Today was the first day of the four day class for Upledger Craniosacral Therapy 2 in Columbus, Ohio 2014.
I really enjoy these opportunities to get involved in bringing this great work to my community.
Every chance I get to Teacher Assist, I jump on it. I always learn something new by hearing the material in a new way, or through interactive experience. Students ask great questions, and their enthusiasm to fine-tune their skills is exciting and inviting. By the end of these courses, many restrictions are removed from the dural tube and the rest of the Craniosacral System which always causes a stir of exciting from the huge shifts in function and sensation. The participants light up and renew their enthusiasm for the work.
The Institute also seems to be revamping it curriculum in my opinion based on feedbacks from students. The techniques seem easier to comprehend, and I already know how beneficial this work is. Now it’s even easier to learn and put into action. Students are anxious to join new study groups and to work towards Certification to increase their skill and ability to help their clients.
My favorite thing about Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is that the touch is so light, yet it is able to help the whole body communicate more efficiently to improve functionality as a whole. CST balances the entire body and revitalizes, restores the resting ability of the parasympathetic system, and encourages flow along the spine and related fascial segments.
Craniosacral Therapy
One example is that although one would think that the Cranium is the main place of dysfunction for TMJ , indeed it can’t be corrected unless the sacrum and pelvis are balanced. One thing we talked about today was that if a person appears to have one leg longer than the other, the ilea is probably jetted forward which affects the pelvic area and can cause a twist over to the other parietal bone. The point being in layman terms- is that this can lead to rotations in the cranium which cause TMJ. In this instance, the fascial planes, spine, and cranium must all be treated to bring about effective positive change.
I’ll keep you updated on the rest of the class… Loving Craniosacral! Upledger
I have seen Dr. Oz on the news quite a bit lately.
Not sure that I would buy many of the products that Dr. Oz talks about, but I do like that he is open minded and educates the American public about natural remedies as well as conventional medicine.
From my understanding, he does not endorse these products, but rather discusses them. He has clearly said that if products put his name on them, that is done without his approval.
Personally, while I appreciate pharmaceuticals when needed, we do need more doctors who are not invested in profits/companies who care about people understanding options rather than being only out for themselves. Thank you Dr. Oz for putting the information out and allowing us to decide for ourselves.
For a New article by the Huffington Post, Read:Dr. Oz
Dr. Oz
Hopefully, you did see his stories onCraniosacral Therapy and Structural Integration(Rolfing). Two excellent forms of massage and bodywork that work towards healing and wellbeing.
If we want to heal and find the best proactive health plan for us as individuals, forget the far out marketers- and research to find the best integrative plan for you!
Have you taken the time lately to examine your feet?
Did you know that the feet are good indicators of what is going on with your overall health?
For your wellbeing, you might want to consider setting aside a little space in your schedule for some TLC to this part of your body.
As a Massage Therapist for 17 years, I have seen lots of feet. The care that people put there ranges anywhere from between a “0” up to a “10”.
Most common for the best feet- women who like to have pedicures and get their feet massaged monthly often sport around healthy feet. Believe it or not, this extra attention really shows. When your pedicurist or massage therapist work with your feet, the professional ones will let you know if they notice any unusual sores, stiffness, and personally-you will feel if there is pain by touch or certain movements. Also athletes who listen to their feet and find their center and balance also have better posture in how they stand and move through life.
I see more unhealthy feet with the elderly. Sometimes Seniors can’t reach down and touch their feet so they get neglected. In these cases, I have seen open sores, felt the lack of circulation, noticed yellowing and dryness, and ingrown nails. But there are also younger people who have issues. I have seen young women who wear high heel shoes every day and their feet lose their natural shape and then start to resemble shoes. They are no longer able to stand correctly fully on their feet which pulls the whole body out of alignment. Another issues that frequently comes up is the pain associated with Plantar fasciitis. When people don’t wear the proper shoes to support their feet, this very painful condition in which a thick band that connects the heel to the toes becomes inflamed.
So what can you do to take care of your feet?
Taking Care of Your Feet
As you can see from this reflexology chart, the feet, as is the whole body, is interconnected. People who have studied the feet in particular, or who have massaged them for years, can usually begin to correlate certain relationships. This chart can be helpful to you too in identifying any possible problems. Try practicing massage at home or receive massage by your favorite therapist and ask for particular attention to the feet. Allow yourself to become mindful and feel into the sensations… whether pleasure or pain. In the picture above, you can get an idea where you are tense and be curious about the part of the body that is associated there. Knowledge is power and understanding your body is key to your health.
If you have a challenge reaching down or visual problems seeing your feet, ask your caretaker or partner to give you some feedback. For example, if there are yellowing nails- it may be time to see your podiatrist for fungus problems. Keeping your physicians updated on any unusual conditions will help them to decide how to test you for health issues such as diabetes or neuropathy.
