What is Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle hands on treatment which evolved from Osteopathy and takes a whole person approach to healing by reducing stress and tensions within the body.
Around 100 years ago, Dr William Sutherland, discovered that all the tissues of the body express a rhythmic movement or ‘craniosacral motion’. The cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, expresses this motion in a wave like flow. The restriction of this flow and motion can occur as a result of physical or emotional trauma - accidents or falls, stress, toxicity, past trauma, shock or unresolved and unexpressed emotions.
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A Craniosacral therapist uses very gentle touch and listens to the body through the hands to find out where these restrictions are. The aim is to help the body to release these tensions and contractions usually just by the application of light pressure, supporting the natural rhythm and flow to return.
This is often followed by the improvement of specific symptoms, improved vitality and a greater sense of calm and wellbeing.
During a treatment, you will usually lie on your back on a treatment couch. However if that is uncomfortable treatments can be carried out lying on the side or seated. Babies can be treated on their mother’s lap, and children may be seated and /or distracted by books or toys.
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Patients remain fully clothed and a gentle touch is used to help the body release tensions and restrictions in the soft tissues which enables the craniosacral motion to restart, thereby raising vitality and well-being, and restoring its natural healing processes. We usually work with all areas between the head and the coccyx, but often, the whole body is involved in the treatment.
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Some clients may have a sense of deep relaxation; some may experience pleasant sensations such as tingling, muscles relaxing or heat, some simply fall asleep. Everyone is different and each one of us will react differently and heal at different speeds. The body has an amazing capacity to heal itself – Craniosacral Therapy supports that capacity. Many people feel benefits after only one treatment, however if symptoms are long standing, it may take longer. Appointments usually last around an hour, the first treatment will be longer.