How to be Real: Be Grounded

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jan 31, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy

Getting Real

Being Real over Spiritual Bypassing. I have been in the world of spiritual healing for close to 30 years. What I truly love about building my relationship with the Divine is the openness between me and all that is greater than the singular Self. Also, I enjoy the flexibility of changing, and growing in my relationships to everything instead of being fixed in one limited belief system. It also provides the basis for freedom to be who and what I am meant to be. I don’t depend on other people’s interpretation of God, but rather develop my own spiritual relationships moment to moment. This is super meaningful to me. Maybe it would be for you as well.

Sometimes though, this can be messy. I am a Pisces. Deeply emotional, compassionate, empathetic and sensitive. I am wonderful until I get pushed too far! One thing I have recognized is that many people don’t tend to have a large capacity to hold speace for messy feelings. Yet lots of people need this. I do. I have had lots of practice.

Really, I know how important emotions are in leading us on our life path to feel and contribute in a world where this stream of consciousness is often put on the shelf. Feelings are part of being human. Feelings help us feel alive and spark joy as well as passion. This includes fears, angers, hates and rage. All is included. I believe if we could all find healthy ways to feel the wide berth of feelings that live inside of us, everyone would be a lot healthier. We would treat ourselves and each other much better.

Some people are not very self aware about feelings and emotions. They were never taught it was OK to experience all the feelings. Actually, I doubt many of us were given 100% approval when we played out tantrums or yelled at the top of our lungs as children. However, as we grow up, its very important for us to not bypass our emotional selves. It’s like cutting off part of our life force. t’s also destructive in how we treat each other at times. This often is reflected in how we project on to others instead of using self reflection.

One place that I have noticed this comes up is often in spiritual communities. A phrase, called “spiritual bypassing” is widely accepted to help us understand. Especially for many young people now this practice is growing. There is so much emphasis on expansion into the spiritual instead of self-discovery to be real. It’s being passed down through many “guru” type of teachers.

In any case, what spiritual bypassing means is the tendency to use spiritual (it can be religious also) practices or beliefs to avoid dealing with personal issues or truths. This can happen often when someone feels overwhelmed or something arises within that is painful.

While feelings can feel unbearable at times, it is important not to sequester those feelings permanently. You don’t always have to be nice, postitive or choosing the illusion of being perfect. None of us can be that all of the time. It’s a setup for disaster.

Spiritual bypassing can also happen when one wants to control their environment. By clinging to the “pretend shadow” that everything is OK when it is not, it helps one to avoid their real self. A person who does this might believe they are transcending, but instead it is a real avoidance tactic. It also is usually set up in blaming others so that superiority reigns. It’s not real though.

The shadow, the unconsicous part of us though longs for healing.In order to do this, we must be mindful and introspective about who and what we are in the moment. To live in two realities:one in the ideal, and the other in what is truly happening is a deep split. It is not enlightenment to be reasonable all the time and to not feel.

I bring this up because if you are looking for someone to lean into during your healing process, find someone who is authentically real and grounded in this world. We are human. We are here to live a human experience. Living up in the ethers is fun ane expansive, but not the total of who we are or where we are meant to live.

Nothing is more real than being “you” with awareness. Don’t fall for spiritual bypassing as being “The Truth”. Energy Healers can be like this quite a bit. So if you are looking for someone to help you navigate, find one who is firmly here, able to touch into their own life force physically, emotionally, to own their own belief systems and to be flexible with them, connected with their hearts and their spiritual selves too. We are whole. You are whole. We are just waiting to remember this through our awakening process.

