I believe that bodywork is an art as well as a science. When I first learned massage, I was taught that I was using pressure for the purpose of soft tissue manipulation. However, soon I realized that unless the client lets go, there is no lasting progress or transformation. At that point I began to explore more modalities and ideas for facilitating people letting go of their tension and pain from the inside out. I began to consider what kinds of touch and session design optimized the highest benefit for each individual. This led to the study, practice and eventual teaching of structural bodywork, cranio-sacral therapy, “Deep Massage: The Lauterstein Method,” and Zero Balancing.

ZERO BALANCING

60 minutes | $120

The deepest tensions within us live deeper than just in the muscles.  Over time, tension accumulates and can also sink into the deepest layers of the body and mind, those associated with the skeletal and nervous systems.  This causes restriction in the core of our structure, affecting how we feel and move. It affects the deepest flows of energy within us.

To help relieve the deepest held tensions, Zero Balancing is a singularly effective therapy.  It is a hands-on form of bodywork which works with the deepest structures and energy in the body.  Zero Balancing initially arose out of insights and practices evolved by its founder, Dr. Fritz Smith, drawn from his experience as an osteopathic MD, Rolfer, with a Masters in Five-Element Acupuncture and student of Asian meditative traditions.

The Benefits of Zero Balancing include:

• Improved structural alignment

• Relief from chronic and/or acute muscle tension

• Heightened energy level

• Deeper relaxation 

• More graceful, easier movement

• More peace of mind

• Heightened creativity

• Greater emotional balance

• More self-acceptance

• An uplifting of Spirit

• Relief from pain that other modalities may not have fully relieved

Deep Massage: The Lauterstein Method, as distinct from  “deep tissue”, recognizes that our tension is created not by tissues, but rather by the nervous system, or more broadly, by our energy.  Just as lights turn on or off only through the flow of electricity, so our muscle tension turns on or off depending on what the unconscious mind/energy tells them to do. 

Using a high quality of touch, rather than just a high quantity of pressure results in deeper therapeutic benefits with less stress on both the giver and receiver.

The Benefits of Deep Massage: The Lauterstein Method include:

• Greater length in the muscles and fascia

• Decompression of the body under tension

• Helps the clients let go of chronic psychological armoring

• Release of tension held in the muscles, fascia and the sympathetic nervous system

• Promotion of bodymind learning/somatic education

• Improved alignment

• Heightened energy

• Deeper relaxation

• Great ease in movement

• Inner peace and greater emotional balance

• An uplifting of Spirit

Who are my bodywork sessions a best fit for?

I primarily work with people who are already familiar with the mindbody connection — massage therapists, acupuncturists, yoga practitioners, Pilates and other exercise instructors, psychotherapists, sophisticated athletes, etc. I often work with people who have problems that have not been resolved by other forms of bodywork, and hold onto the hope that an artful touch approach that combines structure and energy may be most effective.

I primarily teach and speak about Zero Balancing, Deep Massage, and related topics. I have taught workshops since 1983 throughout the U.S., in Costa Rica, and in England.

General topics have included de-stressing through bodywork, the art as well as the science of massage and bodywork, the effects of bodywork on the spirit, the roles certain body parts and muscles play in our lives, not only in our movement and posture, the role of the nervous system in relaxation and self-nourishment, and in-services on holistic teaching methods.

My teaching and speaking philosophy draws inspiration from the philosopher Martin Buber who in his essay “The Education of Character” said, “It is not the educational intention, but it is the meeting that is educationally fruitful.”

I want to meet my students, audience, and clients where they are at, not with my intentions or agendas  When we come together and create an atmosphere that feels safe, clear, and kind, then learning takes place with almost no effort. And—it is fun and transformative without trying to be!

Interested in having me come
as a speaker or to teach a class?

I work one-on-one primarily with past students of Deep Massage and Zero Balancing.  Depending on the needs of the student, this may consist of an exchange, a supervised session, a demonstration, a session given with narration, a session qualifying the candidate for certification, or feedback session with guidance during and/or after the session.

The charge is the same as that for my therapeutic sessions—$120 per hour. (Sometimes longer than one hour is necessary.)

Ready to deepen your practice?

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand."

- Henri Nouwen