Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on, non- invasive 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. It is originally from the modality of osteopathy.
What happens in a CST session?
The session involves a very light, gentle touch. The therapist will usually begin at the feet but may begin at the head or sacrum.
The practitioner will hold these parts of the body for a length of time, feeling and ‘listening” to the subtle rhythms of the body and the cerebrospinal movement in the body. 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
– May experience emotional release of held emotions.
Who is it good for?
It is great for anyone who wants to bring health and balance to their body. It is particularly supportive for the nervous system and can help with stress and trauma in the body in non- non-intrusive, very nurturing manner.
It is especially useful for those who do not respond well to deep tissue massage or bodywork that can be painful.
CST is a gentle modality, therefore it does not elicit a protective guarding response(contracting and holding the muscles tight to protect itself).
This means that CST is very supportive in releasing held emotions and trauma in the body.
What might 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 promotes a state of homeostasis, and regulation of the nervous system thereby complimenting the body’s natural healing process to areas of the body exactly where it is needed.