What do I mean by "Creating Balance~ In You Body-In Your Life"?
 by  Nita Keesler

Starting with "the body"

Scientifically, there is a word for "balance in the body" called "homeostasis", which means, essentially, a state of "equilibrium". You can also think of proportion and symmetry when referring to balance in the body.

Please also see "posture" segments in FAQ and Self Empowerment sections. Another way to look at balance is Newtown's Law, "For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action".

Because of our daily habits, postures, biomechanics (how we move our body), previous injuries, how we hold our bodies while under stress, (do you clench your jaw or crunch your shoulders?) These can all cause dysfunctional patterns and distortions in our bodies. Seemingly innocent habits can create this: Over-compensating for an injury, carrying a heavy purse or briefcase on the same side, carrying a child on the same hip repeatedly, a man's wallet in his back pocket, holding a phone in between ear and shoulder, not paying attention to proper posture (see photos). Even emotional stances such as the typical "shy posture" and guarding responses. All of these habits can contribute to distortions in the body's symmetry.

Because of "fascia" (see FAQ), an injury that begins in your left shoulder can affect your opposite hip, which can in turn affect the leg. That shoulder, of course, can also affect the neck. Tense neck and shoulder muscles many times create headaches.  (Yes, you can take a pill for the headache...but that merely masks the symptom. The cause is still there. Even receiving massage, while it is helping the
"cause" of the headache...the tight muscles that's only half the work. What we do during the rest of our life has an even bigger impact. Correcting the habits that contribute to the tight muscles will have even longer lasting results. As mentioned throughout my writings, one massage cannot undo 20 years of abuse, neglect, and poor posture.

Repetitive motions and postures...think of a dentist, pedicurist, mechanic, carpenter, hairstylist, anyone who works with computers...athletics with repetitive movements like tennis, golf and pitching, and other sports injuries), and playing musical instruments.  Even knitting a lot!!!

How can I help you with this?
First, I help you to become aware of what is causing the "imbalance" in your body. AWARENESS IS KEY. Once you are aware of a problem, and then of what is causing the problem, (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually) you can MAKE THE CHOICE to correct it. But you need to make the choice first. (see "creating your reality). I can take measurements to see if these habits, injuries and postures have caused a shoulder or hip to be high or rotated, and if your head and hips are in the correct position. (often, just knowing the posture you are in most often is helpful. I will then massage and stretch the "shortened" muscles for longer duration than the "lengthened" muscles. (If one muscle group is shortened, the opposite has to be lengthened, (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). Picture someone who is round-shouldered. The chest muscles are shortened, back muscles are lengthened. However, they will probably feel the pain in the back because the muscles are being pulled taut, like a rubber band.

I will also guide you through simple stretches to do at home between sessions.
It is important to take responsibility for your own health and well-being.
*Take time out (for 1-2 minutes) every 1/2 hour to stretch.
*Whatever position you find yourself in most often, stretch in the opposite position.
*Take time in the am (when you hit "snooze!") and the pm (as you are settling down for bed) to breathe deeply and to stretch. We can learn so much from pets! They stretch often; and when you breathe imagine you are filling up a balloon on the inhale ~ just like a dog or a child, lots of times we breathe in and suck in our bellies like an old cartoon! Instead, imagine your belly like balloon filling up with the air.
Balance In Your Life

What is Balance to you? The best way for me to describe what I mean by this is to give you a variety of examples of imbalance and for us to realize that there is a happy medium to these examples. While this list may seem lengthy, these are just a few examples! I am sure you can come up with many more!
 

Side note: To me, the happy medium here is called sharing . In my world, when everyone gives from the heart, everyone receives. People are much more likely to be happy to help out when you are a giving and appreciative kind of person yourself. But it is also important to allow yourself to receive. This gives the other person the joy of being able to give from their heart. Please note: I use the word receive and not take very different, indeed.
 

Some People___________	While others_____________
Stay in unhealthy relationships long Past due, to the point of possibly Losing themselves	Decide never to get involved too deeply to avoid getting hurt

(In either instance, I believe when we do this we are not being true to ourselves instead we are acting out of fear.)
 

Won t listen to that little voice that Is encouraging them to go for their Dreams Impulsive buyers, not needing or wanting the item. Care way too much about what think Paranoid Always moving; on the go missing their life! Don t believe in their talents, abilities and skills, therefore making the world miss out on some pretty spectacular stuff! Dependent/Codependent	Flit off on any new venture without feeling whether or not it is right for them. Won t even buy new underwear that is or wanting t thinking it too frivolous Just don t care others think No awareness/oblivious Oops! Didn't t mean to sit on ya! (still missing life) Are completely grandiose in their self-absorption and try to make people wonder how they ever got along without them before! Excessively independent etc.
(Interdependence is the key here.)
Blame the "World" Live only for "ME"	Blame themselves Live their lives for someone/everyone else

My list could probably go on for millennia! But I'm sure you get the idea. This is the point where we take a look at our own lives and decide Where am I out of balance?
Does anything on this list ring true for you? Perhaps you found your happy medium in many of these, perhaps you are not ready to look at things you may need to change or steps you may need to take and are resistant to some of them. This is fine. Everything happens as it should, at the right time. Maybe you are A-Okay with the list I have provided, but have some of your own to add to it.

I am not one to tell ANYONE that they NEED to change.
As I stated in the beginning, it s Your Choice, Your Decision. If you feel out of balance or that something is missing, or lacking a sense of freedom and being grounded, or something doesn't t feel right , these are clues that changes may need to be made, choices available need to be considered.

An image that I love is the saying, needing wings to fly, but roots to ground you .

If you feel that you aren't t being true to yourself (and therefore aren't t being true to others in your life), if you feel like you can t seem to accomplish what you want in life it is time to be more aware. Aware of yourself. Aware of your habits/thought patterns. Aware of what makes you truly happy, sad, joy filled, angry, depressed. Aware of your True Path.

It is time to realize that you can choose another emotion, reaction or response, or to fully express the emotion that you need to constructively. It is time to realize that you have so many more choices available to you that you never considered before. Remember your dreams!
If you are aware of all these things and want to feel more fulfilled and alive, to live and not just co-exist with everyone then it is time to create balance in your life.
The first step begins with this awareness, then the intention of what you want to achieve. Conceive, Believe, Achieve. Then a willingness to step out of your comfort zone, make the changes and be open to all the gifts life has to bring you. And remembering that the gifts don't always come in the most beautifully wrapped packages!
Many of the things I now consider true gifts, absolutely did NOT feel like that at the time. But each event and circumstance makes us stronger, especially if we are able to keep that openness and trust in life.
One more important thing to remember, is that life is a process. There is always more to learn, and new challenges to face. Courage doesn't t mean not being afraid, it means to be able to do something in spite of the fear.