Q&A: What does Zero Balancing feel like and how will I feel afterwards?

Before tackling this question, I'd like to first make it clear that every Zero Balancing session is different. Whilst what the therapist may do during the session may be more or less the same, the client's experiences and the outcomes are rarely - if ever - the same.

This is mostly because the client is different every time. I'm pretty sure that you the reader are aware that your feelings and mood changes from day to day and moment to moment. It is in this sense that the client is different. And, as a a result, how the client feels after each Zero Balancing session will differ depending on what's going on for them in their lives at the time they receive their session. The same is also true for the therapist. And it's the meeting of these two individuals that determines the client's experience and outcome of the session.

There are, however, some general themes.

So what does Zero Balancing (ZB) feel like?

ZB feels safe - first and foremost Zero Balancing creates a feeling of safety. There's a specific way that this is trained and cultivated, and it really is what allows the client to relax. Without safety, deep relaxation is impossible. It's also hugely important that those who have had their boundaries breached through touch (physical and sexual abuse, in particular) are able to experience touch that does not want anything from them and remains non-judgemental and compassionate. For such individuals this type of touch can be profoundly healing.

ZB is gentle - From the outside ZB looks like a series of gentle stretches and holds performed on the clients body. There are no abrupt motions or forceful manipulation. Zero Balancing practitioners work in co-operation with the body. If anything hurts it is to the detriment of the recipient, the therapist and the working relationship between the two. So we work gently. Indeed, I actively encourage my clients to tell me if something doesn't feel good or hurt good (as opposed to hurt bad). I will always respect their wishes and adjust my touch accordingly.

ZB is relaxing - with the sense of safety and the gentle touch, it's all too easy to feel at peace and to relax. Clients often relax so deeply that they lose track of time. Some report that although they didn't sleep, they saw dream imagery or experienced those pre-sleep twitches.

ZB feels good - it's no secret in the ZB community that it feels good to receive. In fact, I've been on the receiving end of sessions that feel just so fantastic words fail to come anywhere near the experience of it. Sometimes though, a spot can feel tender or sore, but in a good way. If it ever really hurts then voice this to the practitioner, rather than grin and bare it.

ZB demonstrates the unity of the body - during a session a client may experience, for example, when working on their foot they get a sensation in their neck. Such phenomena which demonstrate the interconnectedness of the body are relatively common. Indeed, one can even experience how a certain old memory or emotion is stored in a particular location!
 
ZB can give insights - Insights happen. Sometimes this is to do with the client's past and at other times it's to do with the present. For example, memories can come to the surface of conscious awareness in such a way that it's seen in a new light, or creative solutions can be found for current projects or   problems.

ZB can stir emotions - Positive and negative emotions can come to the surface unexpectedly during the sessions. When the client feels safe and deeply relaxed, emotions can rise to the surface without much warning. This is a good thing. Often these are unacknowledged or unprocessed emotions and once they run their course then the client feels much better after.



And how will you feel afterwards?

Relaxed - the most common outcome is that the client feels very relaxed after. Their tensions have eased and they feel more comfortable in their skin.

Taller - perhaps the second most common outcome is that the client gets up and says they feel taller! The therapist focuses on easing tensions and reducing any sense of stagnation in the body, and to do this we often introduce a sense of length - especially to the spine and hips. Presumably this is what makes the clients feel taller. In some cases, they look it too :)

Lighter - our tensions can really weigh us down, whether those tensions are physical, emotional or mental doesn't matter. The sense of lightness arises when those tensions are eased, especially the emotional ones. Clients who experience this always walk out of their sessions very different to how they came in!

Re-energised - holding onto tensions takes a lot of energy, so as they ease you can feel so much more energised. Also, some clients who enter very deep states of relaxation often get up feeling as though they've just woken up from a very refreshing and nourishing sleep. They bounce off the couch and feel ready to take on whatever life throws at them.

Tired - it's undeniable that some people feel quite tired after the session. In some cases, this may be because they've been tired for a long time and have used stimulants, such as caffeine, to keep them going. ZB therefore gets them back in touch with themselves, so they can experience how tired they truly are. Other instances this happens include if the ZB is later on in the day - during an evening session, for example - or after a bad night's sleep and the post-ZB tiredness is therefore natural. More rarely, this occurs when there has been a big outpouring of emotion and the client is left somewhat drained from the experience. This is usually short lived, and the client bounces back stronger.

Reduced pain - stiff backs, aching joints, headaches, digestive problems - these can all ease considerably during the session. Clients often only notice it when they start to move around again.

Resolution - this is related to when the client receives insights or has a cathartic emotional experience during the session (they can happen after the session too!). Old emotional wounds that have been left untended can finally heal and that chapter in your life can finally be put to rest. The sense of resolution and relief this brings is a real gift.


These are some of the most common experiences during a Zero Balancing session and immediately after. The changes that can happen in someone's life as a result of receiving regular Zero Balancing sessions is something I'll talk about in a future blog post. And there are of course other experiences and outcomes, so the above list is by no means complete - just the most commonplace.

What do you think? Does Zero Balancing sound like something you might benefit from or enjoy? If so, then get in touch to arrange an appointment in Edinburgh or find a ZBer near you.