Is A Head Massage Different Than Craniosacral Therapy?

by SharonHartnett | Dec 19, 2024 | concussion, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, migraine

Head Massage Feels Great!

Imagine warm hands offering head massage after a stressful day. It feels wonderful creating better circulation and helping the soft tissues relax.

Even better though, when your head hurts, or you are suffering post concussion symptoms, Craniosacral Therapy is the better bet. In a Craniosacral Therapy session, you are going to have a Craniosacral Therapist listen to all the internal motions and work with the restrictions going on in your head, as well as your body at a much deeper level.

That’s right, an experienced Certified Craniosacral Therapist can listen and follow the patterns throughout the whole system by placing our hands in one place and listening intently. The amazing thing is the body shows us through the Craniosacral System where there is dysfunction and how to help achieve integration.

This is primarily done by noticing and working with the sutures and allowing our hands to follow the patterns and rhythm into releasing from superficially to the deeper issues. This can be exceptionally helpful for people with migraines, headaches, and who have hit their head.

The gentle biomechanical light pressure we use, gives small nudges to create deeper flow throughout the brain. It’s almost like an unwinding of disconnected communication patterns inside the head. Allowing more space and dialogue. Beyond this, it affects the whole body and nervous system through all the interconnections. When the brain is feeling healthy, the body does as well.

Head Massage can feel great. Especially if someone focuses on their massage this way and becomes an expert. Comparatively, a Certified Craniosacral Therapy learns about the cranium, the mouthwork, the different parts of the brain and nervous system and more. Helping to create better motion in the brain, and throughout the whole body by working with the craniosacral system can alleveiate so many challenging symptoms. Truly, it helps the whole body to heal itself.

Sharon Hartnett CST-d

Certified through the Upledger Institute

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

Remind Me How to Heal From a Concussion

by SharonHartnett | Aug 22, 2024 | concussion, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, upledger institute

Concussion Relief

Today I am sharing about my own experience with a concussion. About 10 years ago, I fell badly, and landed on the left side of my head and body. Immediately an ambulance was called, and I went to the “Emergency” room at the hospital.

They checked me out. Sent me home. Problem was I was NOT ok. The concussion symptoms creeped in later. For about a month, I laid in bed. Not able to watch TV, read, go out into the light. I felt light headed and my mind wasn’t clear. The FOG. For those of you who have experienced the same thing, you know what I mean. There is nothing to do but just wait it out.

Eventually my health improved. Enough so that I flew down to the Upledger Institute to receive treatment. The Therapist was good, but honestly- I felt little difference. When the brain gets jostled around it takes time to heal, and many Craniosacral Sessions to just find balance again. Now, for each person this is a unique path. We must each find the right dose of the best remedies for ourselves. So I don’t want to lie here and say there is a magic pill. It’s a journey. Craniosacral Therapy helped me tremendously over the years.

However, I did find top notch Craniosacral Therapists across the States, and I committed to my health and wellbeing.Finally, the headaches slipped away, and slowly but surely I did get better. Also,because I am an advanced Craniosacral Therapist, I practiced the technques on myself almost daily. Admittedly this was a challenging trauma, and I have never come back to 100 percent. However, I do feel much better. My life goes on and nobody would even realized that I am still on the mend all these years later. But hey, life is good and I bow down deep in gratitude to Dr. John Upledger’s Work.

Now, I suppose because I have gone through so much with my concussion and brain injury, I have become specialized in helping and supporting those with similar issues. Sometimes our greatest wounds or hurts make us super detailed and well tuned in to the gift of helping others to heal similar patterns.

So many people have not heard about Craniosacral Therapy, but it is what has helped me the most. That and fish oils and other supplement. My re-dedication to the Upledger work was based on the relief I found from the original concussion sypmtoms. I have been a Craniosacral Therapist since 2003, but now this work is my life passion.

If you are suffering from a concussion or a traumatic brain injury, check out the Upledger site. Find someone near you to join you on the path to recovery. When a Craniosacral Therapist works with you, they are listening to your Inner Physician (IP). The IP takes the new information in and allows the deeper intelligence to heal you. The therapist is the reminder that possibilities do exist to bring you back to Wholeness.

Warmly,

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How to Relieve Tension Headaches?

by SharonHartnett | Aug 20, 2024 | concussion, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, meditation, mind body & spirit, mindfulness, upledger institute

The Steady Ache of Tension Headaches

Find Relief:

Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can cause tension headaches.
Get Rest: Headaches can worsen without enough sleep.
Meditate: It focuses and clears your mind.
Scalp Massage helps to loosen the soft tissues on the head.
Ice Your Tension Areas
Cognitive Therapy can help you to Sort things out.
Craniosacral Therapy-deep support for motion in the cranium. This supports better motion and fluidity in the head.

If you are feeling that tightening pressure around your head, change what you are doing. Tension headaches are usually patterns. The good thing is that tension headache patterns can be broken.

As a Craniosacral Therapist, there have been times when I have worked with a person for 5 minutes and a 7 year old headache finally disappeared. This isn’t always the case, but motion and nourishment can and often shift you right out of pain.

Quite often, clients who come in once a month after initial sessions end up feeling pain free. It’s all about the fluids, the softness and giving the head and neck the ability to stay connected to the body.

If you’d like to find out more about how Craniosacral Therapy can work for you, contact:

Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

6797 N. High St. #333 Worthington, Ohio 43085

What is Craniosacral Massage?

by SharonHartnett | Jul 10, 2024 | concussion, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Healing, healing, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit, stillpoint, upledger institute

What is Craniosacral Massage?

