The Lasting Legacy of Dr. Fritz Smith and Dr. Aminah Raheem

Note: This article was originally published in The Journal of Transformative Touch in May 2025. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/ijzbtt/vol4/iss1/3/

Dr. Fritz Smith and Dr. Aminah Raheem were pioneers in the field of holistic bodywork, whose
innovative techniques, Zero Balancing (ZB) and Insight Acupressure (formerly Soul Lightening
International), helped shape integrative medicine practitioners around the globe. Their marriage
not only symbolized a personal union but also a professional synergy, with their complementary
therapies offering a yin-yang approach to mind-body healing.

Historical Context and Foundational Contributions

The 1970s through 1990s marked a transformative period in manual therapies, with many
groundbreaking techniques emerging and being taught through the Esalen Institute and various
locations across Europe. During this era, Dr. Smith and Dr. Raheem developed their respective
modalities, drawing from diverse traditions. This included Osteopathy (a system of manual
manipulation of the body structure for improved function), Rolfing (a bodywork therapy that
works with fascia and connective tissue), Worsley’s Classical Five Element Acupuncture,
Transpersonal Psychology (a form of process work that explores spirituality, unity, and
conscious awareness of something larger than oneself taught by Arnold Mindell), and Jin Shin
Jyutsu (an ancient form of acupressure revived by Master Jiro Murai in Japan). Their friendship
with Dr. John E. Upledger and the Upledger Institute inspired them to bring structure to their
own certification programs and teaching format while maintaining their own unique
organizational structures of the Zero Balancing Health Association and Soul Lightening
International. Dr. Smith and Dr. Raheem focused on quietly training practitioners, bridging the
gap between Eastern and Western medicine, and working with the whole person.

Dr. Fritz Smith was an osteopathic physician who trained with Ida Rolf in Rolfing and J.R.
Worsley in Traditional Five Element Acupuncture. Dr. Smith’s fascination with quantum physics
principles, particularly the interplay between structure (particle) and energy (wave), led him to
create Zero Balancing, a modality that engages both the physical structure of the body while also
engaging energy and piezoelectric currents at the bone level. He was interested in helping
acupuncturists who had a working knowledge of how energy moves in the body, understand how
to manually handle the structure of the bones and joints. By reducing the tension at foundational
joints of the body, movement took less effort, freeing up available energy for other aspects of
life.

Zero Balancing uses fulcrums as the primary working tool, which is a special curved touch that
allows the body to balance around a point of contact. When fulcrums are applied at key locations
in the body, a field of tension is created with clear structural and energetic boundaries, so both
the practitioner and client know where their body ends and the other person’s body begins. This
point of contact where the two meet each other in a safe way is called interface touch. Dr. Smith
was able to work with both the energy body and structural body simultaneously with interface
touch, allowing the body’s innate wisdom to restore homeostasis to the whole person.

The ZB technique is performed with the client fully clothed while lying on a treatment table.
Sessions last between 30 to 45 minutes. The practitioner silently places fulcrums at locations
near the spine and joints where tension and restrictions to energy flows often occur. Following a
session, the person frequently notices improved posture, ease of movement, and a sense of
overall well-being and resilience. The body often goes through a period of recalibration over
several days as it adjusts to the new postural awareness, movement patterns, and healing
processes.

Dr. Aminah Raheem combined her expertise as a transpersonal psychologist and a Zero
Balancing instructor with her additional training in Jin Shin Jyutsu and Arnold Mindell’s Process
Oriented Psychology. She incorporated the principle of interface touch from Zero Balancing at
key acupressure points, which also induced expanded states of awareness and brought new levels
of awareness to internal processes (old patterns, trauma, and other memories) stored in the
client’s subconscious. Dr. Raheem recognized that talk therapy alone often failed to address
trauma rooted deeply within the body’s layers. Her work integrating these techniques became
known as Process Acupressure (PA), which emphasized dialogue and soul inquiry through
acupressure techniques that access the body’s innate wisdom. Dr. Raheem realized some
practitioners were drawn to the acupressure training without dialogue, so a Clinical Acupressure
(CA) path was developed for practitioners to learn how to manage symptoms and conditions
from a Five Elements model, the Meridians, and the Extraordinary Vessels (eight reservoirs of
energy that are more global that the individual meridian lines of energy). CA and PA were
commonly referred to as Soul Lightening Acupressure because of Dr. Raheem’s focus on soul
actualization (ability to connect into the wisdom of the soul). The work was renamed Insight
Acupressure in 2024.

