Fourteen Years Later: What Remains, What Grew

There is a quiet unfolding that happens over time. What once felt uncertain begins to reveal its place, and with a little distance, it becomes possible to see not only what was lost, but what has grown.

May 18th is a date that lives quietly in the bones of this space.

Fourteen years ago, a four-alarm fire moved through Balance on Buffalo and changed everything in a matter of hours. It was a very real and very trying time.

When I look back now, the images remain vivid, and the smell is something I will never forget. What the fire did not destroy, the water used to fight it did, leaving behind only the brick walls and the staircase leading upstairs. At the time, I had just sold my home to purchase the building, and nearly everything I owned, both personally and professionally, was inside.

There was no roadmap for what came next, only the choice to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Even in those first moments, something important was already unfolding. I do not know his name, and unfortunately I never did learn it, but I think of him often. The fire chief shared that a rookie firefighter made the call to bring in a four-alarm response, and that decision is what saved the building.

The morning after, I received a call from Jennifer Rada, who was the owner of The Apple Clinic at the time. Without hesitation, she offered to clear out her office so that a colleague and I could continue offering massage therapy from her space. With the support of another colleague, Cindy VandenHouten, who provided a massage table and supplies, we were able to reopen the following Monday. The fire had happened on a Friday, and by Monday we were seeing clients again without canceling a single appointment.

About a month after the fire, I reached a point of overwhelm where navigating everything felt incredibly heavy, especially working through an insurance situation that had yet to provide something as basic as a copy of my policy, which had been lost in the fire. I found myself in my car, screaming out for help—to God, to the Universe—whatever name you might give it.

Almost immediately, my phone rang.

It was Jamie Zastrow, who at the time was the director of the Main Street program in Manitowoc, inviting me to meet with someone who specialized in helping small businesses move through disaster. That call created movement where things had felt stuck and brought clarity at a time when it was deeply needed.

Before there was a plan, there was support. Before anything was figured out, there was a way forward.

Looking back, that moment sits alongside all of the support that came forward during that time. There were many who stepped in during those early days and in the months that followed, some in visible ways and others more quietly, each one playing a part in helping Balance on Buffalo continue.

One day, after sorting through the ashes with the restoration company, I walked into Shooter Malone's, still covered in soot. Val Powers, the owner, took one look at me and said, “You look like you need a hot bowl of soup.” That bowl of soup felt like a lifeline in those days, a simple act of care that carried more than words.

Those are the moments that stayed with me.

Rebuilding took eight months, filled with decisions, long days, uncertainty, and a constant return to what mattered most. It would have been easy to close down or to harden through the experience, yet something else began to take shape—a steadiness and a willingness to meet what was in front of me and continue forward with as much clarity and grace as possible.

Over time, it becomes clear that nothing needs to be forced. When we soften and begin to lean toward what is in front of us, space opens, and within that space, something begins to shift.

Fourteen years later, I can look back and feel a deep sense of gratitude, not because the experience itself was something I would ever wish on anyone, but because of what has grown from it.

Balance on Buffalo has always been a labor of love, and like anything built with care over time, it has asked for presence, patience, and a commitment to continue doing the inner work—to listen, to refine, and to stay aligned with what feels true.

The way we hold space today is not separate from that experience; it has been shaped by it.

Each year, we feel the need to mark this anniversary and all that it holds for Balance on Buffalo. This month, we are offering a few ways to come in and experience what has grown here.

Because what remains, after everything, is this:

A place to pause.

A place to listen.

And a place where something new can quietly take shape.

With deep gratitude for your support,

Gina L. Armstrong

Balance on Buffalo

RISE FROM THE ASHES — MAY SPECIALS

Terms of Rise from the Ashes May Specials

Please request these specials when booking and confirm at checkout.

Offers cannot be combined with any other discounts, specials, memberships, or packages.

All sessions must be purchased and used within the month of May 2026.

No refunds or extensions.

Welcoming intro specials with Barb and Aaron are available through Saturday, May 16 at 5:00 PM.

Their schedules are filling quickly, and both are receiving wonderful feedback. If you have not had a chance to experience their work, this is a good time to come in.

Attuned Massage Therapy — 90 Minutes (Intro Special)

This session allows time for deeper, more focused work while supporting a full-body reset. Attuned Massage is guided by the therapist, using their skill and experience to respond to what your body is asking for.

Aaron works with a grounded, muscle-specific approach, incorporating deep tissue, myofascial techniques, assisted stretching, and trigger point therapy.

Barb blends therapeutic and subtle work, including craniosacral techniques and neuromuscular support to encourage balance and ease.

Each session includes time in the Quantum Breathing Room before or after your appointment.

Limited availability.

SoundSpace is our dedicated gathering place for sound, learning, and community experiences. Designed to accommodate larger groups, this welcoming environment hosts sound baths, yoga, meditation, drumming circles, breathwork, workshops, and special events offered by Balance staff and guest presenters.

Whether you are joining us for a restorative sound experience or a class that expands your understanding of wellness and presence, SoundSpace offers a beautiful place for the community to gather, explore new practices, and reconnect.

All SoundSpace offerings require pre-registration to reserve your place.

Release Your Intuition (Level II)

Sat, May 30th @ Noon

3 hours @ $99.00

You know your intuition is real — you've felt it. The problem isn't receiving the signal. It's believing it.

