Cranio-sacral Therapy
Cranio-sacral therapy is a very gentle, non-invasive ‘hands on’ therapy which does not use manipulation.It has been developed from discoveries about the body’s subtle and complex anatomy and physiology made by osteopaths in the USA over 100 years ago. They found that the bones of the cranium were not fused as previously thought but had a subtle motion along with organs and other structures. Each follow their own particular pattern of movement including the cerebrospinal fluid which bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord in a tide-like ebb and flow. This motion is barely measurable with instruments, but the hands of a trained therapist are able to perceive it.In response to physical or emotional stress or trauma, the body’s tissues contract and may stay contracted for many years, especially when the shock is severe or accompanied by strong emotions. This frequently gives rise to restrictions in the body’s functioning and causes problems over the years. These effects may be both physical, such as back pain, migraine or digestive disorders and emotional, such as anxiety or depression. Restrictions in the body’s functioning show up in the way that craniosacral motion is expressed.
Craniosacral therapists are trained to feel this subtle motion in the body and can use it to find where there is congestion or restriction. Sensing the patterns the body is holding, the therapist provides an opportunity for the body to let go of shock and its restriction and return it to an easier way of functioning. This frees the energy which the body was previously using to hold itself in contraction.
Usually the client will lie on a treatment table while the therapist’s hands make a light contact, often with the feet or head or under the end of the spine at the sacrum. There may be a deep sense of relaxation and other sensations such as heat, tingling or pulsation. One of the benefits for the patient can be an increase in the level of energy available and greater ease on a physical, mental or emotional level.
It is suitable for people of all ages, from babies to the elderly, and can be especially helpful when treating fragile and acutely painful conditions.