Many people call me asking for Craniosacral Massage. The first thing I do is listen to why a person wants to come in.

People speak about their health issues, and often state that they have heard about Craniosacral Massage. Yet they don’t really know what it is. It’s important to me to take the time to explain the foundational basics, and then to make sure they question and understand if this work is a good match for what they are looking for.

So I do want to start by clarifying that Craniosacral Therapy is not actually “Massage”. Instead, it is a light touch manual therapy with a very different focus. It’s based on the Craniosacral System and how it relates primarily to the Nervous System. Just to name a few, it’s great for people dealing with:

Chronic Pain
Headaches/Migraines/Concussions
Fibromyalgia
People looking for Body Centered Help with Trauma Release
Scoliosis
TMJ
Anxiety

You can find out more on the Cleveland Clinic site:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17677-craniosacral-therapy

or through the Upledger Institute.

Also, there is a big difference between practitioners and therapists. Practitioners may have taken a class, whereas therapists going through a rigorous process to get certified through the Upledger Institute are much more thorough and deep into the work.

While the touch of Craniosacral Therapy is very light and simple in a way, there is actually alot of complex anatomy and techniques to learn, as well as taking the time to gain experience in order to become a professional and helpful therapist. So if you are looking for a qualified person to meet your needs, ask them about their backgrounds and specilties.

I love Craniosacral Therapy because it can help almost everyone. Craniosacral Therapy is also attentive and gentle-yet profound. It nudges the body into self-healing and deeper awareness. There are a few contraindications, but for the most part everyone can appreicate a healthier nervous system, more balance and fluidity through their bodies.

If you would like to find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, not craniosacral massage, please contact me and I offere free 10 minute phone consults.

Warmly,

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

Serving the Columbus Ohio Area

6797 N. High St. #333

Worthington, Ohio 43085

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How To Find Relief from Clenching

by SharonHartnett | Jul 3, 2024 | concussion, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K

Clenching: You Deserve to Feel Better!

Is it possible to stop Clenching?

Bruxism is the name of the condition when you grind or are clenching your teeth. Up to about 30 % of people do this. Some people are aware that they clench. And others not.

Clenching often happens when a person is stressed and awake. At other times, the clenching happens while sleeping at night. Eventually it is discovered, because it leads to pain or other issues like sleep disorders, pain in the face, issues with breathing, tinittus, and swallowing issues.

On a personal level, I began to experience it after some concussions. My jaw became misaligned. Hitting ones head can also cause lots of stress when the cranium is knocked around.

I went to the dentist, and she gave me a mouth guard. It was so uncomfortable I couldn’t wear it. Also, being a Craniosacral Therapist, I knew that it also inhibited the natural movement of the maxilla. Didn’t work. I will be honest and say that clenching has caused me a lot of issues. On the positive note, I can also say that with persistence, one can help to alleviate and sometimes release all the tension contributing to bruxism. It is possible to stop, but it may take patience to unwind all the causes which contribute to the condition.

Being a Craniosacral Therapist, I have worked in my own mouth, and that has helped me considerably. Releasing all the tension around the hyoid muscles is key. Also working around the TMJ joint. Above are some pictures to show you the inter-relationship between the the neck and jaw muscles. The Upledger Institute teaches a whole protocol on mouthwork which is very beneficial. I enjoy working with people just to see the relief they find with mouth work.

Also facing your stress and anxiety with gentleness, while receiving some help can change your life and heal the body as well. There are many somatic approaches to addressing the body that are profound and create postive change. Some examples are Hakomi, SE Work, Upledger SER therapy and such.

Also myofunctional therapists can help with exercises.

Dendending on the stress and structure, it may take time to release and integrate the stressed from clenching. But there is help available.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.cranioacraltherapistcolumbus.com

www.upledger.com

6797 N. High St. #333

Worthington, Ohio 43085

by SharonHartnett | Mar 27, 2024 | concussion, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, healing, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit, Structural Integration

Young people and older people are getting forward neck posture. All the computers and the cell phones contribute greatly. But also all the sitting Americans do. It’s not good. If I had to do it again, I’d start squatting and learn yoga or pilates early on. I’d make them a life practice. But life being what it is in our culture- our postures are often misaligned as we get older. But there are things we can do to have more freedom of motion.

In my opinion, massage can help. But someone who specializes in fascia is the best bet. The fascia wraps around and through everything in the body superficially to the deep. From macro to micro and reversed. It’s a living tissue that contains and keeps us alive and in motion. When we nourish the fascia and help it remember its ability to be vital, pain can disappear.

I have clients in their 50’s and on up. They can hardly move their necks when they first come in. They are told it is arthritis. Well, they may have arthritis, but it’s the tissues that restrict or allow motion. It’s the fluids dancing with the structure that makes the change. If things can start to soften, spread and move, the bones can be adjusted or perhaps move back on their own. It’s like a wrapping. If it’s tight and stiff- how does life nourish or relinquish what it no longer needs?

Of course there are minerals, vitamins, PT and other things which can help (all part of the HELP team), but the fascia is key. People, whose doctors tell them it’s arthritis often don’t talk about the benefits of fascial work. I think this is a big mistake not including it in health protocols. In addition, learning Feldenkrais, Continuum and other movement exercises that are gentle can be essential and really help too. People don’t have to stay stuck or frozen internally. At any age, we can make choices that will help us. It may not correct the issue 100%, but it can make a huge difference.

Friends, move yourself in different ways. Be proactive with your health. We all have habits that aren’t easy to break, and when this happens- there is always someone out there with skill and experience who is willing to help. It may take time and patience. Take care-no matter which route you take.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D
7035091792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com