, and range of motion, follow.

Developed by osteopath/acupuncturist, Dr. Fritz Smith, Zero Balancing- in part because it works with both energy and structure of the body- contacts the body "at the level of bone", resulting in a very gentle, yet very deep, type of contact, which often has results similar to those of deep tissue work.

Releasing held energy at this level can encourage us to leave behind habitual patterns, both physical and thought, that may be keeping us locked into repeating loops of behavior/injury.

  Zero Balancing seeks to balance energy with structure.  Change that comes with Zero Balancing is often long-lasting and profound.
 

When you are receiving Zero Balancing from me, you will first be worked on in a seated position.  Then you will lie on your back for the rest of your session, and will experience gentle traction at arms, legs, and spine; gentle pressure as my hands reach upward from underneath your body; joint mobilization; and perhaps some soft tissue manipulation, passive stretching, guided breath/imagery work, etc., all culminating in a deeply felt sense of inner expansiveness and peacefulness.

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During a Zero Balancing session, I will at times pause, with my hands off the body of the person receiving the session. This pause allows the Body/Mind/Spirit to integrate the changes that are occurring.

People receiving Zero Balancing treatments often feel a truly deep sense of relaxation and release on all three levels of Body/Mind/Spirit.  After a session, people often say that they feel "lighter", taller, "more space inside", slowed down, calmer, or more patient.

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Zero Balancing is wonderful for dancers and athletes, as well as for people who are recovering from surgery or injury, are beginning an exercise program, are in chronic pain, are sitting at a desk all day long, or are looking to increase a sense of ease and well-being in their lives.

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The Zero Balancing Touch Foundation has completed two limited EEG studies, and found, among other things, that:

"...Initial evidence indicates a change in brain waves where the subject drops into deeper states during a ZB session that are different from those manifest during a rest period."

Some commonly asked questions about Zero Balancing:

~ What sorts of things can Zero Balancing help with? ~

Chronic pain; physical injury recovery/restriction; pain upon use; anxiety or stress; increasing wellness; personal growth and transformation; insomnia; etc....

~ Who developed Zero Balancing and how come I haven't heard of it? ~
Zero Balancing was developed by an osteopath/M.D./acupuncturist, Dr. F.F. Smith. Dr. Smith took great care in refining his teachings before opening his trainings to other practitioners and marketing this technique. For more information, please contact the Zero Balancing Health Association at 410-381-8956, or go to www.zerobalancing.com.

~ Why would one chose Zero Balancing instead of Massage Therapy,

acupuncture, or any other technique? ~
Different techniques offer different benefits. As a licensed Massage Therapist since 1985, I am continuously impressed with how easily Zero Balancing can release deeply held tissue. Because Zero Balancing focuses simultaneously on both energy and structure, Zero Balancing works within us at a very deep level, and I have seen positive changes occur quickly and readily with Zero Balancing.
Most people feel deeply peaceful after a session, and that feeling often lasts far longer than the sense of relaxation lasts after a massage.

For people who might not be comfortable taking their clothing off to receive body work, or who don't like the oil/lotions that are used during massage, Zero Balancing offers a wonderfully effective alternative.
 

Overall, it has been my experience that Zero Balancing sessions offer the opportunity for very deep, lasting, and profound change to occur. 

~ How long do sessions last, and how often should they be received? ~
Zero Balancing sessions with me are usually 60 minutes. 

I also offer 30 and 45 minute Zero Balancing sessions.

If you can find the time and the money, it is a good idea to receive a session two-four times a month for the first month or two. Some people come once or twice a month, some come once every two or three months, some people come weekly. We can discuss timing that would be appropriate for you when we speak on the phone to schedule your appointment, and again after you have had your first session.

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A Zero Balancing session can be a treatment in and of itself.  In my practice, Zero Balancing is more often integrated into a Dynamic Rebalancing session.

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