Sunday, January 30, 2012, I completed the first leg of my training in CranioSacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute. I am very excited to bring this technique to my clients. The word that sticks in my mind when I ponder what I learned is "life-changing".
What is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on bodywork modality that works to enhance the central nervous system, which in turn, oversees all the other systems in your body.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST), by addressing the central nervous system, enchances the body's natural healing processes. CST works to improve the overall function of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress, improve health, well-being and resistance to disease.
What is the CranioSacral System?
In short, it is composed of the bones of your skull and the membrane system surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
I like what my teacher Karen Axelrod said. "When you think of the 3 major organs you need to live, you think of the heart, lungs and brain, right? The heart has a natural ,rhythmic motion we can feel when we take our pulse. The lungs, also have a natural rhythm we can feel when we place our hands on our ribs and feel them expand and contract in synchrony with our breath. So it makes sense that our body's other main organ -- the brain -- has a similar inherent rhythm. Of course it does. We call it the craniosacral rhythm. This soft, subtle motion is felt in response to the production and reabsorption of the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord. We can also feel this rhythm, body-wide via the connective tissue network (or fascia). "
This craniosacral rhythm is reflective our our core - our life force - our health. Health is motion. If your craniosacral rhythm is strong, this indicates a strong central nervous system that oversees all your body systems. If your craniosacral rhythm is weaker, this may indicate restrictions of movement, pain and dis-ease.
CranioSacral Therapy works with the craniosacral rhythm. CranioSacral Therapy works to remove those restrictions and restore a more robust rhythm.
So, there is your introduction to the CranioSacral system. Stay tuned for more to come!
Make it a great day!
