CranioSacral Therapy
The Healing Power of Gentle Touch
CranioSacral therapy seeks to release fascial restrictions in the body that are altering our structure and impairing our ability to function, causing dis-ease. With gentle contact the body feels safe to release these tensions, returning to a state of ease--health. Many feel physically, mentally, and emotionally more relaxed and calm after a session. Their nervous system has been allowed to rest, rejuvenate, and reset. They feel more grounded and present, which allows one to connect more with God, our higher self and others.
An Explanation About the Fascial work of CST
What is Fascia?
CST was developed by an Osteopathic doctor, who found that it is actually the soft connective tissue, called fascia, that is holding the tensions and restrictions causing misalignment and disorder throughout the body. Fascia is a spandex-like suit that surrounds, supports, and protects every system in our body. We can feel it just under the skin, allowing our skin to glide separately from the other parts of the body. Deeper fascia weaves in and around to protect and support every part of our body, allowing for all these parts to glide independently from every other part.
What Causes Fascial Tensions
Fascial tensions and restrictions can come from: chemical toxicities, lack of exercise and nutrients, physical injuries, and stored emotional stresses or traumas. Chemical toxicities, poor care of the body, and physical injuries cause damage and inflammation, which creates scar-like adhesions in the fascia, resulting in tensions and restrictions.
You can learn more about how emotional traumas are stored in the fascia under the topic of SomatoEmotional Release. SER adds to the work of CST by using imagery and dialogue to release these stored tensions.
What is the impact of fascial tensions?
A restriction in one area of our spandex-like suit can cause tensions that pull and affect many other areas. These restrictions can also pull into the membranes of our spinal column. The dural membrane surrounding the spine is attached at the sacrum and not again until the upper cervical vertebrae, so if we have fascial tensions pulling our hips out of alignment, then that creates a twist in our dural tube, which transfers up into our cranium.
These tensions and restrictions cause pain, misalignment and disorder, which reduces fluid flow and restricts the systems of the body from functioning correctly. This body is in a state of dis-ease: tissues are swimming in waste that cannot be removed and starving because the organ is restricted from doing its job and nourishment cannot reach the area. This is what is behind almost every disease.
As tensions are released, we experience a state of ease. Health and energy improve. We experience a clarity of mind and an elevated mood. These allow us to better connect and become one with God, our higher self, and each other.
What is a Session Like?
CranioSacral Therapy is done in a peaceful setting. It is recommended the client comes in flexible, comfortable clothes. They are invited to rest fully clothed on a massage table and take this time to be fully present—perhaps noticing sensations in the body or observing thoughts or images coming to mind.
As a society we tend to live from our thinking mind and not even notice sensations in our body until they become really painful. These sensations are messages the body is communicating to us. Being aware lets us start to take an active part in caring for ourselves and becoming one as a whole person--body, mind, and spirit.
The therapist will then do a full-body assessment, feeling for restrictions in the fascia. With restriction patterns noticed, we then begin treatment.
Most people are used to force and significant pressure to release tensions and realign the body, but this can cause the tissues to guard and tighten and even bruise, potentially causing more restrictive adhesions in the fascia. It can feel like a battle between the body seeking to protect and the therapist seeking to release.
CST is unique in that contact is gentle and the therapist follows the body's lead. The tissues feel safe and in control. Our body is designed to correct and heal if resources are available. When offered this resource of patient, gentle contact by a therapist who has trained their hands to feel what is happening in the tissues, the body can lead the way to release and unravel these held tensions, even deep into the dural membranes of the spinal cord.
Due to its gentleness and safety, CST is ideal to help release tensions inside the cranium. Cranial bones have sutures that allow for expansion and contraction. Using gentle traction on these bones releases internal tensions in the fascial membranes, realigning and restoring fluid flow and brain function.
Clients often leave a session feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally more relaxed and calm. Their nervous system has been allowed to rest, rejuvenate, and reset. They feel more grounded and present, which allows one to connect more with God, our higher self and others.
CranioSacral Therapy Has Been Found to Help
Migraines, Headaches, and Seizures
Chronic Neck and Back pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Infant and Childhood Disorders
Immune Disorders
Post-Concussion Symptoms
Chronic Fatigue
TMJ Syndrome
Scoliosis
Central Nervous System Disorders, Fibromyalgia, and Neuropathy
Learning Difficulties, ADD, ADHD, Autism
Alzheimer's Disease
Orthopedic Problems
Digestive, Endocrine, Respiratory, Circulatory, etc dysfunctions
Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury
What Happens in a Concussion
Concussion, a mild traumatic brain injury, due to an impact or jarring of the head causes the brain to impact and twist within the skull, compacting and stretching the meninges and brain tissue. A cascade of chemical changes, resulting in an energy deficit, leaves the person tired and sensory sensitive as the brain takes time to balance these chemicals.
Long-term effects come from the misalignment of the meninges and brain tissue, which restricts cerebral spinal fluid flow, blood flow and brain cell function. This can lead to endocrine dysfunction, trouble sleeping, double vision, tinnitus, memory/cognitive challenges, headaches, migraines, seizures, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, changes in personality, and more.
A Whole Body Event
An injury to the brain usually means the whole body was involved in an accident. As a result, the fascia—the connective tissue surrounding every major system of the body (skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, organs and nervous)—experiences strains and tensions, which can transfer to the spine’s fascial meningeal system. In the spinal column, fascia connects the dura (outer meningeal layer) to bone at the sacrum (just above the coccyx) but remains unattached in the column until the upper cervical (neck) spine, therefore twists in the dura from lower body misalignment radiate up into the cranial dura, causing misalignment.
Everything is Connected
Under the cranial bones are several layers of fascia called meninges. These connect to the glial matrix, the brain’s fascial/connective tissue.
How Does CranioSacral Therapy (CST) Help?
Just under the skin is fascia, a spandex-like suit surrounding and protecting everything within. Deeper layers weave in and around every aspect of our body, allowing for parts to glide independently from all other parts. Injury to fascia creates scar-like restrictions, resulting in tensions and twists that inhibit this movement. An injury in one area pulls and affects many other areas.
Finding fascial tensions, the therapist uses gentle manipulation to assist the body in releasing restrictions and realigning. This relieves tensions transferring to the fascial meninges of the spinal cord. The therapist can then use the cranial bones for handholds to gently traction the release of twists and tensions in the cranial meninges and glial matrix, restoring fluid flow and realigning brain tissue and its ability to function optimally.
Comments Made During CST Sessions
“The pressure in my head is gone!”
“My head feels so open. I used to press on my head to relieve tension, and now I don’t need to.”
“Hey! My blurry vision trouble just went away!”
“The ringing in my ears is going away!”
“I feel so balanced.” (Client experiencing dizziness)