What will you feel during a Craniosacral Therapy Session?
Well, that really depends on the person. Because each person has a different sense of awareness of his or her body. In most cases, where people do mindfulness practice, yoga, some athletes, or massage often, they tend to have more of an idea of the subtle movements and structure of their bodies. But many people, don’t think to listen to their bodies honestly. This is probably just a cultural thing. In the US, it has not been a common practice to meditate and close our eyes with awareness to what is happening to us in a sensory proactive way. That is just the way it has been until more recently.
Craniosacral Therapy Session
In the last few decades, there have been more Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine training, and teaching lay people and other healthcare practitioners gentle ways to approach and listen to the body’s own inner healing abilities. Fortunately, one of them, a Dr. John Upledger decided that he wanted to get the very helpful and healing modality of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) out to as many people as possible. As such, there has been a big influence in promoting massage therapists to use what I consider to be a more mindful CST approach. Because when A Craniosacral Therapist listens to the body, we attune to the body’s intelligence response with a very light touch. With that, we also use intention and techniques that are able to bypass the body’s own defense system. Thus allowing us to have a conversation with the fundamental wisdom of the body. This is very different than effleurage, deep tissue, or swedish. And believe it or not the effects go deep and create long term healing. That is all because the body knows what to do, it just needs gentle support and encouragement.
In your Craniosacral Therapy Session, you will be fully clothed. And you will most likely feel held. Most clients gradually notice quiet changes going on throughout the body. Fascial restrictions will let go, and the energy flows better, circulation improves, and the Central Nervous System balances out. Often people who are high strung will start to relax. Many of my clients fall sleep. On the flip side, people who are lethargic or low energy, do the opposite- and pick up energy. Initially, most people feel more when they get the work done closer to the neck and the head, mainly because that is where their awareness is often. But it is also possible to feel the craniosacral rhythm in the feet as well. Over continual sessions, many people gain more insights into how their whole body works. That sense of body amnesia disappears. With awareness comes self-empowerment and the ability to make healthy choices. In the whole picture, clients feel more vital, alive, and pain free.
Sessions usually last between 45 -60 minutes on the table. But there are also 5 day intensives with organizations like Integrative Intentions. That group travels around the world and uses multiple hands on therapy with clients. I have been a primary therapist at these and have seen miraculous changes and shifts occur. Having a few therapists working on a client with others in a large room all day is quite transformational.
Craniosacral Therapy Sessions are for pretty much everyone. There are a few patients with contraindications who should talk to their physicians if they have medical issues.
If you have any questions, please call for a free 10 minute phone consultation.
Looking for an Upledger Craniosacral Therapist in Columbus Ohio?
Well, you have come to the best place. I love Craniosacral Therapy. And I love to talk about it.
To begin with, education is key when you are looking for a manual therapist to support you. Why? Because your time is important, and so is how you spend your money. And my hope is that you find the best Upledger Craniosacral Therapist to take you on a journey of healing into wellbeing.
Upledger Certified
I took my first class from the Upledger Institute in 2002. Since then I have been drawn to learning everything I can in regards to Craniosacral Therapy. And I am so grateful that Dr. John Upledger moved from Michigan to Florida one day many years ago to open up the Upledger Institute. At that time, he decided to take his medical background and shared an innovate approach for hands on work that could be used by Massage Therapists, physicians, dentists, bodyworkers of all types of people, including lay people. The amount of therapists who attend classes at the school continues to grow, and expand around the globe. My opinion of why this so is the quality found in the integrity of the work, and the profound results that often occur. When a therapist is well trained through the Upledger Institute, and has much experience, they will tell you that they have seen incredible things happen. People who could once not find any helpful treatment heal. They grow and begin to look forward to life in a whole new way.
The techniques are also very gentle. Sometimes clients wonder at first if such a soft touch can do anything. Sometimes, with new clients, they don’t feel very much at the beginning. Because they are not tuned in to listening and feeling the subtle changes that occur. But the more time they give to receiving treatment, they always notice that they are feeling better. They may not be able to say that one stroke which may be found in a deep tissue massage was the shift, but they know that when they wake up everyday that their body feels better, and that their outlook is clearer and more upbeat. I can tell you why I think gentle work generates so much great change:
The touch is light, so that the body does not fight against the touch.
