What will you feel during a Craniosacral Therapy Session?
Well, that really depends on the person. Because each person has a different sense of awareness of his or her body. In most cases, where people do mindfulness practice, yoga, some athletes, or massage often, they tend to have more of an idea of the subtle movements and structure of their bodies. But many people, don’t think to listen to their bodies honestly. This is probably just a cultural thing. In the US, it has not been a common practice to meditate and close our eyes with awareness to what is happening to us in a sensory proactive way. That is just the way it has been until more recently.
Craniosacral Therapy Session
In the last few decades, there have been more Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine training, and teaching lay people and other healthcare practitioners gentle ways to approach and listen to the body’s own inner healing abilities. Fortunately, one of them, a Dr. John Upledger decided that he wanted to get the very helpful and healing modality of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) out to as many people as possible. As such, there has been a big influence in promoting massage therapists to use what I consider to be a more mindful CST approach. Because when A Craniosacral Therapist listens to the body, we attune to the body’s intelligence response with a very light touch. With that, we also use intention and techniques that are able to bypass the body’s own defense system. Thus allowing us to have a conversation with the fundamental wisdom of the body. This is very different than effleurage, deep tissue, or swedish. And believe it or not the effects go deep and create long term healing. That is all because the body knows what to do, it just needs gentle support and encouragement.
In your Craniosacral Therapy Session, you will be fully clothed. And you will most likely feel held. Most clients gradually notice quiet changes going on throughout the body. Fascial restrictions will let go, and the energy flows better, circulation improves, and the Central Nervous System balances out. Often people who are high strung will start to relax. Many of my clients fall sleep. On the flip side, people who are lethargic or low energy, do the opposite- and pick up energy. Initially, most people feel more when they get the work done closer to the neck and the head, mainly because that is where their awareness is often. But it is also possible to feel the craniosacral rhythm in the feet as well. Over continual sessions, many people gain more insights into how their whole body works. That sense of body amnesia disappears. With awareness comes self-empowerment and the ability to make healthy choices. In the whole picture, clients feel more vital, alive, and pain free.
Sessions usually last between 45 -60 minutes on the table. But there are also 5 day intensives with organizations like Integrative Intentions. That group travels around the world and uses multiple hands on therapy with clients. I have been a primary therapist at these and have seen miraculous changes and shifts occur. Having a few therapists working on a client with others in a large room all day is quite transformational.
Craniosacral Therapy Sessions are for pretty much everyone. There are a few patients with contraindications who should talk to their physicians if they have medical issues.
If you have any questions, please call for a free 10 minute phone consultation.
Sharon Hartnett CST-D, LMT, SI
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com