Craniosacral therapy originated from osteopathy. It consists of gentle procedures promoting function of the craniosacral system.
My story – fatigue & stress
I learned about craniosacral therapy when I was studying for my master’s degree in Acupuncture. I don’t remember the specifics, but no doubt I was complaining of fatigue and stress to one of my teachers. She suggested that I try craniosacral treatments from another of the faculty. I had no idea what craniosacral therapy was (because it is not Chinese medicine), but I went for a series of 10 sessions. The experience was amazing.
My story – ‘unwinding’, ‘tidal flow’, ‘craniosacral rhythm’, ‘stillness’
To this day, craniosacral therapy has been the best therapy I have experienced. It was relaxing, yet I felt gentle currents of movement that are difficult to describe. Later I learned terms ‘unwinding’, ‘tidal flow’, ‘craniosacral rhythm’, ‘stillness’ which describe some of my experience. What about my fatigue and stress? The stress was still there, but I was better able to cope. My fatigue gradually lessened. I had to learn more, and took a series of classes in 1995 and 1997 in biomechanical craniosacral therapy. After several years of clinical practice, I still had unanswered questions. Years later, I heard about the biodynamic craniosacral style. In 2011 I completed a 2 year certificate program with Franklyn Sills, a founding teacher of the biodynamic style. I now primarily use the biodynamic style in my practice.
- 810 hours of training
- Registered Craniosacral Therapist (RCST), Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America
What does it do?
Biodynamic craniosacral therapy facilitates a return to a free-flowing natural state of the body tissue’s rhythmic movement.
It is based on the principle that there is rhythmic movement throughout the tissues of the body. Health and life require this rhythmic movement. Our experiences, physical traumas, and illnesses can impede this movement.
I thought you did acupuncture. Why this craniosacral therapy?
Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy developed from western osteopathic medicine, but the basic principle is the same as that in Chinese medicine. This is the principle that movement is required for life and health.
- Craniosacral movement: a rhythmic flow throughout the tissues of the body
- Chinese medical movement: the flow of Qi and Blood
Both systems describe restrictions in movement that can develop due to illness, physical trauma, and life experiences (environmental influences).
Both systems correlate a return to health with a return to a free flow of movement.
What can it treat?
Please refer to the FAQ page on the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America’s website.
So what exactly is ‘craniosacral’?
- Definition: The craniosacral system consists of the skull (‘cranio’), the dura (the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord connecting the skull and sacrum), and the sacrum (‘sacral’) at the base of the spine.
- Function: The craniosacral system affects the brain and spinal cord, which can impact other body functions.
- Application: Craniosacral therapy is used to treat a variety of health problems, including headaches, sciatica, TMJ dysfunction, stress, back and neck pain, and musculoskeletal disorders due to problems of structural alignment.