The Upledger Craniosacral Therapist is trained to listen to your Inner Wisdom, and allow that to run the session.
Trust- while Craniosacral Therapy can support SomatoEmotional Work, an experienced Therapist will never tell you what to do, what to think or how to feel. We are trained to support your process to be organic and heard from a neutral place.
For those of us who train up to the Diplomate Level, we are tested thoroughly on our knowledge and our practice. We have learned our anatomy, how to deepen our presence, and how to be available with techniques for our clients. Our tool box is at your disposal.
There is something magical on so many levels between the gentle interchange between an Upledger Craniosacral Therapist and client. There are no words, just a loving and healing conversation that expands and heals.
I could go on an on. But if you are in the Columbus, Ohio area, and would like to find out more, please call me for a free 10 minute phone consultation. I would love to hear from you and see if we are a good match.
One thing about Manual Therapists is that we tend to do the type of work that we like to receive. Relieving neck pain-I know a great deal about based on personal experience.
For me, I ran into my own challenges with severe arm and neck pain about six years ago. It was excruciating. My right arm felt like a constant charlie horse and nothing I could do made it feel better. It took about a month before my doctor got me into the right place to have it taken care of properly. Once I finally saw a neurosurgeon, he ordered me into surgery the next day. In my circumstance, I had a huge bone spur in my neck pressing against my nerve. My disc was a mess and needed to be replaced. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But more than that- I would rather hear that people be more proactive than I was and take better care of their necks as soon as they notice any restriction or problem. Healing hands can help wonders!
neck pain
Don’t wait too long! As you get older and continue to use unhealthy structural movement, the worst things can get.
What I do for people who are really in pain, is start with the sacrum. I want to make sure that the sacrum ( a triangular bone in the back between the hip bones) is moving well. I bet you didn’t know this, but all the bones in the body move in a constant flexion and extension motion based on the fluid circulating around the brain and the spine. Once a therapist learns how to listen this way, the rhythm can be felt anywhere in the body. The sacrum is connected through the spinal canal up to the cranium (the skull). The occiput which is on the bottom of the back of the head should be moving similarly to that of the sacrum. Once this motion is enhanced and moving nicely, we go to the neck.
A stiff neck or soreness can be approached either by gentle or deep work. Each person responds differently. What I suggest though is a series of work when clients are in a lot of pain. People might hope to get things resolved immediately, but that seldom happens in all honesty. It takes years to damage the body, and it takes time to heal in most cases. So while we can get a lot of great change on the first session, the client is actually looking at a real commitment to get better.
For me, this is one of my favorite types of work. Relieving Neck Pain. Today, one of my clients who has been coming in for years, felt really tight along the SCM muscle and Traps. I so enjoyed just holding and listening to the tissues. Feeling them softly let go layer by layer. The deep muscles began to feel more alive, and motion started to roll under my hands and fingers. I worked with both the muscles and the fascia. While also staying in contact with the Craniosacral Rhythm . She quietly made sounds of relief. There is nothing better than helping someone move out of pain for me anyway. It’s a great feeling being of service to another like that. A sacred experience of sorts.
If you have been feeling deep neck pain, and want to get better. Feel free to give me a 10 minute free phone consult. I have had much success helping me to restore their motion and rotation. And it is my pleasure to help where I can.
Today, I felt like writing an informal post about Hearts Meeting. A chat about how much I love my work. I am so fortunate that I get to wake up each day, loving my family, my home, and my interactions with life. It prepares me to be able to be in service in the work I chose. And I love working with people. Mostly because it opens my heart. And it opens other people’s hearts.
Hearts
In my work practice, I have clients come see me for a variety of reasons. Mostly people who are uncomfortable with something in life: their physical bodies, feelings, unclear thinking or relationships to the spiritual. I listen. I take in the story from a neutral place. And then I guide. My job is to facilitate the unfolding of my client’s own inner wisdom. For I am not actually the healer, but rather a facilitator of sorts. For over 25+ years, I have studied, worked and practiced healing techniques to help myself, those nearby whom I love, and my clients who want to connect with their Higher Purpose. People who want to feel at home in their bodies, their lives with heart and vitality. How I do that is by being Present with myself, my client and trusting the process of the energy dynamics. I center in my heart of hearts.
