Bodywork

Craniosacral Therapy

I received my craniosacral education through the Upledger Institute in 2018. The education I learned was equal parts technical information and hands-on experience. This is the lightest touch therapy with profound impact to the body that I have learned. It was developed by an osteopathic doctor by the name John Upledger. He spent many years developing this technique through the University of Michigan.---------- Clients remain clothed for the session. It is encouraged to wear loose, comfortable clothing. There are light-touch holds, no heavier than the weight of a nickel, that are placed along the sacrum, the thoracic spine, and the suture lines of the skull. The holds are just enough pressure to alleviate any restrictions in the structure of the body so that the cerebrospinal fluid may move more naturally. As the fluid is allowed to move freely, the body naturally self-adjusts. What am I doing as the therapist? My main role is to support the body's self-healing capacity with each hold. ---------- A unique identifier to this form of touch therapy is how different it is to experience with each session. There are no time expectations with each hold. I am listening to the rhythm of the spinal fluid to estimate how long to spend at each placement. Some people experience a drop in body temperature while others experience a temperature spike. I have had feedback from people who could've sworn that my hands were moving but they were not. I've had clients express nerve sensations in a lower body limb while my hands were placed at the sternum. Most often, though, clients take a nap and wake up feeling as though they have had a full night's rest.---------- I encourage people to try it if only to experience a moment of deepest relaxation.