This class uncovers why you doubt yourself and gives you the tools to finally get out of your own way. You'll learn to tell the difference between fear and genuine guidance, and begin distinguishing what is yours from what is coming from outside of you — the foundation for all spiritual communication.

Come ready to go deep. Leave ready to trust yourself.

Held at SoundSpace. Pre-registration is required.

Release Your Intuition (Level II)

Sat, May 30th @ Noon

3 hours @ $99.00

You know your intuition is real — you've felt it. The problem isn't receiving the signal. It's believing it.

This class uncovers why you doubt yourself and gives you the tools to finally get out of your own way. You'll learn to tell the difference between fear and genuine guidance, and begin distinguishing what is yours from what is coming from outside of you — the foundation for all spiritual communication.

Come ready to go deep. Leave ready to trust yourself.

Held at SoundSpace. Pre-registration is required.

Sunday, May 17th | 1pm

Restorative Yoga & Sound for Grief Support

This offering welcomes anyone carrying the weight of loss, stress, or difficult emotions. Grief touches each of us in different ways, and this class simply offers space to rest, breathe, and soften. Participants are gently guided through supportive Restorative Yoga postures using props, followed by an extended Shavasana sound bath designed to encourage ease, safety, and nervous system restoration.

Held at SoundSpace. Pre-registration is required.

Sunday, May 17th | 3pm

Reiki Share

Join Heather Muszynski for a gentle evening of connection and energetic support in community. During this Reiki Share, participants will have the opportunity to both give and receive Reiki in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Whether you are newly trained or have years of experience, this is a welcoming space to practice, deepen your sensitivity, and share the calming presence of Reiki with others.

Held at SoundSpace. Pre-registration is required.

Sunday, May 17th | 5:30pm

Sound Bath

Join Peter Hess® Certified Practitioner Heather Muszynski for a calming sound bath designed to help the body soften and the mind grow quiet. Using therapeutic Peter Hess singing bowls, this gentle experience invites deep relaxation and a sense of inner stillness. The vibrations of the bowls create a tranquil atmosphere where you can rest, restore, and reconnect with a peaceful state of presence.

Held at SoundSpace. Pre-registration is required.

Essence of Sound Healing: Art, Science, and Tradition with Wyatt

Saturday, June 13th, 2026

10:00 AM

9 hours @ $250.00

Essence of Sound Healing: Art, Science, and Tradition

In this comprehensive 8-hour class, explore the relationship between basic anatomy, physiology, and the transformative practice of sound therapy. Gain a foundational understanding of how the human body responds to sound on a physical and energetic level. Through a combination of scientific insights and holistic perspectives, this course will help you grasp how sound can be utilized for healing and well-being. By the end of the class, you will have the knowledge to understand what sound therapy is and how it supports various bodily systems.

Course Objectives:

Understand the basics of human anatomy and physiology in relation to sound and vibration.

• Learn the principles of sound therapy and how it can affect physical and energetic aspects of the body.
• Explore the impact of sound on the nervous system, circulatory system, and other key bodily functions.
• Develop techniques to apply sound therapy for personal and professional wellness practices.

Vibration & Sound on the Body

for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers

Friday - Sunday, June 26th - 28th, 2026

9:30 AM - 5:30pm

A hands-on training designed for practitioners with an established or emerging one-on-one practice, such as massage therapy or Reiki, featuring Peter Hess Therapeutic Singing Bowls. Led by Gina L. Armstrong, former head of the Peter Hess Academy USA and trainer for over a decade, this course integrates three decades of sound and vibration experience. Learn to safely place and play bowls on the body while enhancing presence, supporting deep rest, and integrating seamlessly into sessions.

Resonance Sessions

These intimate small-group experiences take place inside the Quantum Breathing Room at Balance on Buffalo and are limited to four participants. Guests relax in comfortable recliners while being guided through sound, breath, meditation, or other vibrational experiences designed to support presence, nervous system regulation, and deep restoration. Each session offers a unique opportunity to settle, listen, and experience resonance in a supportive shared environment.

Select Mondays | 6pm

Resonance Session: Meditation & Reiki

Facilitated by Heather LaFond, this intimate experience takes place in Balance on Buffalo’s Quantum Breathing Room, a space designed to support deep rest and gentle restoration.

Relax in comfortable recliners while being guided through a themed meditation, with each participant receiving hands-on Reiki during the session. The room’s PEMF and frequency support, along with the oxygen-rich, plant-filled environment, help create a deeply supportive atmosphere for settling the body and mind.

Limited to four participants.

Held in Balance on Buffalo’s Quantum Breathing Room. Pre-registration is required.

Select Fridays | 6pm

Resonance Session: Sound Bath

Facilitated by Peter Hess® Certified Practitioner Heather M. , this intimate sound experience takes place inside Balance on Buffalo’s Quantum Breathing Room.

Relax in comfortable recliners as the soothing tones of therapeutic singing bowls and chimes gently fill the space. The room’s subtle frequencies and plant-filled environment create a deeply supportive atmosphere for calming the nervous system and settling into presence.

Limited to four participants.

Held in Balance on Buffalo’s Quantum Breathing Room. Pre-registration is required.