Overwhelmed is nothing more than leaving the current moment in our thinking.
One of the reasons why Craniosacral Therapy is so helpful to clients who are feeling overwhelmed is because the act of gently and trustingly touching a person can wake up the sensations in the body. Working with techniques as well as intention can bring the work to a whole new level of allowing awareness to grow. When a therapist works with the Craniosacral Rhythm, we are listening to what is happening is that specific interaction between therapist and client. We are curious about what IS…. and what the next wave of motion is going to be. By staying present in the moment with ourselves, we hold a template of sorts to bring our clients there with us.
Overwhelmed
Of course, even while staying present in the moment, the mind can wander in so many directions. There are stories, thoughts, beliefs that are melded with our emotions and our sensations. And often when we feel a sense of being overwhelmed, it is because we have at some level resisting allowing those to arise and to diffuse with the greater whole. First in the body, and then with the whole of life outside of the body.
By listening to the body, we can stay in neutral and support the upwelling of the creative wave. Things that have been suppressed, forgotten, avoided can re-emerge and take flight. People begin to feel alive again, with more vitality and a sense of empowerment. This though, can take courage because it was carefully wrapped up and tucked away for a good reason. And that may be scary, controlled or frozen. Craniosacral Therapy can help the therapist- client relationship to build trust, and a kind exchange of information that can unlock the non-consious. It is done organically and without advice, but rather with holding, care, and connection.
When we can slow down, breathe and learn Presence, it can alter our world. When we focus on what is right in our immediate lives with focus and clarity, it’s easier to love and to be kind. It’s easier to find peace when we are jumping into the future or escaping the past. It the moment, everything we need is available and present.
Whether you try Craniosacral Therapy or not, mindfulness and meditation can do much to alleviate the stresses of overwhelm.
Eckhart Tolle quote: Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.
A mind at war is one that is fixed in judgment, or guilt or shame.
Life can only get easier when we go with life as it is. And help create the next creation with conscious choices.
My thoughts for the night about being overwhelmed. What say 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.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by an external mechanical force that enters the brain.
The effects can be dramatic for a person who has been faced with a head trauma impairment. Life can be changed in an instant. Different stressors can cause physical damage, behaviors and emotional imbalances, impacting decision making, day to day activities and one’s future. TBI’s can even lead to death. So, head injuries need to be taken seriously.
Craniosacral Therapy
Based on the level of the injury, with a physician approval, it might benefit you if you have be diagnosed with TBI to see a Certified Craniosacral Therapist, to help you to heal. In my practice, I have worked with clients who have had concussions/TBI’s that resulted in complex disabilities, who have eventually found great relief. For example, in the last year, I had a client come in who had fallen and hit her head. It was difficult for her to think clearly, or to verbalize thoughts and memories. Fogginess and problems with balance kept her fearful or uncomfortable in living her life fully. After 10 sessions, she recovered almost back to normal. Following, she studied yoga, and threw herself into study in areas that she enjoyed. Now she is doing great. Others who have come on to my table, have felt a complete sense of quiet and peace from a brain that otherwise stays in fight or flight. Working with the cerebral spinal fluid and pressure in the cranium can be quite the relief. However, depending on the severity of the neurological damage, it may take more rather than less sessions. I say this upfront because brain injury can take a while to improve. Although, I have seen that there is usually positive change each session.
Because I have witnessed success with my clients using Craniosacral Therapy, I decided to specifically study working with the Glial Interface through using biomechanical force specifically in the brain. Through the Upledger Institute, I have learned to touch into the neuroglia complex to support deep healing both structurally and functionally. The teaching of this method was created by Tad Wanveer, who is now getting ready to present his work at Harvard.
I have to say that while I am certified at the highest Diplomate level at the Upledger Institute in Craniosacral Therapy, this new way of touching into the brain, blew me away. After experiencing the work myself, my brain and spine continued to shift and heal for many days after the class. By relieving strain patterns, I felt my central nervous system reach a balanced state I hadn’t felt in years.
As such, I have been offering the Brain Work to my clients. It is as if it has taken the craniosacral work to a whole new level. The therapeutic intention to touch, feel, and support the CNS and PNS glial cell patterns is a powerful tool to help the body self-correct. The only way to experience the benefits is to come in for a session. If you have had a TBI and haven’t recovered completely, why not give me a call. I would love to help you in your healing journey.
My goal is to help you find a way to live with good health and the ability to feel joy again.
Have you ever gone in for a Massage and walked out feeling like your LMT was somewhere else?
This can happen in any profession. But when we go in for a massage, we like to feel like our bodies relax and our spirit comes alive, right?
