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.