ZEN Sanctuary has become an icon of health and wellness in Kensington. Over the past 10 years, owner Chance Billmeyer and his staff have created a vibrant healing community that serves the local residents as well as the larger San Diego community and beyond. Clients and patients come from as far away as Norway and Alaska to receive healing therapy.
ZEN was founded by Chance Billmeyer on October 6, 2003 and opened it's door with a big celebration of over 200 people. "The parking lot was transformed into a dining hall with a sushi chef, white linen tables and candlelight. I remember it was the weekend before the first big fire in San
Diego. We were lucky to have our opening before all of the ash began to fall and we quickly responded to the needs of those effected by the fire. We created a massage recovery program where a portion of the massage would go to the fire victims. We also created a Fire Package with soothing essential oils and other calming remedies that clients could purchase and give to friends or people they know to help with the anxiety surrounding the event," said Chance.
Since 2003, ZEN Sanctuary has grown to include Acupuncture, Skincare, Chinese Herbs, Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Qigong, Tai Chi, and Nutritional Therapy. Early supporters included Ross Weaver, HHP, Royal Fraser, L.Ac., and Debbie Burgeson, Esthetician. Ross and Chance both graduated from IPSB or the International Professional School of Bodywork. "We never attended class together, but as I was forming ZEN I asked the other students who might be a good fit for ZEN, Ross's name came up again and again. They all said he was the ZEN guy. After meeting Ross, I can certainly see why they said that. He was sporting a
rasta dread hairstyle and had this very bohemian, peaceful way about him. We hit it off right away so I invited him out to the construction of the space on Adams Avenue in the newly remodeled Plaza Kensington. Ross loved the space and offered his help with the transformation into the early ZEN BodyMind Sanctuary & Studio as it was known then," said Chance.
ZEN started out with two treatment rooms, a reception/retail area, and a room called the Healtana Room. The Healtana Room was a private room where clients would relax, undress and get into robes before receiving their treatments. This room had a locker space for placing their items and a cozy chair for enjoying tea. After a couple of years, the center's client base grew and the Healtana Room was converted into another treatment room.
As ZEN's clientale continued to grow, so did ZEN and in 2005 ZEN added more space and completely renovated the sanctuary to it's current beauty. RAZ & Majette Interior Design occupied the space to the west of ZEN and when they moved out, ZEN added this space to their operations. This created a special room for Debbie Burgeson called the Cherry Blossom room, to offer skincare to our
clients and created a new Retail/Reception area for more great products. The Renovation cost over $15,000 and took five weeks to complete. The center remained open for business during renovation as clients who were given the option to reschedule continued to see therapists during the construction.
"I remember working on a client during the construction. At one point, the roofers were removing the old roof and installing a new one. They had to cut through the ceiling. Unbeknownst to me, the roofer cut through the ceiling while my client was face down receiving a massage. I looked up at the roofer and the sunshine now filling the room with a concerned look. I told my client what had just happened and asked him if he wanted to stop. He said 'no, it doesn't bother me, just keep going.' So, I continued working while the roofer cleaned out the space he had opened. It was really bizarre and definitely not in line with what ZEN is all about," Chance said.
In the 10 years that ZEN has been helping clients, ZEN has enjoyed it's namesake, truly living up to its "Peace of MIND and Body" ideal. Clients consistently say, "I feel calm already, just by being here." The beautiful contemporary Japanese interior features rich earth tones of tallow yellow and terra cotta. Original art and oil paintings adorn the walls and the floor is covered in burnished bamboo and hand glazed saltillo tiles. Every detail, from the flagstone tea counter to the crown moulding has been carefully considered to enhance ZEN's clients feeling of peace while in this space.
ZEN changed it's name in 2012 to simplify and emphasize it's purpose as a sanctuary: a place of refuge from the stress and challenges of everyday life. "ZEN continues to showcase art and culture. Our participation in local art events and our own events such as the
Koinbori, or Children's Day Coloring Contest, reflect our original name ZEN BodyMind Sanctuary & Studio. However, this name is too long so we shortened it to what everyone referred to and knew us by, ZEN Sanctuary," said Chance.
ZEN Sanctuary offers time for contemplation during it's
Meditation Hour and give back to the community through it's quarterly
Open Houses. The staff at ZEN Sanctuary continually research, seek out additional education, and provide the latest therapy for Skincare, Massage, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Moving Meditation and Medicinal Herbs. Many of the staff are faculty at local colleges teaching what they provide while at ZEN. "We are looking forward to the next 10 years. We are passionate about what we do and are so grateful to be part of the Kensington community," said Chance.
Today, ZEN has a very diverse and professional staff of health professionals. The center is open seven days a week Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- and offers Meditation every Sunday at 8 a.m.
ZEN Sanctuary will be holding a
10 Year Anniversary Celebration on Saturday September 21, 2013 at 7 p.m. Look for future announcements.
To see a complete list of our current Health Professionals,
please click here.
For more information about ZEN Sanctuary, please go to their website at
www.zensanctuary.com
ZEN Sanctuary is located at: 4183 Adams Avenue, San Diego CA 92116
Phone: (800) 818-0293
Online Booking:
ZENSanctuary Online Booking
Hours of Operation: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Two of ZEN Sanctuary's staff also provided some beautiful and poetic exhibits during the event. Jeanne Mari Auger is an accomplished painter from Quebec, Canada. In the mid-80's, she studied photography and Fines Arts for the most part at Concordia University and College Saint-Laurent. There she met painter and mentor Jean Lefebure of the automatist movement whose artistic views have greatly supported and helped define her artistic expression. 
In addition to Jeanne Marie Auger's work, Chance Billmeyer, Owner of ZEN Sanctuary also exhibited 36 photographs along with a photo poem entitle Qi China Chic. The photos were taken from a trip he made back in 2010. "I wanted to convey what it is like to live in China and give people here in San Diego a taste of their culture. I feel that the media conveys a picture of China that is not consistent with the reality of what China is about. I found a people who were happy, healthy, and busy with many of the same activities we find in San Diego. The main difference was their relationship to their environment and specifically to nature. Most of the population either lives in large cities or they live in communal farming communities. The cities and farming go hand in hand, coexist next to each other. You look out your apartment window on the edge of the city and all you see are farms. This integration of respect for nature flows throughout the city as well with fresh markets and local eateries that serve the food grown nearby" said Chance.
During the event, Sonnie Owns created a beautiful display showcasing her NEW Vintage jewelry. "The jewelry is a great way to combine and recycle older pieces with newer trends, making it the perfect accent for today's woman," said Sonnie. Sonnie used old vintage luggage to display her works of art and her booth saw over 80 visitors during the course of the day.
