Hi, I'm Vanessa Keel

A smiling woman with short blonde hair is wearing a black blouse and blue jeans and is standing in front of a white wall featuring abstract, geometric art.
A smiling woman with short blonde hair is wearing a black blouse and blue jeans and is standing in front of a white wall featuring abstract, geometric art.

About me

Sports and exercise—including at the competitive level—have played a significant role in my life since I was a child.

A Turning Point: From Accident to Chronic Pain

In 2013, I suffered a severe concussion following a snowboarding accident, which set me back for several months. After my slow recovery, severe back pain began to dominate my daily life. Over the course of several years, I consulted various doctors and tried numerous therapies, without lasting success.

The Decision to Help Ourselves

In 2018, I was admitted to the hospital on an emergency basis and stayed there for several days. Since my condition didn’t improve, I decided to be discharged after a candid doctor told me that she didn’t know what was causing my pain or how she could help me. Looking back, I’m grateful to her for her honesty.

Back home, I lay down on the floor, let the pain wash over me, and decided, “Okay, let’s embark on this journey together.” I took control of my own health.

A fascination with the human body and functional anatomy

I’ve always been fascinated by the wonder of our bodies and their capabilities. As a designer and developer, I admire the “creator” of our bodies: the complexity of our organism is fascinating—everything, down to the smallest detail, is thoughtfully designed. This fascination led me to embark on a journey of self-discovery, and so I began pursuing specialized training.

My Journey into Applied Neurology: The Franklin Method®, NeuroHorizons®/NeuroScanBalance® & Neuroathletics

The cozy seating area in Vanessa Keel’s practice in Zurich, designed for trusting conversations with parents, counseling, and medical history interviews with children who have special needs.
A look inside Vanessa Keel’s bright, child-friendly practice in Zurich, featuring a wide therapy table, a teddy bear, and a cozy sitting area for pain therapy and developmental support.

Through the Franklin Method® , I learned to visualize anatomy and physiology through imagination. This form of mental training had an enormous impact on my well-being and sparked my interest in the functional anatomy of the human body.

A supposed “coincidence” led me to the methods NeuroHorizons® and NeuroScanBalance®. Through these gentle, body-oriented approaches, I learned to refine my body awareness (proprioception) and to consciously perceive the quality of my movements. I experienced firsthand how my body reorganized itself: my movements became more efficient because energy was no longer lost due to muscular imbalances but flowed directly into the movement, and my perspective on how I reacted to situations also changed.

The neuroathletics according to Lars Lienhard finally provided me with the scientific framework of applied neurology. I came to understand the central control unit: the brain. For the brain to enable optimal motor output (strength, mobility, and freedom from pain), it requires high-quality sensory input from our senses (the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems). This also affects how we perceive the world and how we respond to it.

Today I understand that our bodies have all the tools they need to regenerate. My training programs have been so successful because they all have one thing in common: they speak the language of the brain.

Educational therapy materials and wooden toys at Vanessa Keel’s practice in Zurich for sensory integration and the playful development of children’s perception.

Overcoming obstacles together – Unlocking potential

Whether you’re an adult who wants to finally get through the day pain-free and full of energy again, or you’re hoping for real progress in your child’s development: I’ll guide you through the process of releasing physical and sensory blockages so that movement becomes effortless once more.

Languages

  • German

  • Spanish

  • English

Trainings

  • Movement teacher in the Franklin Method® L1 Joints/Bones (2019 - 2020)

  • Experiential Movement Practitioner NeuroHorizons® (2020 - 2021)

  • Fine motor skills trainer NeuroScanBalance® basic training (2020 - 2022)

  • Fine motor skills trainer NeuroScanBalance® children's training (2021 - 2022)

  • Movement teacher in the Franklin Method® L2 Muscles/Fascia (2022 - 2023)

  • Neuroathletics Trainer with Lars Lienhard

    • Basic module 1 (2024) : Sensory & afferent aspects of the peripheral nervous system.

    • Basic module 2 (2024) : Improvement of efferent motor output, i.e. improvement of movement with all its components.

    • Special module (2024) : Strength & Agility

    • Special module (2024) : Speed

    • Special module (2025) : Stamina

Courses & further training

  • The liberated back: With Eric Franklin (2019)

  • Workshop- Supporting learning and new possibilities for children: By Nancy Aberle & Mark Keogh (2022)

  • Cranialetics Workshop (2025): In-depth understanding of the brainstem and its vegetative functions, to promote regulation, safety and balance in the nervous system.

  • NeuroHorizons® further training (2025): Promoting mobility in the spine, thorax and pelvis.

Association memberships

  • BGB Switzerland: Professional Association for Health and Exercise Switzerland

  • You can find a global list of certified professionals who care for children with special needs at www.NeuroConnect.world.

Vanessa Keel, a certified trainer in neuromotor movement development, NeuroHorizons, NeuroScanBalance, Neuroathletics, and the Franklin Method at her practice in Zurich.

The first step is very simple.

Call me for a free 15-minute initial consultation. We'll discuss your concerns or your child's situation at your leisure and with no obligation.


+41 79 680 53 10
Clinic at Klusplatz, Zurich District 7
Hofackerstrasse 75
8032 Zurich 

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