The very popular Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is unknown to many. CST is very popular with my clients and get frequent requests for use at the end of sessions. CST is a great option for anyone desiring pain relief and the possibility of reducing the use of pain medications.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a hands-on gentle method of assessing and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Practitioners use gentle touch to promote the release of restrictions along the myofascial-dural pathway of the craniosacral system, improving the function in the nervous system.

A craniosacral session helps the muscles and fascia envelope to loosen and recover normal flexibility and function, thereby unloading the dural tissue, and calming the protective guarding of the nervous system.

Craniosacral Therapy may benefit clients with:

· Migraine Headaches

· Sciatica

· Back Pain

· Neck Pain/Whiplash injuries

· Traumatic injury history

· Anxiety & Stress

According to Dan Cohen’s book An Introduction to Craniosacral Therapy: Anatomy, Function, and Treatment (1995), CST is used to “…access the total human being’s self-corrective and self- healing processes.

I have found CST is potent tool for clients with trauma histories, using it more often during the first few sessions with clients, using more movement education further along.

For babies these conditions can benefit from Craniosacral Therapy along with Neuromovement...

• torticollis more moderate neck tightness

• imbalances with rolling or turning the head

• phagiocephaly or irregular shaped head

• breast feeding and latch issues

• acid reflux

• colic

Key takeaways from using the techniques for many years...

There is a technique I use quite often in the protocol call the OA decompression. O is C1, A is C2. Muscles also attach into the dura at the sub occiput and exert their pull into all levels of the spine and pelvis. The nervous system responds to all stress and trauma with various levels of guarding and self-protection.

Read my post about Tummy Time and the optical righting reflex. The optical righting reflex uses visual information to help maintain an upright position when the body is tilted. The postural reflex is optimized when the head position sit right on the atlas, or c1 allowing for relaxed easy eye movements.

I have noticed associations between the amount of brokenness clients report and compression in that area. I've noticed limitations of eye movements with clients who have experienced neck injuries or whiplash. Freedom in the head, occiput c1, atlas c2 areas is associated with the amount of wellness and vitality moving about, versus restriction or compression associated with brokenness moving about.

I became interested in OMT and Osteopathic philosophy after working with Mark McKeigue, DO in Olympia Fields, IL from 1985-1987. I decided to pursue osteopathic based continuing education and found Joe Cordes, PT, CFP. from Grand Rapids, MI.

Craniosacral Therapy transformed my body so much that it changed the trajectory of my career path down an alternative complementary path. Ray took Craniosacral Therapy level 1 under Joe Cordes in 1991, and Craniosacral Therapy level 2 under Joe Cordes in 1998. Joe Cordes introduced me to the Feldenkrais Method in 1991.