Craniosacral Therapy
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) developed from the work of American osteopath, Dr William Sutherland (1873-1954). He discovered that the body produces subtle tide like rhythms, which he called Primary Respiration (PR).
Through his hands-on work he found that physiology reflected these energetic tides and developed a powerful way of treating the body by relating to PR therapeutically. He found that all the body needed for health was present internally and could come into balance when he worked with these organising forces rather than using the more traditional osteopathic interventions.
Many of his insights are now born out through scientific enquiry in the areas of neuroscience, fascia and quantum physics.
In areas where the body is displaying symptoms, Primary Respiration may seem to be absent or depleted. These may be places where health is compromised perhaps from physical or emotional events that the body has not had the capacity to resolve. Bringing these areas back into relationship with Primary Respiration restores balance and raises vitality as blocked energies dissipate and reorganise.
How Does it Work?
Craniosacral therapists are trained to perceive Primary Respiration (PR) through light contact anywhere on the body.
Restrictions or changes in quality of PR are observed and offer information about what is going on under the surface of your body. It is through this quality of deep listening to these subtle movements that the body is skilfully facilitated to make the adjustments it needs to repair and return to health.
Every client is different; the following is an example of how a session may unfold.
A client may come with a sore knee and want it to stop hurting. Many factors probably led to their knee hurting. Some tight back muscles may have made them lean on to that leg. Those back muscles started tightening when the client fell off a ladder 3 years ago or after they had that very stressful period at work.
A Craniosacral therapist skilfully relating to Primary Respiration is able to track the many strands that contributed to the knee expressing pain. As they do this the intelligent forces of the body start to enliven and work to focus the body’s resources where they are needed for repair. This happens at a subtle energetic level and at the same time the physiology of the body activates to correct the imbalances, blood flows more easily, muscles relax, and the whole body gets to work to restore health.