The basic Soul Lightening/Insight Acupressure protocol has some similar aspects of a Zero
Balancing session, with the client fully clothed on a treatment table while receiving gentle
fulcrums. However, instead of focusing on the bones and joints, the practitioner’s attention is on
lightly holding two different acupressure points on the body, often on different acupressure
meridian flows. This allows the practitioner to feel in real time the flows of the meridians
coming into sync with each other. Clients drop into a Deep Sync or expanded states of
consciousness where emotions and trauma can be more easily accessed and processed. The
progression of the choice of acupressure points depends on the Five Element model and chosen
protocol based on symptoms or associations that need to be restored. The length of the session
also varies as the practitioner follows the process as it unfolds from secondary process (what is
unknown in the unconscious) to primary conscious awareness (what is known).

The Clinical Acupressure protocols restore balance to the whole person from an Extraordinary
Vessel perspective, releasing the vibrational imprints of the history stored in the body. These
vibrational patterns are related to a person’s past prenatal history, the present traumas acquired
throughout their life, and their future legacy. By adding processing (dialogue) while receiving
bodywork, practitioners learn how to assist clients in discovering various parts of their
personality, old metaprograms often formed in childhood, and ancestral patterns that influence a
person’s actions and health below the level of conscious awareness. Beginning level practitioners
learn to be with the client in the present moment (interface) without dialogue, while advanced
practitioners learn several techniques to progress a process for potential transformation through
soul inquiry (connecting with the soul or inner intuition for guidance) and Somato-emotional
release (release of emotional trauma held in the body).

Complementary Modalities: A Yin-Yang Approach

Zero Balancing uses one simple protocol, holding fulcrums that engage the structure and energy
simultaneously at key joints and ligaments of the body. The practitioner’s attention is on the
bones, allowing the pressure on bones to create piezoelectric currents in the crystalline structures
within the bones. This type of touch appears to induce a relaxation response. ZB is based on a
wellness model and restores overall balance and homeostasis to the client. The practitioner
typically works silently, allowing the client to drop into expanded states of awareness where
healing occurs. The practitioner also observes the client’s working signs, which may include
spontaneous breaths (hyperpnea), rapid eye movement and/or eye flutters, borborygmus (tummy
gurgles), changes in local tissue, and other indications that the client is switching from a
sympathetic stress response into a parasympathetic relaxation response. Advanced techniques
may be added to the basic protocol as the practitioner learns to work with fields of energy or how
to apply ZB principles to other parts of the body not typically addressed in the basic protocol.

Insight Acupressure offers many choices with a wide variety of treatment protocols compared to
Zero Balancing, with over 100 different protocols to address various conditions. Practitioners
spend time at the beginning of the session asking questions about what is happening in the
client’s life and where the client observes emotions or discomfort showing up in their body.
Practitioners then identify energetic imbalances using Five Element associations that are in
balance or out of balance physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Beginning
practitioners often choose a simple Basic Insight Acupressure protocol along with the Central
Channel Release, Chakra Balancing, and Grounding for a complete session. If the practitioner
identifies other imbalances not addressed with the Basic Protocol, then they choose a specific
acupressure protocol to treat the symptoms, the twelve meridians, the Five Elements, and/or the
eight Extraordinary Vessels. This allows the practitioner to address the root causes of dis-ease
and trauma. In addition, the practitioner may also use dialogue to draw out a process that comes
to a client’s awareness during treatment. Some clients prefer to do their own internal processing,
and the practitioner remains silent while using the acupressure protocols. The practitioner
remains flexible during the session, choosing from Clinical Acupressure, Process Acupressure,
or a combination of the two as the session unfolds. Clients may also be instructed in a few
acupressure points for self-care as a follow-up between sessions.

