Zebrafish Neuro

The #1 most asked question from our SCI rehab community: What exercises are best for high tone?

Our August blog outlines 3 daily exercises to help manage tone and prevent spasticity for the long-term. Each exercise is described in detail with its purpose, the step by step guide, pictures and ways to modify/progress the exercise to suit your body and needs.

🧐 Check it out through the link in bio!

How do YOU manage high tone? ⬇️Comment below so we can all learn your secrets!

P.S. You can EXPERIENCE our HIGH TONE protocol in our upcoming group coaching series, starting August 5! Find information & registration through the link in bio.

We can't wait to hear your thoughts: see you tonight!

It only happens twice a year...

Our 300-page text on all things ZN SCI rehab philosophy, mindset and application is going ON SALE, from Wednesday July 17 through Sunday July 21.

🤔 Curious about what this book is and how it can help you/your clients?
⬇️ Ask below in the comments section
👀 Checkout the "Book" story highlight for all the details.

I 🧡

I've been rehabbing my foot/ankle for the last 6 months and these NABOSO tools have given me a bit of a boost these last couple weeks. I've been playing with the placement of the (pink) wedges to give my foot better inputs for reflexive activation and incorporated the (green) sensory sticks in some of the single leg balance work. Of course, all exercises with the most comfortable toe spacers on the market. 🦶

Feeling how these tools give ME 🙋🏼‍♀️ an edge in feeling and using my body, I KNOW they give my SCI clients, with limited sensory/proprioceptive abilities, a big boost in their reflexive activation.

👉If you haven't tried their tools yet, start with the toe splays and the sensory insoles. If you have a clinic working with SCI clients/patient, I definitely recommend the foot wedges for foot alignment, pelvic propping and "filling the gaps" for scolio peeps.

I think our affiliate code is still active: use ZEBRAFISH at checkout for 10% off!

FREE! Join us May 11th for an on-the-floor (or bed!) class featuring our favorite mobility, stability, and whole-body movements with the . The class will feature a variety of positions to leave your body feeling stretched, challenged, and GROUNDED.

All exercises in this class will be out of the wheelchair and include exercises like rolling over, prone elbow prop, side elbow prop and seated posture work. We will offer options to modify and up-level each exercise so we can find the right challenge for any ability.

🟠You will need a squish ball for this class!

👩‍💻 Link in bio for more details & FREE registration - sign up to attend live and/or get the recording.

👉Which squish ball exercises do you want to make sure we do in class? Comment below ⬇️ so we can start prepping our lesson plan!

Happy Earth Day! 🌍

It's no secret that daily dose of sunshine and nature is one of the best ways to boost mood and settle the nervous system.

☀️ What did you do this weekend/today to celebrate the most accessible form of NS healing there is? Comment below! ⬇️

TRAINING INTENSIVES BOOKING IS OPEN!

If you're looking for a kickstart, or revitalization, of your recovery program, Intensive programs are a great way to immerse yourself in the work. Intensive Coaching programs are designed to remove you from everyday stressors to create the time and headspace for you to focus on YOU.

👉Students will train for at least 2 hours each day for 6 days and go home with a customized home program to continue the work. You can even bring along your local trainer so they can learn the work along with you, easing the transition back home.

Check out all the details, pricing, and FAQs & RSVP for our live info call 💻 on Wed April 17 at 5:30 pm EST through the link in bio - or comment 'INFO' below ⬇️ and we'll send it all directly to your DM.

was the first to send me a selfie, with the caption of "enjoying my new office furniture." 😂 I know he does a lot of work from the floor but I'm not sure I would consider this "furniture"...

When Theo moved away from me/in-person therapy/returned to his studies at Stanford & MIT, he quickly embraced the squish ball as a go-to support while on the floor and an essential for for his home program.

You can find his favorites by tapping on the hastag and scrolling ➡️ to 'Reels'

Grab your Squish Ball (or two!) for 20% off, now through Thursday through the link in bio - or comment with the emoji 🟠 and I'll send the link directly to your DM!

Honored to be a small supporting role for Anna this weekend at her in-person LTAP course! I was one of 5 TAs for her 26 students, confirming yet again how much I love sharing and exploring this work.