Healing Comes from a Healthy Relationship. So take your time to find the best Massage Therapist for You!
Massage Therapist
5 Ways that You can find the right Massage Therapist for you are:
1.When you call for an appointment, check and make sure the therapist listens well. That can tell a lot about a person. The best therapists are mindful and have skill with healthy contact.
2. Ask your Therapist if they use a routine. Massage Therapists who do aren’t necessarily gearing the session towards you. You deserve to have your needs met, so ask for a tailored body massage.
3.Find a Massage Therapist who has experience. They may charge more than someone out of school, but their Presence, Their Hands, and Wisdom will show your body how to discover what it needs to heal and balance out. When a Massage Therapist is mindful through practice and experience, the work moves beyond basic techniques. Trust the connection and see what happens!
4.Conversation during the session can be very helpful- if it comes from the client and is about the client. However, massage time is not about the life of the Massage Therapist. It’s Ok to ask your therapist for a quiet space. It’s often in silence that the most important things can be heard and found.
5. Build a relationship with your Massage Therapist if you are finding healthy results. Often clients follow the best coupon or deal. But when you commit to your own health and share that with your Massage Therapist, the journey deepens. Deeper relationships build deeper experiences.
Getting to understand your body through manual touch can change your life. The body is the doorway into the whole human experience. Massage Therapy can help you understand this. Take the dive and free yourself from stress, tension and pain into something new.
The percentage of drugs that children take for ADHD has gone up dramatically.
I have no judgement about this. Physicians are doing what they can to help children who feel inattentive, high energy and are having a difficult time integrating into mainstream daily life. Medications can help. Maybe there are some more integrative treatments as well.
ADHD can be challenging. On top of the child’s own inherent challenges, they often can face rejection by other children, teachers and their community as well.
So what else can be done to help our children?
How about trying a more natural approach that will support the best qualities of your child to shine ?
Craniosacral Therapy has been able to help lots of kids with ADHD to calm down and feel more centered. Personally, there is nothing better than having a child get up off the table and give me a big hug because they finally have a sense of peace and balance. If we can encourage the child to lay down and receive the work, the Central Nervous System often will feel some huge shifts. By working with the brain, spine, and surrounding tissues, we can assist the cerebrospinal fluid to function optionally, allowing the CNS to do its work more efficiently.
When one’s mind is busy, one of the best experiences can be to relax and feel quiet.
Here are some benefits CST can provide:
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on technique that focuses on the craniosacral system—comprising the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It’s used to release tension and improve the functioning of the central nervous system. CST is often considered a complementary therapy and is sometimes suggested for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to help manage symptoms. While the evidence supporting its effectiveness for ADHD is limited and more research is needed, proponents believe that CST may help in the following ways:
1. Reducing Stress and Tension
Children with ADHD often experience heightened stress levels and may have difficulty relaxing. CST is thought to promote relaxation by gently releasing physical tension in the body, which could help improve emotional regulation and reduce hyperactivity.
2. Improving Focus and Attention
Some children with ADHD struggle with concentration and maintaining focus. CST may help improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord, which in theory could support cognitive function, leading to better focus, clarity, and overall mental performance.
3. Enhancing Emotional Regulation
Children with ADHD often have difficulties with emotional control, including impulsivity and difficulty managing frustration. CST may help by promoting a sense of calm and balance, possibly improving emotional regulation over time.
4. Promoting Better Sleep
Sleep disturbances are common in children with ADHD, and poor sleep can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. By supporting relaxation and reducing physical tension, CST may improve sleep quality, which in turn could help with mood, attention, and behavior during the day.
5. Supporting Sensory Integration
Children with ADHD sometimes have sensory processing issues, such as being oversensitive to certain stimuli or having difficulty filtering out irrelevant sensory input. CST is thought to help normalize sensory processing, which may improve how a child responds to stimuli and help with focus and behavioral regulation.
6. Increasing Overall Calm and Self-Regulation
CST’s gentle techniques might help a child feel more grounded, leading to improved self-regulation, which is often a challenge for children with ADHD. By working with the body’s natural rhythms and promoting balance, CST can support overall well-being.
7. Addressing Underlying Physical Tension
Many children with ADHD have been shown to have heightened muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. CST could help alleviate this physical tension, which may contribute to reduced anxiety and better mental and emotional functioning.
If you would like to try a Craniosacral Session, look at the Upledger site for a practitioner in your area. I’d recommend looking for someone who is certified to make sure they have a thorough understanding of the work.
If you have questions about how Craniosacral can help alleviate some of your child’s ADHD symptoms, I would love to chat.
