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.