I was happy to connect with several clinicians at the course who currently work with neuro clients/patients. I love "talking shop" about how to apply this work with neuro and hearing how game-changing it's been for them too!

I hope more neuro rehab professionals take the leap into this very different approach to healing - its brought so much clarity to NS dysfunction and optimizing healing.

I discuss some of these concepts and applications in my 3-day course - expect to hear me say "this is Anna's stuff" when we start massaging our intestines after lunch 🤪

Please reach out if you're interested in getting involved with Anna's program directly. 🌟

🚨GIVEAWAY ALERT: enter today through Tuesday, April 9 to win a FREE ZN squish ball!

Squish balls are one of the ESSENTIALS for home programs/remote coaching and in my studio for in-person sessions. This is my #1 used prop for:
🟠mobility training
🟠stability training
🟠support prop
🟠feedback tools
🟠targeted mechanical breathwork

📍Find more examples of how I use this squish ball in SCI rehab by following the tag

How to enter the giveaway:
❤️ Like this post
💭Comment below with your favorite exercise or stretch to do at-home
👉Follow on Instagram
📦Have a mailing address in the United States (sorry, I haven't worked out international shipping yet!)

5️⃣ WINNERS will be announced and contacted on Wednesday! GOOD LUCK!

Squish Balls will be available for purchase at 20% off starting Friday, April 12! Stay tuned 😎

In this FREE webinar, we’ll be sharing a bit more about how remote coaching has become a valuable option for SCI athletes all over the world:
👉See example recordings of real-life remote coaching sessions
👉Hear what our current clients have gained from remote coaching
👉Get a list what props you need at home for successful remote coaching sessions (hint: it’s less than you think!)
👉Learn about our Remote Coaching program and what makes us different

🚀BONUS: Everyone who attends LIVE will be entered to win a ZN Squish Ball + a special offer on your first remote coaching sessions!

RSVP through the link in our bio to attend live and/or receive the recording... or just comment below with the word "WEBINAR" and we'll send you the link to register straight to your DMs 😉

All smiles 😄 from this past weekend's 3-day professional course in Edmonton 🇨🇦 with the team + several physios from a two local rehab hospitals and our amazing SCI demo clients.

Having both ABT trainers and physical therapists in the same course is always super dynamic because there's so much to learn from each each other. I was happy to strengthen this relationship so the Edmonton SCI community has a fluid continuum of care from hospital to community.

This group was incredibly CREATIVE. After we got the basic framework down, they took the system and just ran with it using the same logic and made it their own👏🏼 I was impressed with their ability to grasp SO MANY NEW concepts within three days and demonstrate true understanding with this creativity. NONE of the participants had ever done pilates before and I think we might have some new concerts 😜

👉 Want to share your own TFRs from this weekend? Comment below! ⬇️

Thank you thank you 🙏🏼 owners and for hosting and to for the push for me to come out.

We're done with 3-day courses this spring but continue to offer private in-services throughout the year! Our next weekend course will be in Oct/Nov, exact locations TBD.

Are you a movement or rehab professional who is:
👉Booked back-to-back sessions with no time for session planning = your brain & body are DONE
👉Your clients don't do their homework (and you want them to do it)
👉You want to be the GO-TO pro in your clinic / reaching for that promotion
👉You've been doing the SAME thing for millennia and you want to freshen up on the latest

I got you. In this course you'll get/learn:
✅Done-for-you templates for those slammed days (but they also leave room for individualization!)
✅Ways to make homework fun, accessible, and motivating (because they can FEEL quick wins)
✅Troubleshooting for complex cases to make you STAND OUT as a "miracle worker"
✅Bring in a new modality (like Pilates!) to your toolbox - after all, isn't "improving core and posture" one of your most requested goals?

Only one more week for EARLY ACTION 15% off pricing on our LAST course this spring:
🇨🇦Edmonton, AB Canada: March 15-17 (only 4 seats left)

Not sure what this course is about? Check out all the info & FAQs at zebrafishneuro.com/trainings or find that website through the link in our bio.

👉 After this one, the next courses won't be until FALL: one of them will be "down under" and another one on the East Coast. Hope you can make it to a course in 2024!

