Why Craniosacral Therapy Works

by SharonHartnett | Oct 20, 2015 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit, Structural Integration, thought for the day

I am not going to get into the physiology of Craniosacral, but rather focus on the experience.

When one thinks about life, there are absolutes and there are relative positions.

Absolutes are either all or nothing. It’s not easy for us to live in absolutes. From childhood, we are taught to identify different things with language. Each thing we name has shades of interpretation. It gives us a way to communicate verbally. It helps our cognitive thinking to grow and expand. Yet our spoken language can be so limiting. Have you ever wanted to write something about an eloquent moment or something that felt rich and sensory, but there just was no way to explain it to another?

When we become aware of our observation while it is watching, we can start to unravel everything that we have learned. Forms and shapes lose the meaning we have placed upon them, and we get to see with fresh eyes. Even deeper than that, we can uncover our true essence as we let go of our stories or attachment to what the outer physical world means to us. Our relative thinking disappears and we unearth a truer joy that it the best word I can find to describe out true selves. Where everything is One, that is the only Absolute. And even this explanation is encased in words.

I have found that as a Craniosacral Therapist that I dance with my clients in the quiet experiences of contact between the nervous systems and all the interconnection dialogue that takes place in a moment, and then in another. The endless thinking patterns can come to a stop and there is a feeling of being present and more fully alive. This doesn’t mean that our histories stop showing up, but we are aware of the “now” and can let those pass by without abuse, suffering or pain more and more as we become attuned to this type of living. The energy that has been trapped and kept in chaos comes into order. SomatoEmotional Release , in particular, is a process that allows our stories to pass through the moment as it clears to completion. More advanced practitioners are well versed in holding space and techniques for this to occur as the mind, body and spirit come together for integration.

Often with Craniosacral, I find that sensitive people are drawn to it. This is because they are experts at tracking their sensations and expression of self. Most of my clients who initially respond to Craniosacral Therapy will feel a lot on the table and walk away feeling great with new understanding. However, I also have clients who prefer deeper myofascial therapy work. I love the fascia, so I am happy to oblige with some Structural Integration or whatever they need. However, as they begin to feel more deeply into their body’s, they too begin to bring awareness to the subtle and find the benefits to such work. In most cases, it is helpful to work deeply at times, and range to the gentle sweet touch of Craniosacral too.

Life is about learning about our relative perspectives, but ultimately to be free, we must let go of the mind to feel and sense deeply as well. So whichever type of touch brings you to a greater awareness, jump into the dance. Feel it all. Wake up to your: touch, sounds, waves, melodies, sights and tastes. Find your fullness and feel the emptiness. Life is for the living and it’s all here.

Craniosacral Columbus

I have found that Craniosacral is a very enlivening type of therapy that revitalizes and evokes the deeper happenings of the soul.

FAQ Page

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

Worthington, Ohio|Serving the Columbus Area

614 653-8111

To find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out my main page.

What is a Healer?

by SharonHartnett | Sep 18, 2015 | Aromatherapy, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K

In this day and age, almost every town has a person who is a Healer.

But what is a Healer?

Traditionally, we have gone to physicians, and nurses to help us to heal in recent times. However, in the last 30 years or so, there has been a resurgence of more natural types of healing. Dr. Weil is the first professional person that I can think of who opened the door to integrative therapies into the mainstream. Deepak Chopra also comes to mind as leader in bringing the mind, body and spirit connection to the media with famous people like Oprah Winfrey. Dr. Barbara Brennan intrigued us with her book “Hands of Light” as it sold thousands of books connecting the Human Energy field with health and the disease process. With a focus now on practices like: yoga, meditation, energy healing, nutrition, stress relief techniques and hands on type of massage and bodywork, people are moving into a more open area of healing after not finding what they need from the old western paradigm.

