When pain arises, our first instinct is to seek its origin within our physical body. This is logical if the pain follows an event like a trip, fall, or bump against furniture. Even without a clear precipitating incident, we typically assume the root cause is a physical ailment, leading us to consult a doctor whose focus is often solely on the body. However, pain is frequently multifaceted, and treatment may be less effective if all underlying causes are not addressed.

The prevalent Western medical view often posits the physical body—be it bones, joints, organs, or the nervous system—as the sole origin of all pain, even chronic pain. However, based on my experience, the roots of pain, particularly long-standing pain, are frequently complex and can stem from non-physical sources.

Imagine a plant with a deeply intricate root system. This plant is the pain you feel, while its roots illustrate the complicated interaction between the structural and energetic origins of that pain.

As an example, when I was a dancer, I broke a bone in my foot. Even though the bone healed completely after about eight weeks, the pain persisted for several months. I consulted five different doctors. Four of them offered solutions ranging from surgery to advising me to quit dancing. The fifth doctor admitted he didn’t know the cause, but suggested I continue dancing, thinking the source of the pain might eventually become clear.

All of us—and I am including myself—focused entirely on the structural problem. This single-minded focus is an understandable consequence of medical training and the conventional view of the body. Nevertheless, we were all making the same fundamental assumption: that the pain had only a single root, like a stubborn plant.

Desperate, I turned to acupuncture, which introduced a new perspective on the root of my pain. The acupuncturist’s treatments gradually led to the pain dissipating, along with several other health and emotional issues I had been struggling with.

Upon reflection, I came to understand that while the initial trauma was a fractured foot, the pain I was feeling had more complex origins. The injury halted my “running,” both physically and metaphorically, from various issues in my life. The pain was multi-faceted, stemming from structural concerns with my bones and muscles, as well as energetic aspects tied to my emotions, thoughts, and spirit.

To fully resolve the symptoms, I needed treatments that addressed the full spectrum of causes—both structural and energetic. For the fracture, my foot was immobilized. Then, I had physical therapy to address the muscles that became tight and weak from the immobilization. Finally, acupuncture was necessary to treat the energetic imbalances that both predated and were caused by the fracture. Zero Balancing would have helped as well, had I known about it. 

Pain is a holistic experience. It is often more than just a physical sensation; it’s a comprehensive experience that impacts every area of our lives. Managing it often demands time and financial resources, diverting them from other uses. A change in physical function can alter relationships, perhaps necessitating care from others or limiting our ability to support those who rely on us.

The origins of pain can be diverse, encompassing a spectrum of physical and energetic causes across the body, emotions, mind, and spirit. For treatment to be effective, it must address the underlying cause. While structural issues often require structural intervention, if the roots extend beyond the physical, consider holistic treatment approaches as well.  

The most frequent remark I hear after a Zero Balancing (ZB) session is, “I feel so relaxed!” Why is ZB so relaxing? ZB incorporates several elements that create an experience of safety which in turn, quiets our fight-or-flight response. Dr. Stephen Porges, a leading researcher on the effects of stress and trauma on the nervous system, emphasizes the necessity of establishing safety for the nervous system to regain balance. In his article, Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety he stresses the importance of safety for healing, growth, and healthy social interactions. The continuous interplay between fight-or-flight reactions to threat and relaxation responses when safe is regulated by our autonomic nervous system. How exactly does ZB heighten these feelings of safety?

When we think of the nervous system, we often think of the voluntary, or somatic, nervous system, which allows us to sense and interact with our surroundings—for example, when you intentionally wiggle your toe.  However, vital functions—like your heartbeat, the movement of food through your digestive tract, and blood pressure regulation—are managed by the involuntary, or autonomic, nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system consists of two parts: the sympathetic fight-or-flight and the parasympathetic rest-and-digest systems. The ideal state is a balance where these two systems activate as necessary and then return to equilibrium.

When we perceive a threat, whether real or imagined, the sympathetic nervous system immediately jumps into action, preparing us for survival by revving us up to either fight or flee. Once the threat is gone, the parasympathetic nervous system steps in to restore balance.

With trauma or prolonged stress, the sympathetic nervous system can get stuck in the “on” position which prevents the parasympathetic nervous system from effectively promoting calm. Establishing a sense of safety is crucial because it removes the stimulus that keeps triggering the sympathetic nervous system, allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to perform its regulatory function.

