soothe
relax
balance
restore
gentle guidance
comforting care
CranioSacral
Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy differs from massage in that the client remains fully clothed and there is no manipulation of muscle tissue. The CranioSacral practitioner is actually creating 'movement' of tissues (fascia) through applying gentle pressure, but the tissues being accessed are internal, and movement is subtle. The amount of pressure used is about the weight of a nickel, and for this reason CranioSacral is considered a "light-touch" therapy.
Finding a Rhythm
The founder of CranioSacral therapy, Dr. Upledger, discovered while assisting another surgeon with a procedure involving the spine that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding your spinal column has a "pulse" all its own. This pulse, known as the CranioSacral rhythm, is due to the production, resorption and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Changes in this rhythm can occur based on restrictions within the thin membranes (fascia) that surround the CSF.
The Significance of CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid)
Cerebrospinal fluid encompasses the brain and spinal cord and is the primary source of protection and nourishment for your central nervous system. CSF maintains the environment within which your brain and nervous system develop and function. Improving the flow and circulation of this fluid effectively improves the overall health and function of your entire body.
Restrictions and imbalances within the CranioSacral System are associated with reduced function (which can result in symptoms) elsewhere in the body. Similarly, positive changes that improve the health of the CranioSacral System are also reflected by positive changes throughout each of these bodily systems.
Palpation: Examination by Touch
The CranioSacral pulse can be palpated (felt with your hands) in the same way that your breath and your heart rate can be physically sensed through touch. However, the CranioSacral rhythm is very subtle, requiring both sensitivity of touch and extensive practice/experience. The really interesting thing about the CranioSacral rhythm is that it can be palpated at any location on the body (even the tops of the feet) although the cerebrospinal fluid obviously only goes as far as the base of the spine. This is in part due to the fact that the fascial system throughout the body is kept in constant motion, in correspondence with the CranioSacral rhythm.
Fascia
Fascia is tissue within your body that surrounds, lines, and separates all other tissues, organs and muscles within your body. For some, it helps to think of the papery thin layer between the shell of a hard-boiled egg and the egg itself, or the papery layers between the layers of an onion. It is also similar to the white pulp of a pomegranate, and the way that it surrounds and separates the red seeds.
You can get from any point in the body to any other point in the body by travelling along the fascia. (Note that the impact from a physical blow or injury can also travel along the fascia, and finally come to rest in an area of the body far removed from the original trauma.) Tensions and restrictions within the fascia cause tensions and restrictions within our other tissues and organs.
A Restriction is defined as any impairment to normal physiological motion within the body, and normally originates within fascial and other connective tissues.
A Release is defined as the event of a restriction dissipating. A release is sensed as a softening - a palpable relaxation of tissues. It is often also accompanied by other physical changes in the body, such as a big "sigh" breath. Tissue release allows for enhanced mobility and improved function, allowing your body to do what it needs to do in order to heal.
The Goal of Treatment
The main goal of a CranioSacral treatment is to optimize the CranioSacral rhythm in terms of its rate, quality, amplitude and symmetry. This is done by locating and releasing fascial restrictions in the body, particularly within the cranium, around the sacrum (tailbone) and throughout the length of the Dural tube (along the spine.)
The CranioSacral practitioner achieves this by monitoring the CranioSacral rhythm to detect the location of potential restrictions and imbalances, and then delicately applying gentle manual techniques to release those problem areas.
"Release is always a therapeutically positive event."
How and Why These Techniques Work
The CranioSacral system follows the laws of fluid mechanics. (The CSF is moving but at such a low velocity and with such little force that it behaves as if it is static.) When a pressure or force (in this case, the weight of a nickel) is applied to an area of the boundary of the fluid (fascia) the resultant force is transmitted equally via the CSF to the remainder of the boundaries of the system. In this way, techniques applied to the cranium and sacrum can release fascial restrictions all along the spinal column.
What Results Can Be Expected?
The results of the treatment will last, as long as the origin of the injury or stress is no longer present. Often, what we sense as pain, discomfort and/or immobility is actually the body’s method of protecting itself in reaction to some other source of stimulus, stress or injury. The body has an amazing ability to compensate but unfortunately, over time, these compensatory changes become "stressed" in and of themselves. Until the true origin* is addressed, tensions coming from inside the body in this way will recur. Alternately, restrictions due to a blow or physical trauma coming from outside the body, once released, would not come back.
*In terms of addressing the real origin or source of your symptoms, this will naturally occur over the span of several sessions as different layers are resolved:
The CranioSacral Experience
As far as what a CranioSacral treatment means for the client, I can share from personal experience that not more than a minute into my first session, my body went into a state of complete relaxation, while the therapist simply laid her hands with a gentle touch on the tops of my feet. For some of us, this degree of whole-body relaxation is not often experienced (even in sleep) and is certainly what makes CranioSacral therapy so enjoyable.
How does this occur? Accessing the CranioSacral rhythm and applying techniques to allow the self-correcting system to function optimally, has the effect of putting your Autonomic Nervous System directly into Parasympathetic Mode (rest and digest), which allows the body to dissipate the Sympathetic Response (fight or flight) and return to homeostatis. Several CranioSacral treatments over time will have the effect of improving the overall balance, function and flexibility of the Autonomic Nervous System (and thus, your body's ability to cope with stress.)
Explaining CranioSacral Therapy (CST)
It's easiest to explain CranioSacral Therapy in terms of something most people have experience with, which is massage.
Imagine a piece of saran wrap floating on top of a bowl of water. The force needed to move it across the surface by touching the underside of the wrap without deforming it, is the amount of force used on the CranioSacral system. Or, if you like, the touch is the same as the touch you use when you comfortably place your fingers over your eyelids.
create the environment that allows your body to function as it needs to
When stresses remain over time, your body adapts to protect itself
Learn more about CranioSacral Therapy
The CranioSacral System
The CranioSacral System is comprised of the tissues, fluids and membranes associated with the bones of the skull, face and mouth (making up the cranium) all the way down the spinal column to the tailbone (sacrum).
The CranioSacral System is intimately related to, influences, and is influenced by, all of the following systems within the body:
- the musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints)
- the vascular system (heart, veins, arteries)
- the respiratory system (trachea, lungs, diaphragm)
"Nature makes the best designs. Every design in nature is for a purpose and is the most efficient way to accomplish a task." Jon Vredevoogd
Dr. Upledger
My instructor used this analogy: When you are at the side of the pool, dipping your toes into the water, it does not feel good to be pushed into the pool. Rather, it can be extremely shocking, both physically and emotionally. Your intention was to get into the pool, and you would have gotten there much more comfortably in your own way and at your own time. In the same way, it is important to honour the healing process - listening to the tissues as the guide for healing, without "pushing" them, or pushing the process.
CranioSacral Therapy is soothing to the nervous system, in the same way that a mother's touch is calming and soothing to her baby.
Read about CranioSacral treatments with Dolphins
Copyright © 2009 Cora Rennie, Petawawa, ON
DISCLAIMER: Information on this site is not intended to and does not constitute medical advice, recommendation or counselling under any circumstance.
