When I was learning Zero Balancing, it was notably different from soft tissue massage in theory as well as practice. When I had an online meeting with Fritz Smith, the founder of Zero Balancing, his advice to me was to approach this new modality with a “beginner’s mind.” I took his advice to heart, and learned to orient my touch to bones rather than muscles and fascia. Instead of maintaining constant touch throughout the treatment, I learned to step back from the client, to take my hands off of them and allow them to feel each moment. I began to see the energy of the body moving more in lines than circles.
As I progressed, I began to think more about the certification test that I would take at the end of the program. I studied the standard protocol so that I could do it without forgetting anything. I practiced diligently with other students. I wanted to continue to practice “pure ZB,” not simply my old style of massage with a few new techniques thrown in.
Now that it’s been a few months since I passed the test, I’m still doing soft tissue massage, but bringing Zero Balancing into more and more of the session. The way to merge work with soft tissue and work with bone isn’t always the most obvious, because clients have different needs and preferences; thus, the more ZB I bring in, the more I find I mix it up, mix it in, then step back and watch the client for signs of deep relaxation. Then I come back in and touch the body again, in a new way, from a different angle.
Everything happens in its own time, its own rhythm. The pause that was an awkward excuse to try to remember what comes next becomes a graceful moment of breath and allowing. This collection of techniques is becoming an elegant dance that we do together. Touch, hold. Separate, breathe. Then touch again.
Won’t you join me for this beautiful dance?
Rachel Creager Ireland, LMT 