My Journey into the Art of Engagement: Zero Balancing Workshop Reflections
I finished a 4-day workshop called Forms and Fulcrums 1: The Art of Engagement in Zero Balancing, taught by Michael Oruch. To say I’m feeling deeply moved would be an understatement. Michael Oruch, a beloved teacher and practitioner of Zero Balancing for nearly 30 years, he is the kind of teacher you know you’ll remember forever. He studied under the founder of Zero Balancing, Fritz Smith, and has since brought his own blend of wisdom, artistry, and the practice of Qigong into his teaching. This combination makes for a workshop that’s not just about learning the technicalities of Zero Balancing, but also about deeply connecting with ourselves and, through that connection, with our clients.
Michael teaches us that "we are only able to engage our clients to the degree we ourselves are engaged." To me, this means that the more centered, balanced, and at ease I am in my own body during a session, the more my client will feel that sense of calm, grounded presence as well. It’s an ongoing reminder that my own state directly influences the space I create for my clients. If I’m holding tension or struggling with my own alignment, that’s what will be communicated, consciously or not. But when I come to the table calm and balanced, that creates a space where healing can happen more freely and deeply.
This workshop has really emphasized proper form and finding ease in our bodies. Zero Balancing isn’t supposed to be hard work for the practitioner—it should flow, almost effortlessly. Fritz Smith, the founder of Zero Balancing, often said, “If you feel like you are working too hard, you are.” Michael has been teaching us to tune into our bodies, find the ease in our movements, and not push. So often, as bodyworkers, we think we need to exert force or strain to help our clients feel better. Michael’s approach is the opposite: He teaches us how to approach the body with presence and intentionality, rather than force. This is where the integration of Qigong comes in.
Qigong is an ancient practice that focuses on the cultivation and movement of energy, and it’s a perfect complement to Zero Balancing. Michael’s teaching shows us how to ground and center ourselves by moving from the lower dantian—a concept from Eastern practices. In Qigong, the dantian refers to three energetic centers in the body, and the lower dantian is considered the foundation. It’s where our sense of being, grounding, and connectedness to ourselves resides. When we work from this place, we create a strong, centered foundation, which makes it easier to engage with others in a more present and mindful way.
The lower dantian corresponds to the lower chakras, grounding us to the earth and our physical bodies. The middle dantian is related to our heart and solar plexus chakras, balancing our emotional energy. The upper dantian, located around the third eye, is where our connection to the spiritual or intuitive realm resides. Michael teaches us to connect to this lower dantian to find stability and ease within ourselves, which then flows into how we engage with our clients and our surroundings.
But beyond just the technicality of form, this workshop has been profoundly transformative on a personal level. Zero Balancing has truly changed my life, not just as a practitioner, but as a person. It’s a modality that goes beyond physical touch—it’s an entire way of existing in the world, and it’s changed how I show up for myself and for others. For so long, I lived outside my body—disconnected, numb, and often unaware of the ways I was pushing myself through life. I’ve carried symptoms of complex PTSD for most of my life, and for many years, I didn’t even realize how much of my existence was shaped by that trauma.
The past seven years have been a journey of awakening—becoming more aware of how dysfunctional and unhealthy my ways of moving through the world were. I’ve done a lot of inner work, and while much of that has been healing, it wasn’t until I began practicing Zero Balancing over the past 18 months that I’ve felt a real, lasting connection to my own body.
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.
I’m still processing all of the wisdom I’m receiving in this workshop, and I’m excited to continue growing both as a practitioner and as a person. But for now, I just want to share this: Zero Balancing isn’t just a technique—it’s a way of being.