Online and in conversations, I have heard some people raise doubt to the proof of success for these integrative practices. And that makes sense to me. If a person is only open to thinking a certain way, it is very difficult to receive benefits from something as subjective as being held, or cared for with compassion and feeling. Yet tests and studies have been made which have shown wonderful positive changes after treatments such as Craniosacral Therapy and Structural Integration. Incredible miracles have occurred when people come together in mindfulness and bring their awareness to things like “peace” and “harmony”. Yet these still have not always easy to prove as an ideal healing methods. Healing is a personal journey that will be taken by your sense of individual self. A greater sense of expansion will call you home if you listen.

If you are on your healing path, eventually you will realize that the “Healer” you are looking for is within yourself. There is an intelligence that lies within that is deeper than anyone else’s practice that can truly help. On the same note, we are not meant to do anything alone. And whichever healing path you decide to take, there is a dance. Listen to your deepest longing and reach out. Allow that connection to heal from the external to within. And that experience will now always exist inside of you. It can not be taken away unless you offer it into the land of forgetfulness. Often when the healer leaves, the client may not feel as empowered enough to maintain what has been received. However, after more sessions and positive mirroring, the client begins to resource within for what is needed more easily. So to be clear, the Healing and Healer lies within each of us, but facilitation and relationship are key to humans health and wellbeing.

Whether you decide to see a Medical Doctor, PT, Chiropractor, Acupuncturist or Massage Therapist, make your decisions by listening to your inner “Truth Voice”. It will lead you to the right person who will facilitate your health and wellness goals in that moment. Stay while it works, question when it stops, and be in the moment with whatever is showing up. The Universe will show you what you need even when your habitual thinking gets into the way.

If you are looking for that great person to make it all better, just look into the mirror and look. Nobody else is going to do it for you, but there are lots of wonderful caring people who will help you on your way with the tools they have in their pocket and hearts.

Sharon Hartnett LMT

Columbus, Ohio

Craniosacral Therapist and a lot of other things….

(614) 653-8111

Relieve Chronic Headaches with Craniosacral Therapy Massage

by SharonHartnett | Sep 5, 2015 | Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K

Understanding why people experience Chronic Headaches may be difficult.

So let’s rather concentrate our energy on finding a way to help relieve the pain. What actually works?

Generally speaking, when a person experiences headaches approximately 15 days a month or more, it is considered a chronic situation. The two kinds of headaches that shout out the loudest are: tension and migraine.

Chronic Headache relief

Tension headaches are usually diffused around and encompass the whole head. This includes the scalp, neck and are thought to be activated by stress.

Migraine headaches can be identified by a pounding pain in the head, along with feelings of nausea, light sensitivity and dizziness. Often they are felt on one side of the head. Genetics and the living environment are thought to be linked to the start of the throbbing. Diet, chemicals, hormones and such can all contribute to the onset of pain.

Massage Therapy can be helpful in reducing headache pain, simply because it is relaxing, balances the nervous and circulatory systems, and reduces stress. The best thing you can do it to create a healthy lifestyle that nourishes you and brings you into equilibrium. Therapeutic touch can be part of that positive decision making process!

How can Craniosacral Therapy Help?

Craniosacral Therapy in particular is a great modality of light touch massage that helps clients reconnect to better internal dialogue. Thereby, its’ benefits are found by allowing better circulation, nervous system communication, lymphatic flow, and energy transmission. CST is great for young babies, and all other ages.

Release Tension

When an experience Craniosacral Therapists works for you, he/she listens to what want to happen in your body to complete cycles of health and wellness. Especially in regards to headaches, one pays attention to the thoracic inlet to make sure that area is open and flowing superior of the heart, but below the neck. When the cranial motion is optimized by working with sutures and balancing the cerebrospinal flow, the fluids and nerves have a clearer path to move back down into the body for increased functionality.

If you haven’t heard about Craniosacral Therapy, please go to the Upledger site to find out more.

If you would like a free 15 minute phone consult, call Sharon Hartnett.

FAQ Page

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

Worthington, Ohio|Serving the Columbus Area

614 653-8111

To find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out my main page.

Headache Relief with Craniosacral Therapy

by SharonHartnett | Aug 5, 2015 | craniosacral, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K

Help my headache go away!

