Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics

 

Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics Volumes 1 & 2 by Franklyn Sills are gold-standard text books that outline the biodynamic model of Craniosacral practice. These volumes are recommended to all students and practitioners of Craniosacral Therapy, and are included in the essential reading list for students on the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) training at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust. Franklyn is a pioneering teacher of a biodynamic understanding and has developed an in-depth curriculum that orients students to its principles and practice. He was also co-founder of the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust

According to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist, Naturopath and teacher Michael Kern, BCST emphasises working with the underlying forces that govern how we function, and it takes a whole body, whole person approach that deeply acknowledges the interconnections between spirit, body and mind. Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics offers this holistic and spiritual understanding, differentiating it from other more mechanistic and purely materialistic approaches. The books outline how practitioners can build their perceptual and clinical skills to become adept at identifying and working with subtle respiratory motions (primary respiration) that become expressed through the body. The books also orient students to the essential ordering principle of the Breath of Life and its role in healing processes. Sills provides a range of exercises and explorations that build an experiential understanding of the biodynamic approach, which can become embodied and put into practice with the support and mentoring by experienced teachers.

A Short History of Craniosacral Biodynamics

The early development of craniosacral practice was initiated by Dr. William Sutherland, an osteopath who realised that subtle rhythmic motion is a necessary pre-requisite for good health and integration of body and mind. The roots of biodynamics also lie with developments that Dr. Sutherland made during the latter stages of his career, after he had a direct experience of the presence of the Breath of Life that prompted him to shift gears from a mechanistic orientation and to a more non-invasive approach. He realised that the ‘unerring potency’ of the Breath of Life can be employed to make corrections in the body, rather than the introduction of any external forces. As such, the focus changed from analysis and the application of techniques to an appreciation of presence and stillness, and the recognition of primary respiration in initiating the healing process and maintaining equilibrium in the human body.

The principles outlined by Dr. Sutherland have been developed and extended by later practitioners, such as Dr. Rollin Becker, Dr. James Jealous and Franklyn Sills, who together with Michael Kern established the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust (CTET) in 1989.

Plant-Based Food Orders Spike in Veganuary

Plant-based food orders in the UK spiked in January 2021, according to takeaway and delivery platform Deliveroo. Searches within the app for vegan food increased by 153% and orders by 117%, which is thought to be due to the large number of people participating in Veganuary. Last year more than half a million Brits joined in with Veganuary, pledging to eat a vegan diet for the first month of the year.  

According to reports from Deliveroo, more than 15,000 restaurants across the UK have added plant-based vegan dishes to their regular menu in response to this demand. Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy teacher and former Osteopath, has been vegetarian for nearly 50 years and advocates the benefits of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle for animal welfare, for health reasons, and for the wider benefit of the planet. 

 

Taking on Veganuary 

 

Veganuary has proven a popular project to raise awareness in the UK. In 2021 there were an estimated 582,000 participants. An official survey found that 85% of them planned to make permanent changes to their diet following the month. Approximately 40% intended to remain vegan, while the rest planned to reduce their overall meat and dairy intake to varying degrees – at least halving their prior intake. Almost two-thirds of people surveyed maintained a completely vegan diet throughout January, while the remaining third drastically reduced their meat and animal product consumption.  

 

Reasons to Try Vegan 

 

Around 35% of vegans cite concerns about climate change as one of their main reasons for changing to a plant-based diet. According to the Veganuary survey, almost half (46%) of the 2021 participants cited animal welfare as their primary reason for switching their diet, while 21% of respondents wanted to help protect the environment, and a further 22% experimented with Veganuary for personal health reasons. Improved health metrics experienced by participants included higher levels of energy, improved mood, better skin condition and weight loss. 

 

Longevity of Results 

 

An estimated 40% of people who participated in Veganuary plan to stay vegan, while only 10% state they will not be making any lasting changes to their diet. Veganuary has been running in the UK since 2014 and was launched in the US in 2019. Increasing numbers of restaurants and other food outlets and brands are now improving their plant-based offerings as a result of the growing demand.  

How Babies Can Benefit from Cranio

Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle way to trigger the body’s natural self-healing capabilities: it helps to resolve traumatic imprints, allows us to process stresses, and supports the nervous system to down-regulate. The gentleness of this approach makes cranio perfect for babies.  

Helps with Head Bruising 

Craniosacral Therapy can be beneficial for babies who have experienced difficulty during birth and who may, as a result, have bruising to the head, forceps marks, chignon caused by vacuum extraction, cephalohematoma or an abnormality of head shape. 

It can also help resolve any underlying physical or emotional tensions that can be left behind in the baby’s system, even after these marks have disappeared.  

Adjustment After a Long, Difficult or Fast Birth 

The birth experience, particularly if it was prolonged, very fast, with medical interventions, or was by C-section, can result in the baby experiencing ongoing physical and emotional distress. According to Craniosacral Therapy teacher Michael Kern, these birth imprints can effectively be processed and resolved by helping to restore natural rhythmic movements within the body and supporting the body’s natural tendencies to find health, This leads to happier and more well-adjusted babies. 

