“Safety is not the absence of threat. It is the presence of connection.”
— Dr. Stephen Porges

It lingers in our bones, our nervous systems, our quiet moments—in the ways we seek approval, shrink ourselves, or silence our truth just to feel accepted, included, protected.

A plant dieta is a spiritual and shamanic practice rooted in Indigenous Amazonian healing traditions, where plants are seen as sentient beings and teachers.

Dedicating oneself to a dieta is an act of devotion—a reciprocal exchange between human and plant spirit. It’s a journey of deep listening, where one offers prayers, songs, movement, poetry, and presence in return for the plant’s wisdom. In this sacred relationship, the plant clears, heals, teaches, and aligns us with our true essence.

Our nervous systems are wired for connection. Healing isn’t just an individual process—it’s relational. This is the power of co-regulation—the way our bodies sync with others, the way a grounded presence can calm an activated system, the way attunement allows us to soften into safety.

For so many of us, safety wasn’t modeled. We learned to self-regulate in isolation, to override our needs, to survive without the steady presence of a regulated other. But healing invites us to experience something different: to be met, to be held in presence, to feel the resonance of another nervous system reminding us—we are safe.

Her story mirrors the wound of a world built on patriarchy, obedience, and sacrifice at the expense of the feminine. A world where daughters were meant to be quiet, compliant, endlessly giving. A world where the cost of setting boundaries was rejection.

Winter is showing me it’s okay to rest. I don’t have to push or strive. I’ve spent so much of my life in survival mode, but now? I’m learning how to simply be. To pause. To trust that this slower season is part of the cycle of growth.

It’s hard to put into words, but Zero Balancing has allowed me to experience myself in a way that is deeply compassionate and connected. It’s like I’ve finally found the ability to show up for myself in a way I had never experienced before. Through this practice, I’ve learned to hold myself with more presence, more tenderness, and more patience. I’ve learned that it’s okay to slow down, to feel, and to listen. Most importantly, I’ve learned that my own healing journey can only move forward when I am grounded in my own self-awareness and centered in my own body.

Every time I work on a client, I feel more deeply attuned to this process. The art of engagement that Michael teaches us in this workshop isn’t just about the physical techniques or the correct form; it’s about being fully present in the moment, in our bodies, and in the space we create for healing to unfold.

To me, Zero Balancing is a transformative modality because it has changed not only how I practice but also how I live my life. It has taught me how to come back home to my body in a way that feels nourishing, compassionate, and deeply healing. And I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to share that same gift with others.

In a studio or clinic, the tendency is to rush back into your routine, often before you’ve had a chance to fully absorb the benefits of the session. The traffic, the commute, the busy street outside—it all disrupts the peace you’ve just cultivated.

At home, you can take the time to let the effects of the session linger. You’ve already made the investment in yourself—why not create space for the healing process to deepen? Make some tea, light a candle, or indulge in a nourishing meal. Journaling or meditating can help integrate the bodywork experience, giving your mind and body the time to truly settle.

By staying home, you honor your body’s wisdom and give yourself permission to rest in whatever way feels right. The benefits don’t need to end as soon as the session is over. This is your time.

At the heart of Zero Balancing is the idea that the body’s bones and energy fields are deeply interconnected. The technique involves skilled touch to assess the body's energy patterns and apply subtle pressure to restore balance, often working along energy pathways and points related to the spine and chakra system.

The heart is not just a physical organ. It’s multidimensional. It’s connected to everything, to every part of us. When we tune into the heart, we tap into a wisdom that is both ancient and infinite.

I wish things had been different for her. I wish she could have felt the compassionate support of a community that helped her understand that cancer is not a personal failing. I longed to see her surrounded by love and encouragement, able to be gentle with herself and let go of fear and judgment.

Fire cider is an apple cider vinegar infusion of herbs that boost our digestive juices keeping our immune system functioning efficiently, especially during the cold winter months

I encourage you to explore the practices of our ancestors, those that lived in accordance with the rhythms of nature. There is much wisdom to be found and who knows what you will discover?! For example, I learned that my Korean ancestors visited the JjimJilBang or the bathhouse as a way to honor their bodies during the seasonal changes. Communal soaks in baths is how they connected with themselves, their families, and their community. They would unwind in the soaks and saunas, release and renew with a Korean body scrub, and find nourishment in warm soups while connecting with one another. This is now one of my favorite fall time rituals; to spend a day at the Korea bathhouse with my husband so that we can slow down, decompress and rejuvenate 💖.

As I continued to dive into alternative healing and explore spiritual practices (yoga, Ayurveda and shamanism), my understanding of holistic spiraled outward. Now it includes living in right relationship with all beings, living in tune with Mother Nature (her rhythms and cycles), and living harmoniously and in balance.

Zero Balancing as a bodywork has rooted these principles in my practice. It’s simply about balance in being, functioning from the core self and living in alignment with heaven and earth.