Both ZB and Insight Acupressure classes begin with a Pyramid Meditation, inspired by Dr.
Raheem’s visit to the Great Pyramid of Giza, which creates an energetic container for the class
connected between heaven and earth. Intentions are spoken into the class pyramid so that
learning will be fun, students will explore the material with curiosity and a beginner’s mind, and
they will hold each person with the highest personal regard. This ritual creates a safe space for
learning and helps classes flow smoothly.

Together, these two mind-body therapies provide a comprehensive framework for holistic
healing. They are distinctly different in their focus, which complements each other, yet they
overlap with shared principles of interface touch and working with energy and structure
simultaneously. Zero Balancing provides the structure of one simple protocol with optional
advanced techniques interwoven throughout the session and rare instances of dialogue, which
restores balance to the whole person. Insight Acupressure offers many choices of protocols in
addition to using dialogue for processing, requiring the practitioner to be flexible during the
session as it evolves. The practitioner learns to identify when an internal process is happening
and then follows the client’s secondary unconscious awareness as it becomes primary awareness
during the session. Dually trained practitioners may integrate Zero Balancing and Insight
Acupressure into their treatment approach at the same session or use them individually. They
may also incorporate other modalities such as massage, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture,
chiropractic, or essential oils.

Dr. Smith often encouraged new students to practice the pure form of ZB as they were learning
new techniques, instead of combining it with other modalities. He explained they would progress
from rote learning (memorizing the new information) to understanding what they were doing
and eventually embodying the technique. This allowed the new students to get out of their
thinking mind and be more focused on what they were feeling in their hands during a session.
Only then were they ready to integrate ZB techniques into their other treatment approaches in a
more effective manner. The same is also true for learning Insight Acupressure or any other
therapy technique.

Educational Pathways and Organizational Evolution

Both Zero Balancing and Insight Acupressure have evolved through structured educational
tracks. Practitioners from a wide variety of backgrounds incorporate these mind-body approaches
into their existing practices. This includes acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, massage,
nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, counseling, craniosacral therapy,
reiki and other integrative health modalities.

Zero Balancing offers foundational courses, advanced courses, and certification. The basic ZB
protocol is based on promoting wellness instead of treating symptoms and conditions. In addition
to ZB I & ZB II core classes, students pursuing certification can choose from classes such as
Geometry of Healing, Alchemy of Touch, Freely Moveable Joints, or Forms & Fulcrums.
Certification candidates complete a minimum of 100 hours of training and are strongly
encouraged to participate in study groups, receive mentoring sessions, and request touch
feedback sessions from other practitioners prior to doing a final checkout session with faculty.
Additional ZB classes have emerged over the years to progress the understanding of the basic
principles such as Touching the Whole Person, Verbal Fulcrums, Zero Balancing Expanded (two
classes: The Skull or The Viscera), Kinesthetic Signatures, The Art of Zero Balancing, Mastery
in Zero Balancing and other classes. Practitioners benefit from repeating classes with a
beginner's mind (approaching the material as if discovering it for the first time) while refining
their touch skills at a deeper level of awareness.

Dr. Smith retired from teaching following the 5th ZB Teacher Training (ZBTT5) in 2021. He
continued to inspire students by meeting with classes virtually and providing a personal word of
encouragement for each student up until the week of his death in May 2024. Dr. Smith
emphasized maintaining high standards of practice at “middle C” through the Zero Balancing
Touch Foundation, which holds the intellectual property of ZB and oversees the various ZB
organizations around the world.

