Body Mind Therapy
Zero Balancing
Zero Balancing (ZB) is a gentle but powerful hands-on bodywork system that facilitates both structural balance and a clearer, stronger flow of energy in the body. ZBHA (zerobalancing.com)
“ZB serves as an antidote to our modern condition. It supports the innate wellness beneath all illness, pain or distress”
Recent Zero Balancing research studies confirmed an average stress reduction of 61% during a 30 minute ZB session versus a 12% stress reduction for clients during an equivalent rest period.
ZB is also known to support self-discovery, self-acceptance and a person’s ability to create positive, life-affirming change.
What Is A Zero Balancing Session Like?
Zero Balancing feels refreshing from the inside out. After listening to your goals, your practitioner evaluates and balances key areas throughout the body, first with you sitting, then lying face up, fully clothed. A treatment releases deep tension in bones, joints and soft tissue. Afterwards you may feel lighter, freer, energized and more in tune with yourself.
Zero Balancing Benefits
ZB offers powerful benefits to people of all ages.
Increases Feelings Of Health And Well-Being
Zero Balancing induces a state of deep rest that allows you to feel truly relaxed, renewed and recharged. Regular ZB sessions may help you to feel more aware and alive.
Releases Stress And Improves The Flow Of Energy In Our Bodies
Did you know that bones and other connective tissue conduct energy? Zero Balancing uses touch to release deep tension and free the flow of energy in the musculoskeletal system. This relieves stress and boosts your body’s natural vitality.
Reduces Pain And Discomfort
Blocks in the body’s energy often lead to imbalance, discomfort and pain. Zero Balancing works to open restrictions in the skeleton’s natural shock absorbers, such as the tarsal bones in the arches of the feet, the joints where the ribs meet the spine, and the sacro-iliac joints. Once these areas are free and balanced, pain symptoms often resolve.
Enhances Stability, Balance And Freedom
Zero Balancing helps to create a wonderful feeling of inner and outer balance. It’s like feng shui for your being. When your body is clear and balanced and your posture is aligned, you can move with freedom.
Amplifies The Sense Of Connection, Peace And Happiness
People who receive ZB often feel more connected to themselves, to others and to the world. During a session and afterwards, people experience a sense of expansiveness, peace and contentment.
Releases Mental, Emotional And Physical Tension
Zero Balancing works on multiple levels of the body-mind to release tissue-held memory and tension patterns that may be affecting your mental, emotional and physical states.
Supports Us Through Transitions And Transformations
As our life changes we can feel out of balance. At the beginning of a ZB session you can state an intention to align with your goals and desires. As the practitioner engages your bodymind, inducing a deep state of ease, you can let go of any resistance and empower your ability to change. People use ZB to improve relationships, clarify life goals, manage the stress of big changes like a move or a new job, and support personal growth. ZB can help you release old patterns and open to new possibilities.
Improves Quality Of Life And Increases Capacity For Enjoyment
Many people who receive ZB on a regular basis find themselves more joyful and satisfied with their lives as they unfold.
Neurovascular Integration
NVI Therapy - The Neurovascular Institute (neurovasculartherapy.com
Craniosacral Therapy
Expectations and Recommendations for your Therapeutic Bodywork Session
Potential outcomes from your session:
· Relief from pain
· Improved quality of sleep
· Deep relaxation
· Improved balance
· Increased energy
· Improved concentration
· Relief from emotional distress
· Feel more balance in your life
Recommendations:
Take time to integrate and enjoy your bodywork experience. Avoid strenuous activity and stressful experiences for a few hours following your session if possible.
Allow your body and mind to develop greater internal awareness by establishing a practice of reflection and mindfulness. Reflect on thought patterns, behaviors, emotions, physical sensations, life situations. These practices foster self-awareness, understanding and insight into your true self. A sample journaling template is provided for you to use following your session.
Body, Mind, Life Journaling Template
Body
· What sensations are you feeling physically?
· Where are you feeling comfort and/or relaxation in your body?
· Where are you feeling discomfort, tension and/or pain?
Mind
Emotions
· What are you feeling emotionally? For example: stressed, happy, frustrated, angry, sad, calm
Thoughts
· What are you thinking about? What thoughts occupy your mind?
