If you want to shave years off your appearance, gain energy and feel great, the Balance Center in Palo Alto has a simple solution: stand up straight. If that sounds too good to be true, you haven’t met Jean Couch, the co-owner of the Balance Center, whose youthful presence and upright posture make it impossible to believe she is 72.
Going beyond yoga to solve back pain
The Balance Center is at 560 Oxford Avenue in Palo Alto
Tucked into as small building on Oxford Street off El Camino Avenue, the Balance Center is working to create a new paradigm of back health called ‘spinefulness,’ which focuses on using the body’s natural alignment to relieve pain and improve health.
“My vision when I started was to change the world by letting people know they could be stress-free in their bodies,” Jean explains. “My approach involves a huge re-education in what is required to be strong- people think it’s about muscle strength, but really it’s all about alignment and relaxation.”
Jean started her career as a yoga teacher and wrote “The Runner’s Yoga Book” in 1979, a guide to stretching for runners that has been in print an astonishing 35 years. But despite her reputation as a nationally known yoga teacher, Jean found that she still had persistent sciatica, a chronic back pain caused by spinal compression. Determined to get herself healthy, Jean studied the techniques of Noelle Perez, who developed an approach to solving back pain that focuses on getting the spine straight, or as they say in France, ‘aplomb.’
The Balance Center draws students from Palo Alto and across the country
Jean opened the Balance Center in 1992 and has been drawing students from across Palo Alto, the Bay Area and around the country for workshops and weekly ‘balance yoga‘ classes for over 20 years.
Jenn Sherer with a middle school student at the Balance Center
Five years ago, Jenn Sherer, a Stanford grad and mother of three came to the Balance Center seeking relief for back pain and became so passionate about alignment that she is now a co-owner. “I feel 20 years younger than I did when started,” she said. “Being balanced physically helps me stay present and balanced in my relationships as well.”
The Balance Center works with private clients in addition to classes and workshops, including families who are looking to improve posture and back health, and athletes hoping that better alignment will lead to better performance.
90% of students report a reduction in pain – works for athletes too
Students keep coming to the Balance Center because the results are remarkable. In a review of 300 evaluations, a startling 90% of Balance Center clients reported at least a 50% reduction in pain after just 10 hours of instruction.
“We have one student who is a high school swimmer,” Jenn said. “We helped her lengthen her muscles through alignment and relaxation and she has shaved precious seconds off her personal record in the pool.”
upcoming classes and workshops at the Balance Center
Said Krista Whelan, a world-class triathlete who completed a workshop at the Balance Center, “Through Spinefulness, I no longer have any back, sciatica or bunion pain. I set a world record my first year of working with the Balance Center and went on to race pain free. I now train pain free, and continue to work on my form to increase efficiency. My stress-induced asthma gone, and I am more relaxed about everything in my life.
It’s estimated that 80% of Americans will suffer from some kind of back pain, so there is constant demand for the services of the Balance Center. The need is growing in Palo Alto as people spend more time hunched over laptops, video games and mobile devices.
Educating schools, hospitals and more about the need for back alignment and balance
Jean and Jenn have brought their approach to spine health to a range of places where people sit and stand for work, including Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford Medical Center, Google, and schools including Escondido and Ohlone. They are working to educate physical therapists about alignment to better support people who are seeking help for chronic back and neck pain.
Said Darlene Frank, a writer, “Before I came to the Balance Center I had severe pain in my forearms, elbows, wrists and hands and had tried physical therapy and bodywork, with minimal relief. As soon as I saw the Intro Class slide show, I knew Spinefulness was the answer. I am now able to work pain-free at the computer, and my lifestyle is no longer limited because of pain…Balance has brought me relief from pain and given me the tools and knowledge to prevent pain. It has made a profound difference in my life.”
Learn more about the Balance Center
To learn more about the Balance Center or sign up for a workshop, visit the website or drop by at 560 Oxford Avenue in Palo Alto.