All of life has a stirring of energy. It lives throughout all of consciousness. I know this may sound a little far out for some. But I feel it in the presence of all living things. I feel it in myself, and especially when I connect from my heart to others. I may use energy healing, craniosacral therapy or Hakomi or such as tools, but what deeply matters is that we all are part of a sacred heart infinite web. Humanity is riding on just one small wave in the Universe, but everything is interconnected. We are interconnected. Yet we are also given this gift of discovering a sense of self. and while there may be many similarities between us, we each have a chance to write our own unique stories. In this, I find passion and heart. When I connect with my clients on the table, I love the brain and the body, but most of all-touching from my heart to another. It is so transformational and healing.
You don’t have to be a healer do this. We are all ordinary people, humble coming from the same Source. We all have the ability to heal the soul. It may appear otherwise, but the truth is that in the little things. we can make huge positive change. Choosing to love from your heart in any moment is a choice we can all make. Healing this planet, and all the people here is all about this and connecting to other hearts.
I finish now, with a heart full of gratitude for all my clients, as well as for the fullness in my life. And I wish you all the same.
A concussion is a traumatic type of brain injury that is impacted by some type of fall, blow or injury.
A concussion is not something to be taken lightly. I know. After treating many other people for concussions, I now am facing my own. I fell off my horse while landing on my buttocks and back, and also hit my head. Fortunately, I was wearing a good helmut. Since that time, I have rested quite a bit for the past two weeks, stopped most reading and writing, and took off even from the television for a bit. My doctor told me the best thing I could do is lay down in bed and close my eyes. I did the best I could, and it’s finally paying off. In the last few days, I have been applying some Craniosacral Therapy techniques to myself and have noticed an even better rate of improvement. Enough to think clearly and to write this short blog.
Fortunately, I did not lose consciousness, but I did lose my steadiness, and did get headaches for a while if I overdid it. I am so happy to be feeling better every day. Most people will fully recover from concussions, but others may not. Especially if there have been multiple incidents. So please take your health seriously. See a physician if you have any concerns that you have a concussion and make sure that self care is your priority.
Craniosaral with a focus on Glial Cells
Craniosaral with a focus on Glial Cells
Craniosaral for a Concussion with a focus on Glial Cells
I am in the process of setting up some appointment with a peer who does Craniosacral Therapy but also a therapist who knows how to focus on working with the glial cells. Why the glial cells? Lately, it has become increasingly better understood that the glial cells play a very important role in the functioning of the brain. In a class that I recently took from Tad Wanveer (an Upledger.com) therapist and teacher, I learned that through light biomechanics intention, dialogue and touch, that an experienced therapist can create wonderful improvements in how the brain works. The way that Tad explains this in his book, “Brain Stars, glia illuminating craniosacral therapy,” The Glia is more than glue. It is also plays an integral part in:
CNS development
Maintaining homeostasis
Supplying nutrients and oxygen
Synapse formation
healing injured neurons
sensory signaling
motor signaling
Cleansing of the CNS
Healing,
Production of the cerebrospinal fluid
Immune Response in the brain
Insulating
Flow regulation
Memory Processing
To destroy and Remove Waste
If the glia become over stressed or the environment in which they live- toxic, the CNS can be adversely toxic.
The good news is that the Glia can be touched and supported in a way that can repair and expedite the healing process.
As Tad says, ” Glial cells and neurons form and interdependent structural and functional system throughout the CNS that is fused with the Craniosacral System (CSS). This fusion ties place where glial cells attach to the pay matter membrane. The pain matter membrane in the innermost membrane layer of the CSS. It interconnects wit the other CSS membrane layers (meninges), and these layers connect to the bones of the cranium and spinal column. This bone to membrane to glial matrix is a dynamic biomechanical pathway CST practitioners cause use to help their clients correct nervous system dysfunction.”
In this class, I learned to touch into many parts of the brain and spinal cord. By listening and identifying through the different layers, one can come to appreciate the body’s innate ability to self-correct from a deep well of wisdom within. It is very possible to feel into structural and physiological restrictions and then to find a balance point for correction and to create better flow and drainage. In a more optimal environment, it is much easier for the brain and spine to heal.
