Sensing into the Ticklish Body

by SharonHartnett | Nov 2, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing, mind body & spirit

Ticklish

Have you gone to get a pedicure only to find that your feet are super ticklish. Or maybe a massage where you twist and turn at the hips, the legs or under the armpits as the laughter bubbles up?

This is not unusual. After working close to 30 years with people, mostly on the table, my curiosity asked me again to consider what this ticklish business is all about. I have experienced more than a few people start to smile and laugh at the same time as trying to move away. Especially with light touch. Obviously, these two reactive expressions seem a bit at odds, right? You know how that feels when you want to get away from the tickles with your eyes sparkling while your legs twitch and activate to run away.

Not all things are equal when it comes to tickling. Usually the places where we are most ticklish are the location with a high amounts of nerve endings. Some places on the body may feel quite soothed with the same quality touch as compared to the ticklish zones. What I have read is that areas like the bottom of the feet or the rib cage are more vulnerable. Who knows how true this always is but it does makes sense from what I have experienced. What is known though is that the ticklish response is a mind (hypothalamus part of the brain) body communication between the brain and body when you don’t feel comfortable with what is happening. What I have seen is that tickles mean the body is reacting to not feeling safe. It’s usually a pattern which is reactive to outside and unexpected influences.

As a Craniosacral Therapist and bodyworker for so many years, I have found it intriguing and fun to help people work through the “tickles”. Especially since I have been so curious about the differences between the many other people who actually quietly enjoy the light stroking while on the other hand invokes the ticking response from others. So, if the body draws me into an area and I see the dynamic begin, I like to ask if we can explore the ticklish sensation. This is done with mindful consideration, and also permission. We explore the feelings and the sensations together. Quite often, the brain becomes desensitized by helping the person to release the associated energy fairly quick. Sometimes it is actually fun because the client laughs genuinely as they let go of the protective response. A light seems to go on for the ticklish person that this is a life strategy and it can be funny too.

Personally, my feet have always been ticklish. I was often tickled as a child. I liked it-perhaps because of the smiles and attention, but it stressed my body. What I do know is if a child is tickled, and it doesn’t stop, the body holds that tension. Whatever the reason for your ticklishness, consider it may be a protective mechanism, and it is possible to honor your body and also to free it from the feedback loop. Makes me think that one day I might need to go have my tickles set free from my feet as I write this. Smile.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

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

How to Calm the ADHD Mind

by SharonHartnett | Oct 31, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy

How ADHD can be better treated with Craniosacral Therapy

ADHD is best diagnosed by a physician. Although, for those of us who have it, we probably have a good idea that we are challenged, have a difficult time with organizing, and can sometimes feel anxious or feel very self-judgmental.

ADHD can look different among different groups of people. Men have been studied more thoroughly, for example, than women. One symptom in particular that can present differently between the genders is hyperactivity. Some act out, but often women may feel more of an inner stress, and overwhelm. So it’s good to find an experienced professional to determine what is the best protocol for you to make life easier. Personally, I enjoy listening to Dr. Amen talk about the brain’s function, and how he treats ADHD. Very evidenced based.

Also, I have found that Craniosacral Therapy can be very helpful in treating ADHD as well. At first, sometimes a person on the table feels very stimulated. Closing the eyes and feeling inward may take some time. However hard this can be initially, eventually they do to quiet and learn to enjoy lying down and receiving. As they begin to trust the therapist, and allow the experience to unfold, they begin to learn how to drop down into stillness. This is very soothing to the mind and of course the body.

Craniosacral Therapy is very gentle. It is focused on the interconnectiveness of the nervous system. By relieving stress there, through working with the fluids in the craniosacral system, clients often feel more focused, sleep better, and feel better emotionally.

In my practice, I enjoy working with people who deal with ADHD and the challenges that come along with it. I understand it. I have seen positive results. It’s also a nice way to help the brain and body to relax without medication.

If you are looking for overall wellbeing, Craniosacral Therapy ought to be one of your first stops. It’s natural and powerfully effective in helping to regulate ADHD stress.

Find peace in your life.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

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

How to Surround Yourself with Healthy People

by SharonHartnett | Oct 23, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, healthy, mindfulness

Prioritize Healthy Friendships

For people to survive and thrive, we need to build healthy relationships. Social connection supports us in meeting our life needs and goals. Putting effort into friendships can create a lifestyle that feels fulfilling and whole. In order to surround ourselves with healthy people, we need to put some intentional energy forward.

Benefits of Developing Deep Friendships:

Having a person in your life through the lows and the highs feels supportive and balancing.
Having a friend to mirror your core essence qualities helps you to remember you inner light.
Keeps us from feeling isolated and constantly alone.
Brings about emotional support.
Builds trust and a sense of security
Boosts Self-Esteems through acceptance and positive mirroring.
Offers companionship

There are so many other pluses, it’s hard to name them all.