Make sure that you change your shoes often. From a Structural Integration perspective, walking in old worn out shoes that are already a reflection of your footstep will worsen your alignment. Different shoes support differently. That makes sense. Engage the whole foot as a whole as much as possible. Keeping your foot balanced is healthy.
Structural Integration and Massage can be great in taking care of your feet. It improves circulation, increases lymphatic flow, engages the nervous system, touches into the reflexology points, enhances flexibility and helps you to feel more grounded and at ease in your whole body. After all, your whole structure comes through your feet as you move through life. So it’s important to bring your attention to this connection of structure.
I know it can be easy to ignore the feet. Everyday they move us around, they do their job so that we forget to feel mindful. However, this is the exact reason why we should change our thinking. For longterm health- pay attention to what is working and make sure that the feet are well taken care of. Let your feet be an indicator of your overall health and wellness. You deserve happy and healthy feet!
Sleep problems are more common than you think. Many parents face the challenges of helping their children to get enough sleep through the night.
Young babies might wake up for feedings, early childhood issues may include separation anxiety, or perhaps the older kids have to get up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready for school. Whatever is interrupting your child’s sleep cycle needs to be addressed to stop sleep deprivation. Children need about 9 hours asleep to feel healthy throughout their day.
Some ways to address sleep issues is to:
Make bedtime a positive experience.
Be consistent with bedtime each night.
Cut down on caffeine and sugars many hours before sleep.
Eliminate TV and computer time for some quiet time before bed.
Read until sleepy.
Focus on relaxing activities rather than stimulation.
Massage can reduce stress and works wonders in helping one to sleep more deeply.
Peaceful Rest
From a Craniosacral perspective, reducing stress and anxiety through CST is one of the main objectives.
This is accomplished by:
Speaking in a gentle voice.
Using a Very light touch
Work within the child’s boundaries. Listening to body and vocal cues allows a therapist to honor what is needed in the moment.
Balancing the child’s neurological system through working with the cerebrospinal fluid.
Restoring better posture through fascial work.
Supporting emotional release as it occurs.
Allowing play during sessions.
Touch when done with clear intention and heart can be very relaxing and therapeutic.
Craniosacral Therapy has been successful in releasing restrictions and improving overall functioning of the mind/body/spirit connection.
If you are interested in sessions or would like to learn how to work with your child, contact Sharon Hartnett LMT for a free 15 minute telephone consultation at:
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and depression may make you feel as if life isn’t worth living.
More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness, nor is it something that you can simply “snap out” of. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or both. Other treatments also may help.
This is how it is defined by the Mayo Clinic with the Link right here:Mayo Clinic
massage helps create positive change.
So what are some of the “other” treatments that may support wellness?
Here is a link to the position held by the American Massage Therapy Association:
More Americans are incorporating massage therapy into their regular health and wellness regimens to assist with medical conditions:
• 88% of individuals view massage as being beneficial to overall health and wellness
• 88% of individuals believe that massage can be effective in reducing pain
• 75% of consumers surveyed claim that their primary reason for receiving a massage was medical (43%) or stress (32%) related
• 53% of people say their doctor has recommended they get a massage
In recent studies, Massage, which includes touching and working with the soft tissues of the body, has been shown to reduce stress and also take the edge off of depression. These effects are due primarily to the parasympathetic and hormonal levels shifting to reduce stress and anxiety. While massage and bodywork does not cure depression, these changes do help clients to better cope in day to day life.
For people who are feeling alone and disconnected from life, reaching out and finding the right type of therapy may be helpful for you. Intimate massage touch and skill can help you feel rejuvenated and more open to life.
Clients often leave their massage sessions feeling happier and more relaxed.
At Lighten Up Therapies in Columbus, Ohio, we offer three main modalities of bodywork:
Craniosacral Therapy
Structural Integration
Reiki and Brennan Healing Science
Each of these techniques holds the client in confidentiality, sacred listening, and with an intention to help you to reconnect to your health and wellbeing.
Well first you might have to try and figure out how to spell it correctly. Craniosacral Therapy is now becoming more well known and widespread, but many people haven’t used this term much until recently with the growing education during the last few years. So if you don’t know how to spell it, just do your best, and most likely, you’ll find a practitioner near you! Maybe that is how you found this page.
Who might benefit from working with a Craniosacral Therapist?
Looking for a a relief from tension, pain and compression?
If you are longing for a holistic approach to healing through the mind, body and spirit connection.
A desire to strengthen your alignment and create a healthier lifestyle full of balance and vitality
Craniosacral Therapy provides benefits for the following conditions:
Migraines and Headaches
Chronic Neck and Back Pain
Autism
Stress and Tension-Related Disorders
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Infant and Childhood Disorders
Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Chronic Fatigue
Fibromyalgia
TMJ Syndrome
Scoliosis
Central Nervous System Disorders
Learning Disabilities
ADD/ADHD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Orthopedic Problems
And Many Other Conditions
What is Craniosacral Massage?
Because Craniosacral is a light touch massage therapy, it’s gentleness can be used to help almost every person from babies… to seniors.