Remember this my friends. I have witnessed too many people led astray by spiritual bypassing. Energy Work can feel great, but it is not integrated unless your energy healer is. Nothing is more fulfilling than being yourself and being real.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D and Energy Healer and Teacher

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

www.barbarabrennan.com

Navigating Anxiety in a World Full of Change

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jan 25, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy

Anxiety in the Midst of Change

Navigating Anxiety while in Overwhelm is important in this day and age. Life when everything feels uncertain or in flux can be incredibly hard, and it’s something many of us grapple with at some point. Here are a few things to consider to manage stress:

Focus on the choices you do have: While we can’t always control our external world, we can control how we respond— that’s where we find our real power. Whether that’s taking care of our mental & physical health, getting organized, or creating and maintaining personal boundaries- we must start with a mindful approach where we can make a difference through decisions and actions. Bringing our awareness inward into stressful moments of our day help us find deeper resources for clarity. Start with a few minutes. Then increase the time you spend in gentle consideration. This might be small stuff, but sometimes it’s the small things that make a huge difference.

Embrace adaptability: Change is a constant, and although it might feel uncomfortable or maybe even unstable- embracing the idea of change can make it more acceptable and easy to work through. Seeing change as an opportunity can shift the perspective from fear to curiosity. Always, leaning into the unknown can open up unexpected pathways where we trust there are infinite possibilities outside of ourselves, but also inside as well.

Ground into yourself with personal values and integrity: When everything else is in flux, having a firm foundation of your core values can help provide direction. It could be anything from staying true to your Higher Self, prioritizing your relationships, or seeking personal growth. Knowing what matters to you in the long run gives you a compass when you feel lost. Get to know yourself and be open to how your truth shifts. When you are in your center, life is easier when in motion.

Be patient with yourself: It’s easy to feel lost or frustrated when things aren’t going the way you expect, but it’s important to allow yourself grace. Also realize that it would be really boring if we always knew the outcome. It’s important to leave some space for the mystery to unfold. Life is an adventure, and you are the captain of your own ship!

Find support: Whether through friends, family, or professional help, connecting and building healthy relationships brings meaning and nurturing to our souls.

If you are feeling anxious, and could use some support, I do offer free 15 minute phone consultations to see if we can be a good match for guidance. I work with stress management, anxiety, PTSD through a body centered manual approach.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 5091792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

3 Big Benefits of Receiving Structural Integration Therapy

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jan 24, 2025 | better posture, Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Healing, Healthy Body, Massage, mindfulness, move effortlessly, Structural Integration

How Structural Integration Chose Me.

The miracles of fascia work.

Structural Integration really helped me when I was in my 30’s after having children. My body was so out of alignment, especially after carrying children on my hip and bending over so much. The smartest thing I did was to find a local Rolfer. After 10 sessions, I felt so much longer and spacious, I decided to study it with another local teacher, John Latz for 18 months.

When I lived in the Washington DC area, and Florida, I had a wonderful private practice where I did mostly Structural Integration for many years. Eventually though, as I began to get older, I decided to move more into the Craniosacral Therapy because it’s easier on the body. What I liked about this transition is that both consider the fascia and have similar benefit, but the technques are different. Also, neither are truly considered massage, but instead manual therapy with their own unique perspective to healing.

For about the last 15 years, I have lived in the Columbus, Ohio area, and my primary focus is the Upledger Craniosacral Sessions. However, I still take into account the perspective of structural integration and stacking the body in alignment with the efforlessness of gravity consideration. Also, by addressing imbalances in posture, through the series, even with a gentle approach, it helps to reduce strain on muscles, joints, ligaments and lends to comfort in daily living. By working with the fasica, both in SI work and Craniosacral Therapy, we can help release restrictions, and unzip the body into new possibilities.

Three benefits I see often are:

1. More energy

2. Better Balance

3. Improved Circulation and Motion

I believe that fascia is an incredible system that is still being uncovered and understood. However, therapist have known this for a long time. We have witnessed the strength and power of change with the fascia over and over again.

As I stated, I no longer do primarily Structural Integration, but I do “integrate” it into my Craniosacral Work. It’s much more gentle, and more inclusive with its attention on the Craniosacral System and the rhthym. I do sort of a combination with the fascial awareness. It’s all about letting go of stress can creating a better environment for healing.