Every Zero Balancing (ZB) session is designed with features that cultivate a profound sense of safety, beginning with the unique quality of ZB touch. ZB practitioners receive extensive training to consciously and simultaneously connect with the whole person—both the physical body and the individual living within it. Recognizing that each person, while structurally similar, is a unique being, ZB touch meets you exactly where you reside in your body. This creates an experience of being fully seen and held with deep respect, free from any practitioner-held expectations about how, when, or how much you should change. The session offers a feeling of complete acceptance and non-judgment. 

Second, Zero Balancing touch maintains a clear boundary, which is vital for respecting the client’s personal space. This distinct boundary is particularly crucial for individuals with a history of trauma. Communication through touch is instantaneous and always true. When conscious, respectful  touch connects with our deepest selves with a clear boundary, we feel seen, met, and accepted. Instinctively, we know we are safe and can relax. 

Lastly, Zero Balancing sessions follow a protocol. Every session follows the same pattern using primarily the same techniques. After a few sessions, the client knows what to expect. This predictability decreases the need to monitor the practitioner or stay guarded, freeing the client’s attention to turn inward and relax.

In this environment of safety, the client’s sympathetic nervous system has a chance to down-regulate. Pilot studies performed by the Neurosynchrony Institute have demonstrated this phenomenon. To read these studies go to Pilot Study with Neuro Synchrony Institute (2015 & 2017) – Zero Balancing Touch 

In today’s often stressful and uncertain world, personal anxieties are easily amplified. Whether it’s concerns about a medical test, a loved one’s health, or job pressures, these feelings are common and understandable. This was true when this blog post was initially written during the pandemic, and it remains equally relevant now. If you’re experiencing such emotions, know that you’re not alone. Among the many available stress management techniques, I’ve personally discovered the Pyramid and Parallel Breath meditations to be remarkably effective. They are straightforward to learn, require minimal time, and can be practiced in nearly any setting.

I learned both meditations while taking  Zero Balancing (ZB) classes. Each day the class began with creating a Pyramid and breathing Parallel Breaths. Sitting quietly and guided by the teacher, these meditations helped me feel more present, attentive and enlivened, which enhanced my class experience and made learning easier and lots of fun. Once I learned how to do these meditations, I realized I could use them on my own outside of class, individually or together, to help me in a number of different situations. 

The Parallel Breath meditation proved invaluable during my time as a Home Care Physical Therapist. I recall one instance where a new patient began shouting about five minutes into our session, expressing his dissatisfaction with prior medical care. Although I understood his anger wasn’t directed at me personally, being the recipient of such rage was incredibly unsettling. Still shaken after returning to my car, and with my next appointment in just 15 minutes, I needed to compose myself. I sat and practiced Parallel Breaths for about three minutes. This helped me to quiet and organize myself internally, allowing me to drive safely and approach my next patient with professionalism, calm, and care.

The usefulness of the Pyramid meditation was evident when I taught a Complementary Medicine course to graduate Physical Therapy and Nursing students at Simmons College in Boston, MA. These demanding programs meant students often arrived tired at the 5 pm Wednesday evening lectures. I started each three-hour class with a Pyramid meditation, and I could feel the atmosphere in the room change. Many students expressed how much they anticipated this weekly meditation, finding it calming and focusing, particularly mid-week. One student even shared how she created a pyramid over her desk to concentrate on her studies during noisy weekends at her parents’ city apartment and it proved effective.

I use the Pyramid and Parallel Breath meditations to promote smooth and successful outcomes for upcoming events. For instance, before traveling, teaching, or undergoing a medical procedure, I create a pyramid over the experience and invite in beneficial elements.

When traveling, I visualize a well-rested pilot, kind fellow passengers, an efficient security process, and my luggage arriving safely. Similarly, I create a pyramid over my Zero Balancing classes the night before I teach, and also before I attend ZB classes, envisioning safe, stimulating and inspiring environments that optimize learning.

I have also created pyramids for friends, family, students, and clients, at their request, to alleviate anxiety related to surgeries, medical procedures, GMATs, or other stressful situations.

Would all these events go smoothly without a pyramid meditation? I don’t know. I do know that creating a pyramid in these instances helped me to feel better in the moment, conveyed my caring in a concrete way to others, and most often, the desired outcomes occurred. As my grandmother used to say…”It couldn’t hurt!” 
Are you curious to experience a pyramid and parallel breath meditation? Recordings are available here. Try it! 

Let’s revisit the ways Zero Balancing (ZB) principles can help you in your everyday life. Specifically, how applying the concepts of fulcrums and working states can help you cope with change and uncertainty. The term “fulcrum” is used to describe each technique used during a ZB session. A fulcrum is a catalyst for change. Life choices and world events can be viewed as fulcrums that create change, whether chosen or imposed. 

