Okay, But What Is This Place? And Why These Services?

Let’s be real — when’s the last time you weren’t just getting through the day, but actually felt rested?  The kind of rest where your shoulders drop, you unclench your jaw, and your body finally exhales. A full-body sigh of relief.

That feeling is why we started Balanced Earth, but it didn’t just come out of nowhere.  Balanced Earth was born from real-life stress and struggle (a traumatic brain injury, cancer diagnoses, devastating losses of family and beloved pets). We’ve lived through those seasons of being completely drained, burned out, stretched beyond capacity. We know what it’s like to run on empty, emotionally and physically.

We learned (sometimes the hard way) that you can’t pour from an empty cup.

That lesson is what inspired everything we do. Balanced Earth isn’t about perfection or enlightenment. It’s about making space to restore yourself so you can keep showing up (for your family, your work, your life) without feeling like you’re running on fumes.

THREE THINGS

Janis and I are part of a weekly trivia team (called Kilty as Charged, courtesy of my Scottish husband) at the Chatterbox in Long Grove. One of our favorite trivia rounds is “Three Things,” where you figure out what seemingly unrelated items have in common.

So, here’s your round: Reiki. Reflexology. Vibrational Sound Therapy.
One uses gentle touch. Another uses sound and vibration. The third focuses on the feet.

What do they have in common? A lot more than you might think.

Each of these therapies is rooted in the belief that your body holds energy, and when that energy flows freely, you feel better. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. Instead of treating just symptoms, they view you as a whole person. Stress, emotions, and physical tension aren’t separate — they’re deeply connected. And these practices address all of it.

Here’s the important part: our bodies can’t heal when we’re stuck in stress mode.
Reiki, Reflexology, and Vibrational Sound Therapy help your nervous system switch from “fight or flight” into “rest and repair.”  Whether it’s a traffic jam, a full inbox, or forgetting your kid’s snack day, our systems are constantly activated. In a world that rarely shuts up, these therapies help turn down the noise so your body can rest — not just mentally, but at a cellular level.

And yes, they all feel really good.

We chose these modalities because we’ve experienced (personally and professionally) how effective they are.  They’re gentle, non-invasive, and deeply restorative. You don’t have to power through anything. You just show up, lie back, and let your body remember what balance feels like. 

• Reflexology stimulates pressure points in the feet that correspond to organs and systems in the body. It’s like a full-body tune-up, through your feet.
• Reiki works with your energy field, calming the mind and restoring emotional equilibrium by channeling universal life energy (Qi).
• Vibrational Sound Therapy uses singing bowls placed directly on the body. The sound and vibration move through your cells, creating a deep meditative state.

These services don’t just complement western medicine.  They complement each other (Reiki is sometimes woven into Janis’s reflexology sessions).  We’ve had clients fall asleep during Reiki, cry (in a good way) during Vibrational Sound Therapy, and come out of a reflexology session in awe of how the feet tell the story of your entire body.

AT THE HEART OF IT ALL…

These aren’t just services we offer. They’re practices that helped us survive hard things — and now they help us support others through theirs. Whether you’re dealing with daily overwhelm or something much bigger, we want you to know:

• You don’t have to feel exhausted all the time.
• You don’t have to carry it all alone.
• Self-care is not a luxury — it’s essential.
• You deserve a space to recharge — fully, deeply, and without guilt.

If that’s what you’re looking for, we’ve created a cozy spot for you.  In the end, we aren’t here to preach, we’re here to connect.  We don’t want to impress you; we want to empower you.

Have questions? Send them my way.

Deanna