CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on treatment that promotes healing by treating the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are encased in a tough, but flexible fascia called the dura. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates through the central nervous system and cushions, nourishes, and removes waste. The CSF circulates in a rhythm that can be palpated anywhere in the body, and that is different from your heart rate and your respiratory rate. Physical, emotional, and energetic stress and trauma can cause restrictions in the fascial and dural systems that can create tension in the nervous system and restrict the flow of the CSF, leading to pain and illness.
CranioSacral Therapy uses gentle mobilization of the bones of the skull and sacrum to manipulate the dura, release restrictions, and to improve the flow of CSF. A healthy, functioning nervous system allows the body to heal and recover from a variety of conditions, including anxiety, neck and back pain, sciatica, nerve pain, TMJ disorders, whiplash, migraines, headaches, concussions and other brain injuries, chronic fatigue and depletion, adrenal overload, insomnia, ADHD, fibromyalgia, orthopedic injuries, and many other conditions.
CranioSacral Therapy can also be used preventatively to bolster immunity and improve the health of the nervous system. It is contraindicated in those for whom changes in intracranial pressure could be dangerous, such as in brain aneurysm, hemorrhage, or tumor, but is generally safe and gentle enough to treat most conditions.
Personally, I have found CranioSacral Therapy to be one of the most effective tools in managing my own pain. I find treatments to be incredibly relaxing, and a wonderful complement to my yoga, mediation, and pranayama practices.
During a session, you will receive targeted, gentle, healing touch primarily along the pathway of the central nervous system (skull, spine, sacrum). Some people experience pulsing, warmth, or other physical sensations. There can also be emotional releases as the body stores emotional and energetic trauma, which often manifests as tightness, restriction, and physical pain. Many people find that CranioSacral Therapy liberates the breath and releases tension so they feel more relaxed, refreshed, and at ease.
How can incorporating Craniosacral therapy into my wellness plan benefit me?
CranioSacral Therapy is one of the most effective tools I know for calming the nervous system, which makes it incredibly effective for people who have a history of pain (including persistent conditions such as fibromyalgia and EDS), high stress, and/or trauma. It is gentle and subtle, but profound because it treats the nervous system by releasing tension in the fascia surrounding the brain, spine, and nerves. It is an excellent treatment for people with nerve pain, and for people with fascial tension due to things like stress, hypermobility, muscle guarding, and burnout. It will leave you feeling calm, relaxed, and more mobile. For many people, unwinding tension in the nervous system improves mobility and reduces pain, making it easier to work on physical therapy exercises. When integrated with yogic breathing, meditation, and movement, Ayurvedic food and lifestyle shifts to promote grounding, pain neuroscience, and physical therapy, you will have a well-rounded set of tools to balance your nervous system and reduce your pain.
CranioSacral Therapy may be integrated into your wellness plan if indicated, but you may also wish to book a standalone session. If you are hoping to have a full session of CranioSacral Therapy without an evaluation or comprehensive treatment plan, or you want an additional session focused just on CranioSacral Therapy, please feel free to book a session specifically for CranioSacral Therapy.