What is Craniosacral therapy? Is it right for you?

Photo by Emma Freeman

I recently had the honor of attending the Upledger Institute’s Craniosacral Level 2 workshop here in Minneapolis. It was a blast! It deepened my understanding of Craniosacral therapy and taught me more techniques to be utilized when working with clients. I want to spend this newsletter talking a bit more about Craniosacral therapy so that you can get a sense of whether it might be beneficial for you. I’m finding that it can be a missing link for some clients, especially those that work with chronic pain, stress and anxiety, headaches and jaw pain/TMJ disorder. 

 What is Craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral therapy focuses on the craniosacral system that comprises the membrane and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Assessment of the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid helps to find areas of restriction in the system and gentle techniques are used to release these restrictions. Releasing restrictions in the craniosacral system allows for a more robust and even rhythm which is correlated with increased vitality and less pain. The pressure with these techniques is very light. This does not mean that it is less beneficial. Craniosacral therapy can be done as a stand alone appointment or incorporated into your massage or shiatsu sessions.
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 A little bit more about what I learned in this workshop
In the workshop, I learned about Energy cysts which are areas of fascial restriction in the body that are formed due to trauma. Energy cysts can be problematic because they require the body to shift how it functions around this blocked off area. This can cause compensatory patterns in movement and/or pain. Energy cysts can be formed anywhere on the body and addressed in a couple different ways. I also learned some techniques that are done in the mouth to affect the facial bones. This can be super helpful for someone that has had an injury or surgery to the face or restrictive dental work like braces. I learned how to work with the structures in the mouth gently (with gloved hands) to release restrictions.
 The more l learn about all types of bodywork the more I deepen my understanding of how the body works as a whole. In all sessions, it’s  important to me to work on the area of concern (where you are feeling pain or tension) as well as other areas in the body that may be affected or affecting this concern. As always I’m happy to chat more about Craniosacral therapy and bodywork in general.