A fulcrum enables movement, much like a stationary board becomes a lever when placed on one. When your ZB practitioner places and holds a fulcrum for a few seconds, your system responds by initiating motion. In response to the practitioner’s stillness, your internal world begins to reorganize and change. This process, known as a working state, is an in-between phase—between your previous patterns and the new ones that are emerging. Each fulcrum, working state, and new pattern are integral to an organic process that naturally progresses you toward improved health.

Life events, like job change, moving house, getting married, a pandemic, can be viewed as fulcrums. Each acts as a catalyst for change, leading to a subsequent “working state.” In certain situations, we actively place a fulcrum, much like a Zero Balancing practitioner. We choose to make a change. In others, we are the ones on the ZB table, receiving the impact of the fulcrum. In both instances, whether change has been chosen or imposed, a working state follows. This in-between state is inherently unstable because things are in motion; things are changing. From this perspective, it’s perfectly normal to feel stressed, for things to feel challenging or extremely uncomfortable. 

Understanding fulcrums and working states can help you understand and cope with your experience. If you have not initiated the change, you are receiving the fulcrum. You have not chosen this experience and yet here you are. Recognition that you are in a working state can help you feel more stable, even if things are still in motion. The stress you feel is a normal, if uncomfortable, response to change. You can anticipate that once the new pattern is established, you are likely to feel better. You realize that you are experiencing a normal part of re-orienting around a change and may be better able to tolerate the discomfort as a result. It may not feel easy, it may feel easier! 

It can be equally helpful to understand fulcrums and working states when you initiate the change. Here, you are like the practitioner. You have placed the fulcrum and you can view the reactions of those around you as their working state. Like a ZB practitioner, your job is to stay present and remain still. Those around you are reorganizing around your fulcrum. Their reactions are a normal response to the change you have created, their discomfort is the normal discomfort of being in a working state. This may free you from feeling you must argue or justify your decision. If you can stay still and present, their reaction often winds down soon and you can both move forward into the new pattern. 

Try looking at experiences in your life as fulcrums and working states. I hope it helps!

Have you been feeling discombobulated? Scattered? Disorganized on the inside? The continuum from order to disorder and back to order is a universal experience. Most people prefer feeling grounded and centered. Zero Balancing (ZB) is a particularly good tool for feeling more of both! ZB organizes our inner and unseen world. It organizes our field. What, you may ask, is a field? 

A field is an area that has properties we can feel but not see. This is a construct used often in physics and mathematics that has applications here. For example, think about how you feel when you walk into a church or synagogue. It feels different than outside. The sanctuary in the building feels different than the outer hallways as well. We can feel it the instant we step inside a place of worship. Another example is the moment you step onto the beach or into a forest. Now imagine walking into a busy restaurant or supermarket. What you are feeling is the field of each particular area. It’s a different feeling because those fields have different properties. We can’t see the fields but we sure can feel them. 

We all can feel fields. Think about how your home feels when it’s organized vs when it’s cluttered. After cleaning, the transition from disorganized to organized is both visible and palpable. It looks better and feels better. It feels better because the field in your home has ben organized.

We each have our own internal field that cycles from less organized to more organized. It’s a natural process. For some of us, our baseline is having a disorganized field. We feel scattered and ungrounded most of the time. Our field cycles from less disorganized to more disorganized and never quite makes it to organized. Even a small perturbation can throw us way off center. 

An organized field feels better than a disorganized field. A ZB session organizes our field. This is one of the reasons Zero Balancing sessions help. We are more grounded. More stable. And as we receive additional sessions, our internal field remains organized for longer and longer periods of time. Our baseline stability improves. It takes less to throw us off center and becomes easier to regain our footing. 

Is there anything you can do to organize your own inner field? Of course. Our fields often resonate with the field around us. Find a field that’s better organized than your own. Go to a library, a place of worship. Take a walk in the woods, especially the redwoods. Clean or reorganize your home. Spend time with friends who feel grounded and stable to you. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Chi Kung practices help as does meditation. 

Zero Balancing meditations on this website are very helpful. The parallel breaths portion of each meditation is particularly organizing. It’s easy to learn and is something you can do on your own just about anywhere. A few minutes of parallel breaths can organize your field and help your day become easier. 

Try this experiment. Notice how you feel inside before the meditation and compare it to how you feel after. It’s a great way to get organized on the inside!

Thanks for reading!