Headaches show up for a variety of reasons… What’s important for you to know is that there are some things that can be very helpful for headache relief, and one of those things is Craniosacral Massage Therapy.

Help your headache with Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy for Headache Relief!

With Craniosacral Therapy, the therapist first tunes into the whole body by listening to the Craniosacral rhythm and palpating the fascial restrictions and tension. Through the practiced light touch of Craniosacral Therapy, one feels supports and follows the internal body wisdom to help the fascia soften… lengthen, often following with the body feeling more energized. With the intention of helping to sooth the headache, the next thing a seasoned therapist will do after listening to the entire body is to go to the diaphragms and release the tight layers. Since the body’s fascia is continuous, it’s important to make sure that other sources away from the head are freed up too.

When that is accomplished, one of the best techniques to release pain in the head is to Release the Cranial Base. This technique feels wonderfully therapeutic and often clients breathe a sigh of release when this is done:

1.The first aspect of this technique is to position the fingertips gently into the soft tissue posterior to the atlas (C1) as the tension melts away.
2.Next, the fingertips form a platform with straight fingers that aim towards the ceiling and then towards the eyes. This may be a little sore due to tightness, but to most people, it is the kind of feeling that feels quite good. Eventually the head will drop down into the hands and the atlas floats freely.
3.Part three of the Occipital Base Release aims to release the occiput from the atlas. This is accomplished by tractioning the occiput superiorly, while making sure that C1 stays stable.
4.To make this release even better, the hands continue to hold the head while fingertips spread the condyles laterally which effectively open restrictions along the cranial base and around the foramen magnum.
5.The final touch includes a gentle release of the dural tube with a delicate traction.
This whole process of working with the Cranial Base allows better flow through the Cranial Vault. It relieves pressure from along the major nerves. In addition to this wonderful new opening, a Stillpoint would be included. It also helps to alleviate pain and strengthen the nervous system’s balance. The Upledger Institute sells a Stillpoint Red Tool that I highly recommend for clients to buy for in between sessions. With about 10 minutes per day, there should be a significant improvement with headache pains.

Check into the Stillpoint Inducer at this link to help you maintain a Pain Free life: Stillpoint inducer

FAQ Page

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

Worthington, Ohio|Serving the Columbus Area

614 653-8111

To find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out my main page.

Craniosacral and Tools for Foot Pain

by SharonHartnett | Aug 1, 2015 | Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Massage, Structural Integration

Foot Pain: As we get older, we pick up certain habitual patterns that contribute to how we feel and move.

Personally I have had issues with my right foot for years from a childhood sprain and twisting. The best I felt was about 20 years ago after going through a Rolfing 10 series. After we finished, I remember feeling so great and actually standing taller that I decided to study Structural Integration (SI) myself. For years now, I have been doing SI work and I have seen miraculous changes with my clients. But since I have integrated Craniosacral Therapy, some Feldenkrais that I learned and a few basic tools into my daily practice and table work, I have shared these concepts in order to help others. I like to see people get better!

So here is what helps me and my clients:

Structural Integration helps the whole body come into alignment. Myofascial relationships shift and work more efficiently with gravity.
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) relieves dysfunctional issues in the cranium and brain, and also with the fascia. In addition, it helps to enhance fluidity around the joints and in the tissues and to support a nervous system that helps clients to feel balanced and more vitalized.
The below tools have helped me too and give me a sense of self-empowerment to change.

The roller, red ball and Yamuna foot fitness tools can be used daily to break up old patterns in the feet. But this goes way beyond just the foot. As the tension there begins to melt, the tissues going up the leg and trunk change too. You will start to feel your hips changing and your posture relaxing. Use your daily practice as medicine, and I invite you to go out on a limb and find some good bodyworkers to facilitate.

Good-Bye to Foot Pain!

Blessed day and blessed feet to you!

Sharon Hartnett LMT, CST, SI & Brennan Healing Practitioner

(614) 653-8111

Columbus, Ohio

www.massageincolumbusohio.com