Can Make Breastfeeding Easier 

Craniosacral Therapy is often used to support breast feeding. If a newborn is struggling to latch onto the breast, it could be due to unresolved stress, pain or discomfort, or as a result of the after effects of medication administered during the experience of birth. Tightness in the jaw or throat regions, or compression of cranial bones resulting from a difficult birth can impact on tongue sensation and the ability to easily feed. 

Soothes Crying 

Babies who inconsolably cry, or cry with a high pitch may also be supported with Craniosacral Therapy, which can resolve the imprints of birth trauma. It can also allow the baby to move through ‘memory crying’, in which their birth story can be revisited and resolved. A deep listening to the intelligence in the body is key to this practice.  

Babies Diagnosed with Tongue Tie 

Tongue tie may be another cause of feeding difficulties, but there are some issues that can mimic the symptoms of tongue tie, such as fascial restrictions, cranial nerve dysfunction and nervous system activation. All these may be amenable to treatment.  

Can Resolve Torticollis/Head Preference 

Some babies present with torticollis, which can be an uncomfortable condition that can also create difficulties with latching onto the breast. Tortocollis may result from unresolved compressions experienced during the birth process, or by patterns that develop in the uterus before birth. It is sometimes indicated by a baby’s habitual preference to lie on one side, and not on the other. Craniosacral Therapy sessions can be of great benefit!

Craniosacral Therapy: An Introduction

 

Craniosacral Therapy is a therapy using a light touch that essentially supports the expressions of our intrinsic health and wholeness. The hands-on skills used by Craniosacral practitioners are designed to restore natural rhythmic motions in the body, which has the effect of bringing the body and mind back into balance. As a result, Craniosacral Therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions.

The Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust provides training courses with a ‘biodynamic’ approach of Craniosacral Therapy, which orients practitioners to the underlying forces that govern our health. A whole-person approach to treatment is taken, appreciating the interconnections of body, mind and spirit. The Trust was co-founded in 1989 by Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy teacher and author.

The Primary Respiratory Mechanism

Craniosacral Therapists use touch to sense the subtle rhythmic motions expressed through the body, and learn how to feel any places of restriction or dysregulation. The subtle rhythms carry an essential ordering principle for body and mind, but can become compromised by unresolved stresses and strains that are held in the body. In this way, places of inertia affecting the expression of natural rhythmic motion can compromise the expression of our intrinsic health and be a primary factor in the development of disease and pathology. Areas of inertia may result from factors such as physical injury, emotional stress, trauma, or an unsuitable diet.

The ‘primary respiratory mechanism’, sometimes referred to as the ‘craniosacral system’, refers to a system of anatomical and physiological relationships found in and around the core of the body. It comprises the brain and spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, cranial bones, membranes that surround the central nervous system, and the sacrum. The subtle rhythmic motion of these tissues and fluids plays a significant role in our health, so craniosacral practitioners frequently work with these areas. However, Craniosacral Therapy is actually a whole body, whole person approach to treatment, that also includes all the organs, fascia, muscles, bones, fluids and tissues throughout the body.

Conditions for Health

The body retains deep-seated and powerful capacities to heal, which can become supported by the skilful touch and presence of Craniosacral Therapy practitioners. In this process, practitioners can support the conditions in which the body’s natural capacities to restore health are facilitated. These conditions include states of safety and physiological settling that allow for the processing and resolution of any unresolved stressful or traumatic experiences and states of dysregulation in the body. Through creating the right conditions, our natural corrective wisdom can begin to promote healing from the inside out; the benefits of which can be long lasting and life-changing.

The ‘Tides’

Within the biodynamic approach taught at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, students are instructed how to perceive and support the expression of at least three subtle rhythms, as well as the basic ground of stillness that underlies the function of these rhythms. Each of these rhythms, often referred to as ‘tides’, has its own rate and physiological significance.

By resolving any retained patterns of stress and strain in the functioning of these rhythms, the expression of the basic ordering principle that’s carried in these subtle motions can be facilitated at a physiological level. This re-establishes the expression of health in the body, and restores a balanced integration of body and mind.

Integrating Mind and Body

Craniosacral Therapy can be very helpful for dealing with trauma, anxiety or strong unresolved emotions, as these experiences are fundamentally retained in the body. By working with the physiological roots of these experiences, they can often be processed and dissipated without the need for medication or other interventions.

 

Reasons to Give Up Animal Products in 2021

 

Animal rights is one of the main reasons why we may choose to eliminate meat and other animal by-products from our diets. Most vegetarians and vegans choose this lifestyle because they care about the welfare of all creatures; animals as well as humans.

Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust co-founder, is passionate about animal rights and has been a vegetarian for over 45 years. While animal rights are an important issue, there are multiple reasons to give up meat, many of which are beneficial to both humans and animals.

