What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST)?
Craniosacral Therapy is a light-touch approach to bodywork that addresses the whole body and has a profound impact on the nervous system.
The craniosacral system, surrounds and protects the central nervous system and when it’s functioning well, many conditions are able to improve.
Craniosacral Therapy is usually experienced as deeply relaxing, partly because it is so gentle and partly because it encourages the quality of rest that allows the body to focus fully on healing itself
The power of craniosacral therapy is in its ability to listen deeply and to follow the priorities for healing as directed by the body.
What is the Craniosacral System?
The craniosacral system develops shortly after conception, when the first cell divides in the womb to form the primal midline that becomes our spine.
The craniosacral system consists of the central nervous system and the surrounding bones membranes and (cerebrospinal fluid) around the brain and spinal cord.
The craniosacral system expresses a tide-like rhythmic pulsation that can be felt in the bones membranes and connective tissues of the body and is involved in the maintenance of order and vitality throughout the body-mind.
Touching into this rhythm helps the nervous system access the state of stillness and safety needed for the body to self correct and restore itself.
The craniosacral system consists of the bones. tissues, fluids & membranes that surround & protects the brain & spinal cord.
Who Can Benefit From Craniosacral Therapy?
People of all ages from children to teenagers and adults can benefit from Craniosacral Therapy.
As CST restores harmony at the level of the nervous system it has wide applications for treating the whole person body mind emotions and spirit so that whatever a persons condition they can usually be helped.
Craniosacral therapy can be especially helpful for couples in the early days of trying to conceive, for Mothers during pregnancy and for Mothers and Babies after birth.
Children tend to respond swiftly as they do not usually carry the years of accumulated tension and emotional stress that adults do.
You do not need to have a health challenge to benefit from Craniosacral Therapy as it can be a restorative and relaxing part of self-care and health maintenance.
“Cells react to threat by withdrawing or contracting. Within a loving nurturing context, they expand and grow”
~ Cell Biologist Bruce Lipton
FAQ (Frequently asked Questions):
What is a typical session like?
The first session begins with an initial consultation where a full and detailed case history is take to establish your past medical history and the reason for your visit/ The things I will ask you about will include past operations, dentistry, accidents, illnesses, stress levels, your health goals and any questions you have.
What happens after the consultation?
After the consultation you lay comfortably on a treatment table fully clothed and with your permission I assess your body (using light touch) at various “listening stations” such as your head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, arms legs and feet.
What should I expect during the session?
The experience of craniosacral sessions varies from person to person. During the session some people may feel very little whilst others may experience sensations such as rumbling of the tummy, tingling, heat, twitching, pulsing, muscles relaxing and adjusting, waves of heat, cold, falling asleep or entering a deep state of rest which can enable reflection and the gaining of insight.
A session may also bring up old unresolved emotions or physical issues from the past to be cleared out – everything that comes up is part of the healing process.
How will I feel after a session?
Results vary with each client – some people experience increased energy whilst others may feel a need to rest. After the session, your body may continue to make adjustments in the days following treatment. Pain reduction or improved function can occur immediately or may develop over the next few days or weeks.
After a series of craniosacral sessions, client have reported changes in areas including feeling calmer, coping better with stressful situations, improved body awareness, feeling more relaxed, increased clarity, better quality sleep, a lifting of brain fog, improved digestion, feeling recharged a reduction in pain and improvement in things like TMJ, neck and shoulder pain and more.
Please remember that everyone’s personal history and body is different and that some conditions may have multiple causes, which may also require additional support from other forms of therapy and treatment such as dietary improvements, nutritional support, naturopathy, counselling or psychotherapy.
How many sessions will I need?
It all depends on how long patterns of dysfunction have taken to build up in your body and how vital or depleted your life-force is. It also depends on whether past trauma have your body’s energy locked up in fight-or-flight or freeze states and how safe you feel.
An average course of treatment is usually four to six sessions scheduled at weekly or fortnightly intervals. In general, people usually feel a difference within a few sessions. After your initial course of treatment you may need no further sessions. You may also choose to continue with a further sessions or transition to maintenance care.
What Issues Responds Well to CST?
Asthma, Anxiety, Back & Neck Pain, Birth Trauma, Bone Joint Conditions, Brain Fog, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Digestive Challenges, Dizziness, Dyslexia, Emotional Issues, Fibromyalgia, Facial Pain, Frozen Shoulder, Headaches, Hormonal Difficulties, Hyperactivity, Infertility, Insomnia, Jaw Problems, Migraine, Menstrual Difficulties, Muscular Pain, Nervous Complaints, Neuralgia, Post dental recovery, Repetitive strain, Surgery, Postural strain, Sciatica, Sinusitis, Sports Injuries, Stress and Trauma related conditions, Tight muscles that entrap nerves, Tinnitus, Tiredness, Visual disturbances, Weakness.
Craniosacral Therapy is not intended as primary healthcare its intended to complement the service provided by your doctor.