If you would like to find out more about how I work, I do offer a free 15 phone consultation. 703 509-1792

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How to Develop a Good Plan for Stress Management

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jan 24, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Healing, grounding, healing, healthy, Healthy Body, meditation, mind body & spirit, mindfulness

Who needs stress?

Well, stress can be beneficial. It can help your performance in any part of your life if it is used in a positive way. However, chronic stress is a different matter. Long-term stress can be a major contributor to numerous health problems.

Fortunately, there are some tools that you can learn to help you stay healthy in your mind and body connection. Addressing stress as soon as possible can significantly shift your mindset. An intentional practice of committing to self-care can help avoid or minimize anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases and chronic pain.

If you haven’t already come up with a plan for stress managment, here are a few ideas:

Mindfulness, prayer and meditation can help reduce cortisol levels and bring one to center. This is a practice of becoming fully aware in the moment through experience and observation. Curiousity also helps set the stage for discovering inner peace.
Holistic and Complementary practices like Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Acupuncture have shown to be very helpful with stress management.
Breathing Exercises can shift you more into a calm state. One that I recommend is breathing in to a slow count of 4, exhale to 6 and pause. In your practice continue to lengthen the pause at the end of the exhale. Also, practice diaphragmatic breathing, imagining your breath filling the whole ribcage as it expands and contracts. Allow the breath to move all the way to the pelvic floor.
Check with your physician about the Role of Nutrition: omega 3, magnesium and certaine B vitamins support brain health, and help to regulate emotions.
Sleep. It’s so important to get enough rest. When you sleep well your brain is able to clear through the glymphatic system. This can help you to feel much better restored, and to heal. A good sleep routine is imperative to good health.

Being in a Healing Practice for close to 30 years, I have seen so many people with chronic stress.I want you to know that it’s possible to step away from that. However, it does mean making a choice to change your life. Your power comes in the form of doing things that bring you back to your balanced and healthy Self.

If you have any questions, how I can help you as a Craniosacral Therapist, I offer a free 15 phone consultation.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

7035091792

Serving the Columbus Ohio Area

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How To Find Joy by Choosing the Higher Self

by SharonHartnett | Jan 22, 2025 | change, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Healing, meditation, mind body & spirit, mindfulness, move effortlessly

What is the Higher Self?

One could describe the higher self as the deeper, timeless essence of who you are — a part of you that exists beyond the layers of ego, personality, and conditioned thought. It’s like the true center of your being, always in harmony with the universe and imbued with wisdom, love, and clarity. To understand it, think of it as the still, quiet voice within that knows and sees beyond your ordinary perceptions. This is what Google says anyway. And believe it or not, I agree this is a great description!

In today’s world, there is a lot of suffering and pain. It’s part of he human condition. It passed down along the lineage and through our cultures and religion. We get so distracted with the stories from the past, it’s hard to imagine a life of compassion, great wisdom and greatness. But it’s time to start feeling joy. Right?

In today’s world, many people think it’s up to us alone to deal with our problems. Be accountable. Figure it out. You can do it. Right? While this is all true, along the journey of life, sometimes we do need help from others, and also from that place inside of us that transcends time and space. Inside of us is the whole universe, and when we align with the Higher Self, it will open us up and awaken all the possibilities. If you are looking for clarity, the Higher Self is the best place to inquire.

There is a good book I recommend by Susan Thesanga called, “The Undefended Self“. I read this years ago. And what she says in that book is powerful knowledge even today.

Sometimes, we need to cut through all the patterns of the past and commit to the Higher Path. Even though it’s hard to let go of the past at times, beginning to look inward for these wisdom resources will change everything for you. Begin with mindfulness and prayer. Listen to the responses that life brings back. Open up this communication to the Higher Self, and the “old” will dissolve and thee “new” can begin. Embrace the change and find your Inner Warrior. Be courageous. Be strong. But there is you in making this choice, and there are your allies too. Remember:). Jump into your Best Timeline.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D, Brennan Healer and more!