Life
· What are you experiencing in your life?
Contact Lisa via phone or email if you have concerns or questions related to your bodywork experience.
Frequency of sessions:
New clients: It is optimal to schedule 3 sessions within the 1st month. Clients receive the most benefit from therapy when they receive their 1st two sessions one week apart followed by the 3rd session two weeks later.
Session frequency can be decreased as treatment goals are met.
Reflect on your goals and talk with Lisa to chart out the best course of action to meet your goals.
Long term wellness: Regular bodywork can assist in prevention of tension patterns and promote emotional and physical wellness.
Introduction to Bodywork and Embodied Mindfulness
Your bodywork session will involve bringing a greater internal awareness to your physical body. For example- you may notice areas of your body that have greater tension, less mobility and possibly pain. The tissues in these areas are usually tighter and less able to function at an optimal level.
Examples: tighter connective tissue around the abdominal region may reduce the ability for optimal digestion, tighter muscles around the shoulder girdle may decrease your range of motion and impact your posture and comfort.
Lisa will be evaluating tension patterns through hands-on palpation or touch. You are fully clothed and lying face-up on a massage table during the session. The touch is designed to be comfortable, and a “neutral presence” to your system. The environment should feel safe and comfortable which allows your body, mind and nervous system to feel a deeper level of relaxation. I encourage you to share your likes and dislikes in order to create the most comfortable, supportive environment possible.
Suggestions for your sessions:
1) Take time to Pause at the beginning of your session prior to moving to the massage table to use the Body, Mind, Life check in tool (Lisa will provide this journaling template)
2) Set an intention for your session based on your observations.
3) Take time to Pause at the beginning of your session once you are lying on the massage table. Notice how your body feels on the table and be sure you are comfortable prior to the session.
Let Lisa know if you are uncomfortable, are experiencing pain, having difficulty relaxing or have questions.
4) Use your breath as a relaxation tool- follow your breath into your body, inhale ease, exhale any excess tension or pain.
5) Approach your session with curiosity and a sense of exploration.
6) Be open to whatever information may present itself- sensations, thoughts, memories etc.
7) Be patient with yourself in a non-striving, non-judgmental manner.
8) Be accepting of what you may discover- If pain arises let Lisa know and we can discuss ways to best support you. Together we can decide if you wish to explore the pain response, sensations and connections to the pain.
9) Practice implementing The Pause (separate handout)
10) Practice Letting Go- for example: inhale ease, exhale tension.
11) Practice gratitude and compassion for your body and mind.
12) Consider sharing and discussing your experiences with Lisa to enhance exploration, verbalization, connection and insight.
Often we are not aware of tension patterns we carry that are connected to our emotional state. Skilled touch therapies allow you to feel where you hold tension and help you tap into deeper internal information. As you turn your attention to body felt sensations you may discover connections to your thought patterns, emotions, past experiences and symptoms.
For example: A number of years ago I was feeling frustrated and a bit angry about having to walk to the end of the block to get to my car that was plowed in after a big snowstorm. The street wasn’t plowed, the road was very icy and I needed to get to work. As I rushed to get to the car, I fell on the ice and hurt my ankle. Not only was I angry but also physically hurt. A few years later I started having regular bodywork sessions. During a Zero Balancing session I noticed that my right ankle felt very inflexible, unstable and stuck. I had been having weakness and discomfort in the ankle when running. During the bodywork session I had the memory of that day, the events and the fall. As the therapist worked on my ankle and leg, I felt the tension dissipate and by the end of the session, I felt a greater sense of stability and flexibility in the ankle. My body and mind were able to acknowledge the physical pain and emotion of that event. Through safe, comfortable hands-on touch, my ankle and neurological pathways from the ankle to the brain were able to experience a new, more functional pattern. It was as if my body and mind realized that the immediate danger or injury had passed and was able to feel stable once again.
The type of bodywork performed at ReLeaf Bodywork Therapy is designed to allow the body to experience a new, comfortable stimuli. The body is able to realize that a different more functional, comfortable pattern can exist. This message is then sent from the body to the brain, then from the brain back to the tissue area and the result is a more functional body/mind connection.
This type of work helps to enhance your body/mind awareness and understanding.
Awareness is medicine!