So how do you meet and build healthy friendships?

First ask yourself, “What do you find valuable in friendships”? Each of us appreciate different qualities. Continue with questions like, ” What does a friend mean to me? In the past, what did you find comforting and worthwhile in relatioships?

Next, put yourself into action by going out into the world doing things which you enjoy. Sometimes this feels like a risk, putting yourself out there, but it is well worth the while to feel connected and to share meaning in life.

Lastly when you add these two things together, it’s time to trust the process of building. It’s an opportunity to blend, learn and grow. How this happens it by choosing to focus on others. Ask questions. Listen. Show interest. Feel into what feel good to you. Create healthy boundaries. It’s an ondgoing process of deepening and understanding.

Healthy Friendships have a huge impact on our lives. In an age of computers and texting, it takes effort to be social. It takes effort to love. However, surrounding yourself with healthy people will teach you so much about you, and it will nourish and bring many joys to your life.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

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

Flourishing in an Imperfect World: Craniosacral therapy

by SharonHartnett | Sep 14, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, Healthy Body, mindfulness, upledger institute

Flourishing In This World

Flourishing is what I want for my clients. Not just feeling OK. But living a quality life with all its ups and downs. Nothing in life is Perfect, but we can learn to navigate and pass through life with joy and connection.

While “flourishing” is my hope, and this is my intention with each and every person who comes to my office- I also have to let go of any outcome with my clients. This frees up the session. When a person comes to see me, wanting to feel better, I have to put my ego to the side and trust what their Inner Physician speaks. The blending is a surrender to what is. Accessing the best resources to help a person releive stresses, pain and suffering.

What is the Inner Physician? It’s a cornerstone belief in Dr. John Upledger’s teaching where we learn to trust and support the deepest inner wisdom of our clients. In order to enhance wellbeing, we learn techniques to help a person process and self-discover their best sense of centeredness and Self. This is done by being in a neutral place, and also by facilitating the inner process of the client. At the same time,the Craniosacral Therapist also monitors herself and the relationship with the same care during dialogue.

This is very different than other types of bodywork where there is a “fix it” attitude.With Craniosacral Therapy, we know that we can’t fix anything really. What we can do is support the client’s wish to heal and to grow, while offering gentle nudges and support. You would be amazed at how much change can happen with the gentlest touch with intention with the help of the Inner Wisdom. By melding we are quite often quiet, listening,holding space and in contact. It’s a matter of connecting and faith of the Craniosacral System to show us the best direction within the body.

Flourishing to me, is to learn to live in this world of light and darkeness,and everything in between. To thrive through acceptance, inclusion, and compassion. I feel that we know that we are flourishing when we feel alive,aligned and in appreciation in the whole. Oftent to flourish, means knowing our place in the inter-connection of life. Craniosacral Therapy is one of the modalities that can awaken us to remember this.

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.

Benefits of the Undefended Heart

by SharonHartnett | Sep 13, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, love, mindfulness, Spiritual Healing

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Knowing Love in an Undefended Heart

How many people feel comfortable living deeply embedded in the love of their own hearts? I am not talking about the intense passionate feeling we have for a partner. Instead I am talking about an embodied sense of being True to Yourself. Caring about yourself, and opening up to your Essential Self.

It takes courage to push away those layers of protection surrounding your heart. But aren’t you curious what is underneath everything you have been taught and believed? Peeling away the onion is an honesty and acknowledgment check. But it’s worth your while to self-realize love. Feeling love deep inside spreading through everything you are is the best!

There are many ways to discover the love living inside you. The easiest way is by building your confidence back up. How do you do this? By being real with yourself. This is a two fold process. One is by noticing and writing down the beliefs you hold that make you believe you are “less than” or “bad” . Any negative belief. Question those beliefs and the validity of them. Second is to Choose Love and physically move toward your heart. Is it a smooth ride? or are there obstacles in the way? Bring mindfulness in and question.

You can take this journey yourself, or you can enlist friends or see a therapist. Relationships though are key to opening up the love in your heart. We are meant to work and play through life with others. This include the easy and the hard times.

How an Undefended Heart can Benefit You:

1. You feel better inside your body. Dopamine, oxytocin and seratonin take you into a state of pleasure.

2. You feel more appreciation for life.

3. It’s easier to be clear about your goals and how to accomplish them on a soul level.

4. Life is easier to navigate when other things are difficult when you are centered in your heart.

5. Developing meaningful friendships are easier when you feel kindness and love for yourself. People are happier when they are helping each other with care.

6. Love reduces stress and anxiety. It brings in a sense of calm.

7. Love promotes healing.

Love is the evolutionary tool available to all of humanity. It’s free, and available for each of us. Take the leap… Move towards Love and see what it can bring you the deeper you go!

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.