• Zero Balancing Australasia: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan. zerobalancing.co.nz.
• Zero Balancing Europe: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland.
zerobalancing.ch and zerobalancing.es.
• Zero Balancing North America: Canada, Mexico, USA. zerobalancing.com.
• Zero Balancing UK: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. zerobalancinguk.org

Zero Balancing has been documented for over 50 years through published articles, case studies,
pilot studies and independent research. The most recent research can be found in The Journal of
Transformative Touch. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/ijzbtt/

Insight Acupressure offers a variety of courses, starting with a basic level Foundation
Certificate (50 hours) for Clinical Acupressure 1 and Process Acupressure 1A. Three distinct
professional certification paths are also available (300 hours each) for those who complete the
Foundation Certificate. Practitioners can also choose to take elective classes from the various
paths listed below based on personal interest and availability without pursuing certification.

• Process Acupressure (PA): Classes include Progressing Process, Parts & Personality,
Inner Child and Ancestral Healing.
• Clinical Acupressure (CA): Classes include the Meridians and Five Element Practicums
related to the season of the elements.
• Advanced Insight Acupressure: Those who complete either PA or CA certification
(preferably both) can pursue advanced certification. Classes include Extraordinary
Vessels, The Hologram, Transpersonal Integration, and other electives.

Dr. Raheem also developed an Acupressure for Anyone (A4A) series to teach laypeople and
caregivers several simplified versions of the acupressure formulas that they could use on
themselves and with family and friends. The A4A program was revised during the 2020
pandemic as the Good Points Self-Care program, which could be taught virtually through
demonstration. The A4A series includes the Seva Stress Release, developed as a gift of
compassionate service (“Seva” in Sanskrit) to reduce the impact of stress, shock, and trauma for
rescue workers at Ground Zero following the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. Nurses
find this release especially helpful in different clinical settings with patients. Published research
over the past 20 years with various patient populations shows that the Seva Stress Release
consistently reduces pain and anxiety. Practitioners can show clients how to use this release as a
home program between treatment sessions.

Dr. Raheem retired from teaching around 2018 but continued to connect with the Soul
Lightening community with monthly meditations and occasional lectures until the pandemic in
2020. The Soul Lightening International non-profit organization disbanded at the end of 2023.
Following Dr. Raheem’s passing in July 2023, her work transitioned to Insight Acupressure
under the Insight Acupressure Faculty Alliance in January 2024 with her family’s blessing. The
full curriculum remains intact while new programs are evolving, such as a certificate program for
Acupuncturists, an Acupressure Yoga program for Yoga Instructors and short courses in Pelvic
Stabilization and Harmonizing Yin and Yang (for reproductive, urinary, and hormonal health).

Legacy of Innovation

The influence of Dr. Smith and Dr. Raheem extends beyond their individual modalities; their
partnership exemplifies how integrative approaches using touch can address the whole person
(body, mind, emotions, and spirit). Zero Balancing’s structural focus on the bones and joints
combined with Insight Acupressure’s understanding of the meridian flows and dialogue skills
allows the practitioner to address a broader range of client conditions. Together, these modalities
provide a comprehensive framework to promote the restoration of health through deep relaxation
and expanded states of awareness while respecting each client’s innate capacity for healing.

The influence of Dr. Smith and Dr. Raheem’s partnership is evident to those who study both
modalities at advanced levels. Their mutual exploration of expanded states of consciousness,
interface touch, waveform patterns trapped in the body, and knowing when to use silence or
dialogue enriched both communities. The cross-fertilization of ideas fostered innovations and the
evolution of their work.

Practitioners who are dually trained in both Zero Balancing and Insight Acupressure often report
that the combination of the two therapies deepens their understanding of working with the whole
person. While the two therapies complement each other and have some shared techniques,
knowing the pure forms of each individual technique is just as important as knowing when and
how to integrate them in treatment.

We honor the legacy of Dr. Fritz Smith and Dr. Aminah Raheem by continuing their vision of a
holistic approach that integrates body, mind, emotions, and soul. Their legacy continues through
the many practitioners trained in Zero Balancing and Soul Lightening/Insight Acupressure and
the various organizations that uphold their commitment to research, education, and professional
standards.