How does Zero Balancing work

asks Archie Mac:

A. Zero Balancing has been described as massage with your clothes on, therapy without the talk and meditation without the mantra.

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Q. Sounds like fun - how come I haven't heard of it before
A. It's only been around since the mid-70s and is much more popular in the US, although it's starting to catch on here.

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Q. Where does it come from
A. Zero balancing was developed by US doctor, osteopath and acupuncturist Dr Fritz Smith. He describes it as the first technique to truly integrate the Eastern concept of energy flow with a Western understanding of body structure. It works on the basis that the body has unseen energy fields and aims to balance your energy and your physical body.

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Q. How does it do that
A. Energy, goes the theory, has its own anatomy, physiology and pathology. This concept is understood in the East but not accepted by most conventional Western practitioners. 'ZeeBee' practitioners are trained to recognise, interpret or feel their way around these energetic pathways and to use fulcrums (or pivotal points) that are created in the body.

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Q. Does it hurt
A. The practitioners use gentle finger pressure. The touch is deep but not at all painful. Zero balancing aims to put you back in touch with your body and you become aware of how and where you hold stress in your body.

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Q. What's it good for
A. For a start, it's ideal for those who feel they can't bare either their body or their soul. It can relieve muscular-skeletal problems and has had some success with back and neck pain, migraine and stress-related problems. Sporting types love it for strains and sprains. What it's best at, apparently, is clearing energy 'blockages': almost anything - from physical injuries to emotional trauma - affects our energy 'body'. An injury may heal, but the energy could remain twisted or stuck. An emotional shock, too, can cause long-lasting physical stress and strain.

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Q. What won't it work for
A. It can't help with active cancer, ME, MS or Parkinson's, epilepsy which is not controlled by medication.

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Q. Where can I find a qualified practitioner
A. Zero Balancing is a professional therapy. Before being accepted for training practitioners have to hold recognised qualifications in other forms of bodywork - such as osteopathy, acupuncture, physiotherapy, chiropractic or Rolfing. Visit the Zero Balancing Association UK to find a practitioner.

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By Sheena Miller