Level 1 / 3-Day Professional Course ☑️ CHICAGO Feb 9-11, 2024

This group asked the tough questions, went DEEP with themselves and the demo clients, and challenged themselves as clinicians with new ways to talk about and teach movement in this course this weekend.

My heart is so full that these already extremely talented trainers, physical therapists and pilates teachers wanted spend their weekend with me to learn how to better provide their gifts to people with SCI specifically. They are supporting the positive shift in how we approach SCI rehab for the better: our mission here at Zebrafish Neuro.

🦓 Interested in joining this herd of Zebras?

We will be offering ONE more course this spring before our attention turns to summer intensives and our Australian tour this fall.

Join us in CANADA 🇨🇦 Edmonton March 15-17! - link in bio for info and registration.

⚡️FTGU is back in stock!

We took the opportunity of a new print run to clean up a few small graphic details within the book and update the cover art.

Changes to our files require lots of back-and-forth communication and hard-copy print proofs with our printer to make sure everything is PERFECT (especially with this large of an order!).

This process took TWO months from start to finish but we're happy to have FTGU updated and ready to go for our newest FTGU community members.

Not sure what this book is about? Download a PDF sample at zebrafishneuro.com/sample or head to the link in our bio.

It’s no secret that success comes with small wins every day, and add up to big changes over the course of a few months. For me, it’s not as simple as knowing I should do it and therefore I do it: it’s about programming life updates into my daily routine so it becomes AUTOMATIC.

Adopting 'New Year's Resolutions' at any time of the year is perfectly acceptable, so if you’re still sorting out how you want to grow, just bookmark this post and come back to it when you’re ready.

Here are some simple systems I’ve put in place (for all 5 of my little and big lifestyle updates) to stay accountable and keep the momentum going into February.

1.Make a habit tracker so you can VISUALLY see your consistency (or lack of) over time.
2.Do it with a buddy
3.Send selfies to a friend, coach or partner after completing your task
4.Record yourself with a timelapse and/or progress pictures
5.Work with a coach or hire a local teen to meet with you every week at a specific time and help you transfer/execute on the plan

These can be used for ANY lifestyle update, but in the context of SCI rehab, I know several SCI athletes using similar strategies to build and stay consistent in their movement programs.

What are your strategies? Share below what’s working for you!

P.S. If its not about discipline an accountability, but more about WHAT to do, checkout our online program bundles through the link in bio.

CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE between the previous 1: new cover and the 2: previous cover design? Just a small detail... Comment below! ⬇️

So many of you started your FTGU journey last fall that we ran through our inventory much faster than anticipated...

⚡️But FTGU is back in stock! And we're sending out a $25 off coupon code in our newsletter this week!

We took the opportunity of a new print run to clean up a few small graphic details within the book and update the cover art.

Changes to our files require lots of back-and-forth communication and hard-copy print proofs with our printer to make sure everything is PERFECT (especially with this large of an order!).

This process took TWO months from start to finish but we're happy to have FTGU updated and ready to go for our newest FTGU community members.

Not sure what this book is about? Download a PDF sample at zebrafishneuro.com/sample or head to the link in our bio.

WHAT?! Are we already looking at stuff happening in 2024?

I know, you’re probably just trying to get through the busy holiday season and year-end obligations. But January and February have a way of sneaking up on us and I want to make sure you know about all the things happening early next year so you don’t miss them:

We have THREE professional courses lined up for this spring:
👉 Feb 9-11: Chicago, IL 🇺🇸
👉 March 15-17: Edmonton, AB 🇨🇦
👉 April 19-21: Buffalo, NY 🇺🇸

We're so excited to partner with our hosting locations to be able to offer this learning experience right off the bat in 2024.

Not sure what this course is all about? Check out the information page through our link in bio.

But hurry! Seats are limited and discounted registration periods are flying by.