Physical and Mental Health

Studies have shown that people who limit their meat intake or cut out meat altogether have a lowered risk of contracting many serious diseases and conditions such as heart disease, several forms of cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.

When coupled with regular exercise, a balanced vegetarian diet can increase lifespan and help maintain a healthy body. A vegetarian diet can also benefit mental and emotional health.

Saving the Environment

The meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to harm when it comes to the environment. Pollution, deforestation, chemical run-off into the water table and carbon dioxide production are just some of the effects of the global meat industry. Cutting out meat prevents contributing to these harmful effects and, if enough people choose to go vegetarian, the environment will benefit as the meat industry begins to shrink.

Solving Human Hunger

Producing meat takes significantly more resources than producing grains and vegetables. If we stopped breeding livestock for slaughter and instead used that land and those resources to generate crops to feed humans, we would be better able to eradicate starvation in the world as more food would be produced for human consumption without increasing cost or land use.

Protecting Animals

A huge percentage of meat sold in supermarkets around the world is produced in intensive factory farms, where the animals being raised are badly treated.  These creatures live and die in cramped conditions, often with disease and pain, suffering throughout their unnaturally short lives. By refusing to eat meat, we refuse to be a part of the system that generates animal suffering.

 

 

 

Introducing the Live to Learn Organisation

 

Live to Learn is the educational arm of the Live to Love organisation. Live to Love was established as a secular movement by His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, focusing on providing humanitarian services to resolve the challenges of the modern world.

Live to Learn operates three schools in the Himalayas, bringing comprehensive educational programmes to children and adults with a view to combining the best of modern culture and ancient traditions.

Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust co-founder, is a long-time supporter of the Druk Padma Karpo school operated under the umbrella of Live to Learn.

Druk Padma Karpo

Druk Padma Karpo is a sustainably designed school in Ladakh, which has won numerous awards and accolades for its green architecture. Druk Padma Karpo’s design structure incorporates local building techniques handed down through the generations, along with some of the most modern environmentally friendly architectural technologies, delivering a school that is self-sustainable as much as possible. The design of the school further acts as an educational resource for the students, who are encouraged to learn about sustainability and the need to preserve the limited natural resources of the area.

Chakchen Ling

Chakchen Ling School serves a region of Nangchen that has been living with the aftermath of a huge earthquake for the past decade. The school has been designed ecologically as a green educational institution serving the needs of 300 students at present, with plans underway to serve more than 10,000 over the coming decade. Many thousands in the region have been left without adequate access to education due to the earthquake – Live to learn is working to ensure that education can be provided as soon as possible.

Hemis

Hemis School in Ladakh is an educational facility for adults currently under construction, located close to Hemis monastery in Ladakh. This is one of the most visited sites in the region, despite being relatively remote. This new educational facility will focus on providing local adults with a practical education, embedding skills through learning that many did not have access to as children.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa oversees numerous projects under the Live to Love banner, which include access to medical facilities, clean water, emergency aid and animal rescue, as well as cultural preservation.

 

Craniosacral Therapy Advanced Courses: Formative Embodiment

 

A range of training courses are offered at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, which operates as a school of excellence to provide comprehensive trainings for existing therapists and those looking for a career change. Each course combines theoretical learning with hands-on experience, emphasising development of practical skills.

Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust co-founder, established the school in 1989 in partnership with Franklyn Sills. Formative Embodiment is a new postgraduate course being offered for the first time in the UK in 2021 at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust.

Postgraduate Study

Formative Embodiment is the next step for many craniosacral, somatic, body-orientated, psychotherapy and counselling practitioners, and others. This integrative approach was initially developed by Dr Jim Feil, inspired by a number of influences including Craniosacral Biodynamics, Stanley Keleman’s Formative Psychology, Pre- and Perinatal Therapies, Focusing, and Polarity Therapy.

The revolutionary training programme designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of practitioners will be taught by Dr Jim Feil. Dr Feil has been working in somatic and energetic therapeutic practices for more than 45 years.

Three Main Pillars

Formative Embodiment is based on three main pillars. The first of these is the formative process, which begins at conception and continues actively throughout life. The formative impulse, which is the priority of the body to adapt and survive, is at the heart of Formative Embodiment. The second pillar is Somatic Orientation, which involves listening closely to the body and supporting healing through tapping into bodily resources. The third pillar is Energetic Foundation, focusing on the energy circuitry that powers all human beings. This circuitry is today mapped in quantum science yet has also been mapped in several ancient traditions.

CTET Practitioner Courses

Note that CTET also offers practitioner training courses for those beginning on their Craniosacral Therapy journey. These courses take place part-time over two years, with 48 days of classroom-based study.

The curriculum is well-structured to cover a broad range of skills and adaptable to include new scientific research and perspectives. Each course is based on biodynamic principles, which involves learning to support the natural forces that organise our form and function and working with natural rhythms that get expressed within our bodies in order to promote healing and wellbeing.