It’s a bit ironic to me that my focus recently has been to work more and more with people who have concussions and TBI’s. And here I sit, healing with my own. But I feel very confident in the results I have had as a therapist with others, and also in my ability to work with myself, but also having incredible experiences from other therapists before. I know I am getting better, and this will resolve itself. I am back to working a light case load (craniosacral is not hard on the body or mind), and enjoying the miracles of interaction.
If you are feeling stressed about a concussion, please do take seriously that it is important to rest and heal. But I am here to tell you that there are some other integrative therapies that you docs may not know about. Craniosacral Therapy is an amazing hands on approach based on science, and experience that has helped countless others. At www.upledger.org you can see that the Upledger Institute has been helping football player to heal and feel better.
If you are local to the local Columbus area, and have a concussion, please give a call, and I am happy to offer a free 15 minute phone consult. Or look at www. upledger.com and find a Certified Therapist near you.
People who come in for a Craniosacral Therapy Session are often looking for corrections to their bodies such as with balance, healthy motion and dialogue. What they often leave with is a sense pain relief, more freedom in movement, and a sense of better grounding.
What makes a session helpful to clients is that they feel like their concerns are heard and that their therapist can speak the same language verbally, but also with their presence and hands.
In my experience, for the best results, the therapist is listening from moment to moment as to what the body is saying. As a client, I can really feel the difference when I am touched as to the quality of connection. So when I work, and teach other therapists, I offer this teaching as one of the most important guide posts to providing a valuable session.
Once this criteria is met, techniques come into play that can help the body to self-correct in the most gentle way. With Craniosacral Therapy, the touch is so light, that it feels like a whisper on the skin that nourishes and promotes efficiency and wellness. This is why it is such a wonderful therapy for ages from infancy to working with seniors. Almost all people can receive this type of work easily.
A trained Craniosacral Therapist will check the motion of how the cerebrospinal fluid is moving through the Craniosacral System (CSS). What he or she will feel are the flexion and extension phases that are constantly providing information to the therapist about any restrictions or dysfunctional patterns in the system itself, or with fascia and other parts of the body.
Once the pattern expressions are presented, the therapist listens, follows, and encourages gentle changes to help with symmetry, amplitude, rate and quality. This can have a great impact on how the CSS functions. When the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) can flow freely, it allows the nerves to function more optimally. Without getting into too much detail, the clients often feel more balanced, at peace, and more centered after a session.
CST
I have been a Massage Therapist and Bodyworker for about 20 years. In the last 10 years, I have refocused much of my work into the field of Craniosacral Therapy, SomatoeEmotional Therapy, Brain Work and Visceral Manipulation because the effects are profound and yet the touch so tender and precise.
I have learned so much at the Upledger Institute because I value their contribution to the wellbeing of so many people across the globe. One man, Dr. John Upledger, explored into an unknown frontier and brought this science based medical work to hands on practitioners to bring health and joy back into individual lives. I have seen dramatic changes for people with chronic pain and energy issues, to people recovering well from TBI’s and concussions, back and and neck pain relief, fibromyalgia relief just to name a few conditions.
I don’t think that anyone can quite explain what a session is like. Yes, I could say that you come in fully clothed and you are touched this way or that. But hardly anyone expects how great they feel by the end of the session. This work goes beyond a gentle one hour treatment. Its reaches go deep into the cells along with the mind connection there. It simply is bliss. And the changes continue to happen for days, and often times longer.
As with most types of massage and bodywork, each client is unique. And each will have a different experience. One person may feel huge shifts the first time, and others- well it may take them some time to really relax. But most often they do, and people often discover new sources of tranquility, energy and a sense of Self.
So that is my take on Craniosacral Therapy at this point in my practice. I love the work. I love practicing it, and I love receiving it. It has helped me on so many levels: physically, emotionally, in my heart and with spirit. And I have been blessed to help others with it.
If you would like to learn more, or have some questions about Craniosacral Therapy, I do offer a free 15 telephone consult. I love to share this work, and hopefully I have educated and imparted an idea of how it can help you. I haven’t found one person yet who hasn’t found some benefit in CST.