The holidays are the BEST EXCUSE to offer you all the SCI rehab resources you’ve been wanting at an even more affordable price:
📖 $50 off FTGU book - both print & e-book formats!
💪 20% off all online DIY Rehab Programs - basically "buy one get one free" with the SCI athlete bundle
🧠 20% all online Professional Development courses, including our 8-hour CEU course on getting started with SCI

So, maybe it’s not all that bad?? Hear us out:
🌎 This is one of the only times we’ll be offering to ship the print version of FTGU internationally!
📱 The From the Ground Up e-book will be on sale, just like the print format (thanks, Apple, for finally letting us do that…)
💪 The two online DIY Rehab Programs are a pre-requisite for any remote coaching or in-person intensives with Stephanie. If that’s something you are planning to do in 2024, the Holiday Sale is a good chance to get those two programs at 20% off (less than $50).
🤑 We only run two sales a year - you’ll have to wait until next summer for the next go at these discounts.

These are the resources we wish we had at the beginning and we hope they make a difference for you NOW vs. wishing you had them later. We’re not in this business to SELL you things you don’t need. We just want you to BE AWARE (so on-brand with our Framework for Recovery) that these resources exist - and that you can get them on sale

HURRY! ⏰ Sale ends Wednesday, November 29 at midnight pacific time.

Find everything linked out in our bio!

Which of these goals are most commonly requested by your clients and patients?
1️⃣ Improving core strength
2️⃣ Gaining some hand function
3️⃣ Better posture in and/or out of the wheelchair
4️⃣ Standing to give someone a hug
5️⃣ Building an exercise routine they can do at home with minimal equipment & help from their partner
6️⃣ All of the above ⬆️
7️⃣ Other: comment below!

I found myself teaching [relatively] the same concepts and exercises and over and over again to those interested in developing their core & posture.

To make these heavily requested programs more accessible outside of 1:1 coaching - and to make them available as a Home Exercise Program (HEP), we put the concepts & exercises into self-paced online programs for individuals with SCI to work through themselves.

SCI athletes are LOVING these programs, but I’m honestly more impressed at how MOVEMENT & REHAB PROS are implementing these programs with their own clients. We never intended them to be used this way, but we're loving it!

🤯 It’s genius: Done-for-you, tried & true programs that you just have to implement.

Here’s how YOU, as a movement professional, can use these programs to address your client’s core & posture goals:
👉 Learn how to articulate (in their words) the process of building trunk stability.
👉 Implement the templated floor-based program as your 1:1 session - you’ll just need to tweak it to each client’s unique needs.
👉 Assign this session as their HEP since they did most of the exercises on their own anyway.
…and/or you can recommend they grab the program for themselves.

Find the Move Pro Bundle through the link in bio, now on sale through Nov 29!

"This is what gives recovery its richness: we have an opportunity not only to rebuild parts of ourselves but to (re)discover who it is we want to be."
📖 From the Ground Up, page 9

This book isn't just Theo's lived experience with SCI + a library of exercises. It's a MINDSET and APPROACH to healing, unlike any other text we've seen on the topic.

Many readers have told us it has completely shifted their perspective on recovery and has given them clarity in their healing process.

Curious what it's all about? Write the phrase "SAMPLE PLEASE!" in the comments ⬇️ and we'll send you a link to check out a FREE digital sample, including the entirety of Chapter 1 + more.

Many of you have found (and tried) the exercises we’ve shared on socials:
•Z-sit
•Side elbow prop
•3D pelvis
•… & so many more!

But since we’re always interested in quality, executing these simple exercises with a clear intention will make them 10x more effective than just going through the motions.

So, what should you/your clients be thinking about during these exercises? Here’s an easy way to think about it:
1️⃣: Ask yourself why this exercise? We begin every exercise spread in our book with objectives for a reason. If you’re just ‘going through the motions’ without visualizing how you’ll implement the movement learning, it’s simply not going to stick.
2️⃣ Choose your setup deliberately. Getting the ‘correct’ feedback from equipment can often be the make-or-break for your body to learn the movement.
3️⃣ Be precise & intentional. Alignment matters when you’re teaching your body movement patterns. When you avoid stretching ligaments or compensating with dominant muscles, and instead create pathways for new connections, that’s when progress can really happen.
4️⃣ Mix it up. Add in variations of the SAME exercise to keep your brain & body trying new things!

We wrote From the Ground Up to be as easy as possible to follow along and implement your own versions of these exercises, or apply the tips on alignment to your own routine.

