Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on method of evaluating, enhancing and balancing the body. It works with the cranium (head), the sacrum (the triangular shaped bone at the end of the spine), the spine and the pelvis, including the fascia and soft tissue of the body.
What is CST?
Inside the cavities of the brain and the spinal cord there is a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid runs back and forth along the spine and brain. The flow, or rhythm, of the cerebrospinal fluid can be felt by the practitioner as an expansion and contraction. When we work with this rhythm we are accessing a subtle and deep body process that when attention is given to it, can lead to natural and profound changes in the body. It allows the body itself, without force, to regulate and balance all on its own.
CST works with the fascia in the body. (Craniosacral therapy is also known as Craniofascial therapy). Fascia is the glad wrap that wraps around all your muscles and organs as well as in and around the spinal cord and the brain. CST is effective in accessing and affecting the fascia that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord;this is what makes it a unique type of body therapy.
What happens in a CST session?
The session involves a very light, gentle touch. The therapist will either begin at the feet, head or sacrum. The practitioner will hold these parts of the body for a length of time, feeling and ‘listening” to the subtle rhythms and assessing tight fascial areas in your body. The practitioner will then use very light direct or indirect pressure to affect the craniosacral system and to affect/release connective tissue.
What can I expect?
During the session you may:
– Relax so deeply that you fall asleep
– Enter a quiet meditative state
– Feel as if you are dreaming while you are awake
– Experience a sense of warmth, softening, widening or floating in your body
– May feel a physical release in some areas of your body.
Who is it good for?
It is great for anyone who wants to bring health and balance to their body. It is especially useful for those who do not respond well to deep tissue massage or bodywork that can be painful. Because CST is a gentle modality, it does not elicit a protective guarding response from your body.
What can it help with?
– Headaches/migraines
– Neck pain
– Back/pelvis pain, -menstrual/reproductive problems
– TMJ
– General aches in the body
– Calming the adrenal glands and the nervous system CST brings the body into a state of homeostasis, boosting the body’s natural healing process, therefore assisting with many health concerns.
The team at Balanced Healthcare are dedicated to empowering you and your family to achieve your true health potential.