703 5091792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

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Fascia: The Hands On Treatment that Changes Everything

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jan 21, 2025 | better posture, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, grounding, healthy, Healthy Body, Structural Integration, upledger institute

Getting Manual Work With Your Fascia supports Overall Health and Wellbeing

About 1-2 years ago, I listened to a podcast about the “Interstitium”. Perhaps you have never heard of it. It is a fairly new term. And we know that sometimes it takes time for a new idea to come take hold. So, I thought I’d give the Interstitium and Fascia work a little boost out here on the web. So here we are.

Let’s begin by defining Fascia and it’s relationship to the Interstitium.

Fascia is a type of tissue that looks like a web inside your body. If you could imagine that underneath your skin there is a living matrix wetsuit superficially. This fascia tissue travels deeper and through almost everything in the human body: around bones, organs and it basically holds us all together. In your mind, if you could continue to see it-and sense into it, you’ understand it as a strong elastic type of material that stretches and connects throughout. Fascia is made up out of elastin, collagen and ground substances.

The interstitium is a relatively new area of study in manual therapy. It’s a vast network of fluid-filled spaces that surround cells and tissues, and it plays a key role in how fluids move through the body. By working with both the fascia and the interstitium, therapists can support the movement of these fluids and encourage more efficient flow, which can help the body recover from injury, decrease inflammation, and promote overall health.

This integrated approach, which addresses both the connective tissue (fascia) and the surrounding fluid networks (interstitium), helps create a more holistic, balanced experience for the body. The combination of fluid dynamics and fascial release is what makes manual therapy working with the fascia and interstitium so powerful and restorative.

How Does a Manual Therapist Work with the fascia and Interstitium?

1. It’s key to work slowly and gently whether the therapist does Craniosacral Therapy, Myfascial Release or Deeper Structural Integration. The connected touch feels like a deep stretch, lengthening and spreading vitality to the surrounding tissues. When the therapist listens, the fascia will always lead to the easiest way to unwind and free of movement and space.

2. It’s also quite common for people to feel more fluidity with fascial work. This is where the instertitium comes in because it allows motion and enhances functioning.

3. Manual Fascial Therapy often releases deep tension patterns. Here is where some of the therapies may vary in approach. With Ida Rolf’s work, generally the touch is more assertive. The other end of the spectrum is gentle, light touch Craniosacral Therapy.

4. You may gain greater awareness of your body. Touch is a great way to mirror back the sensations in your body. You may feel a greater sense of connection to the many internal influences that optimize your body’s health and wellness.

5. The effects of fascial work is profound. You may walk away feeling so calm and peaceful. Often people feel more balanced inside but also in how their body stacks up. This can mean better grounding and use of movement. When the fascia is better organized, it is more efficient in everything it does. With muscles but also in promoting organ health too with mobility and motility.

6. Both the fascia and the interstitium are connected to emotions. For example, when a person experiences a physical or emotional trauma, that may hold in the tissues and contract to protect. While this is super efficient short-term it’s important to find balance and length again so misalignments don’t compensate permanently.

7. If you want to feel more at home in your body, fascia and interstitum work can help you reach your goals. It’s always best to optimize what you have.

A little bit about Sharon Hartnett (author):

I studied Massage in the 1990’s. Later studying Ida Rolf’s work at the Institute for Structural Integration. Later in the early 2000’s I got turned on to Craniosacral Therapy. Truly I love both of these approaches to keep the fascial body healthy. One (SI) is definately a stronger approach. However, the Craniosacral Therapy is so gentle that body is more apt to work more effectively. It doesn’t fight any of the technique. More recently, I have studied Visceral Manipulation at the Barral Institute for about the last 10 years. This looks at the organs and the tissues connecting and surrounding. Mobilizing the tissues can actually help the organs to functure better. So all this work is vital to keep peope healthy. Getting unstuck nourishes the body and cleans up what no longer needs to be held. I love this work!

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com