ZK Massage

What is Nervous System Centered Reflex Therapy?

Nervous system-based reflex therapy focuses on stimulating specific reflex pathways in the body to promote relaxation and healing. This approach works with the body's natural reflexes and the nervous system to release tension and support pain relief. By targeting areas and structures like the nerves and tendon, and using holds, stretches, and joint mobilization, this therapy creates a prediction error in the body. A surprise to the system that interrupts the usual patterns of tension and stress, allowing the nervous system to reset and adopt healthier responses.

What is a reflex?

A reflex is an automatic response that your body makes to certain stimuli without you having to think about it. For example, when a doctor taps your knee and it kicks out, that's a reflex. Reflexes also are how we hold tension, both helpful and not. Reflexes help protect your body and keep it functioning properly by reacting quickly to changes in your environment. In Nervous System-Based Reflex Therapy (NSCRT) , these reflexes are targeted to help retrain and reorganize the body.

How is it different than traditional Massage?

Traditional massage focuses on the individual muscles of the body. NSCRT goes beyond this by working with the specific mechanisms that directly control held stress, pain, and tension, such as mucles tendons, nerves, and the nervous system as a whole. Traditional massage often uses a "no pain, no gain" approach, which can temporarily relieve pain but may also create an alarm response in the body, potentially leading to more pain and stress later. In contrast, NSCRT works with the body and nervous system as a whole, speaking its language to bring felt awareness to all parts of the body and promote integration and overall well-being.

What to Expect

Zachary, a Licensed Massage Therapist in New York State, brings a unique blend of dance, movement, and physical theatre background to his practice. With a deep understanding of the body's somatic experience and extensive anatomical knowledge, Zachary offers therapeutic evidence-informed bodywork that is nervous system centered.

Zachary's approach aims to calm the nervous system, align with the body's natural rhythms, and facilitate recalibration and release. His sessions bring conscious awareness to all areas of the body, creating a bridge between mind and body.

During each session, Zachary employs flowing strokes, breathwork, compression, stretching, holds, and joint mobilizations to support the body's innate intelligence and healing processes. Customized to individual needs, he adjusts the pressure and techniques based on session goals and specific structures being addressed. Zachary's gentle yet deliberate approach ensures a profound experience without causing pain or hindering the patient's breath.

Zachary strongly believes in collaborating with the body, working alongside it rather than imposing upon it. This approach promotes overall health and well-being while relieving chronic tensions and pain that may be held within the body. Experience Zachary's transformative bodywork and discover a renewed sense of balance and vitality.

Schedule Your Session

If you can’t find a day or time that works for you or have further questions, please reach out via email

info@zkbodywork.com

About Zachary

I come to bodywork from a many splintered path. While no direct line can be drawn, perhaps a semblance of sense can be made from the various twists and turns, retreats and returns in my life. The clearest route I can pull apart with direct hindsight is finding my way to New York City from the west coast, striking out to be an actor. Once arrived I found a passion for physical theatre. Exploring dance and movement as a means of telling story. Discovering elements of eccentric expression from within the very cells of my familiar shape. Was that always there within me? The body began to become a space of wonder for me.

This led me to Chiang Mai to learn Thai massage, a modality of massage that utilizes acupressure and assisted yoga poses and stretches. There I also discovered a love for contact improv. An improvised dance where one body shapes and forms around and/with another, listening and flowing together as one.

Transitioning to my massage school training, I learned more specific and traditional strokes and techniques, shrinking the dance down to the fingers, the hands, and the arms, but never losing the flow. While the dance is diminished in size and shape there is still a conversation being had between bodies. A story that is told. One that requires intuitive presence and listening.

Many paths converging into one moment and body.