👉 FTGU is now ON SALE through November 29 - $50 off the print or e-book format. Find all the information through the link in our bio!

Not sure if the book is right for you? Send us a DM!

Yea, the “Black Friday” hype makes us cringe a bit, too.

But it is an excuse to offer you all the SCI rehab resources you’ve been wanting at an even more affordable price:
📖 $50 off FTGU book - both print & e-book formats!
💪 20% off all online DIY Rehab Programs
🧠 20% all online Professional Development courses

So, maybe it’s not all that bad?? Hear us out:
🌎 This is one of the only times we’ll be offering to ship the print version of FTGU internationally!
📱 The From the Ground Up e-book will be on sale, just like the print format (thanks, Apple, for finally letting us do that…)
💪 The two online DIY Rehab Programs are a pre-requisite for any remote coaching or in-person intensives with Stephanie. If that’s something you are planning to do in 2024, the Holiday Sale is a good chance to get those two programs at 20% off (less than $50).
🤑 We only run two sales a year - you’ll have to wait until next summer for the next go at these discounts.

These are the resources we wish we had at the beginning and we hope they make a difference for you NOW vs. wishing you had them later. We’re not in this business to SELL you things you don’t need. We just want you to BE AWARE (so on-brand with our Framework for Recovery) that these resources exist - and that you can get them on sale starting TODAY through Wednesday, November 29.

Find everything linked out in our bio!

Yea, the “Black Friday” hype makes us cringe a bit, too.

But it is an excuse to offer you all the SCI rehab resources you’ve been wanting at an even more affordable price:
📖 $50 off FTGU book - both print & e-book formats!
💪 20% off all online DIY Rehab Programs
🧠 20% all online Professional Development courses

So, maybe it’s not all that bad?? Hear us out:
🌎 This is one of the only times we’ll be offering to ship the print version of FTGU internationally!
📱 The From the Ground Up e-book will be on sale, just like the print format (thanks, Apple, for finally letting us do that…)
💪 The two online DIY Rehab Programs are a pre-requisite for any remote coaching or in-person intensives with Stephanie. If that’s something you are planning to do in 2024, the Holiday Sale is a good chance to get those two programs at 20% off (less than $50).
🤑 We only run two sales a year - you’ll have to wait until next summer for the next go at these discounts.

These are the resources we wish we had at the beginning and we hope they make a difference for you NOW vs. wishing you had them later. We’re not in this business to SELL you things you don’t need. We just want you to BE AWARE (so on-brand with our Framework for Recovery) that these resources exist - and that you can get them on sale starting Friday.

If you want all these deals sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and we'll make sure you don't miss a thing 😉

Hi there👋 !

There are some new faces around here so we wanted to take a post to say hello and introduce the humans (us) behind Zebrafish Neuro.

We're Stephanie Comella and Theo St. Francis, and we met in 2014 at an activity-based therapy facility in California – one as an athlete, the other as a trainer. We've worked together since then, through the frustrations and discoveries of rehab, to consolidate our experiences and education into a program that de-mystifies the process of recovery after a paralyzing injury.

Before returning & graduating from MIT, Theo carved his own path toward recovery from his C6 SCI. For 5 years, he worked with a variety of movement practitioners across the US while doing considerable research on the human body and alternative healing. With a mind for mechanics and logical thinking, Theo's emphasis on reason and "the why" helped form our approach. Theo's personal experience with SCI sheds light on the specific needs and experience of recovery.

Stephanie has worked in the movement and neuro space since 2011, gravitating towards SCI specifically over the course of the years. Her experience in a variety of movement systems offers the breadth of approaches that SCI recovery athletes need in a trainer while diving deep into the workings of whichever model most resonates in the bodies of her athletes. Stephanie's love for systems, as well as the psychological impacts of trauma, made sure that our programming offered intelligent organization while addressing the emotional healing aspect of recovery.

Even before becoming partners in Zebrafish, our work together has always been collaborative. We draw on each other's experience (on both sides of the journey) to bring together, what we feel is a well-rounded approach to SCI rehab.

SWIPE 👋 TO SEE US AS BABIES IN 2014!

👋 Now your turn! Introduce yourself and why you are here in the comments below ⬇️

Thanks for being here with us! ❤️