What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral differs from conventional body treatments in that it is a very gentle form of hands-on bodywork, done with delicate manipulations of the bones of the head (the "cranium") and lower part of the spine called the sacrum. This very gentle form of therapy can help resolve dysfunction in the body by regulating the autonomic nervous system through direct impact on the cerebrospinal fluid, which has its own rhythm in the human body, and which the skilled practitioner is sensing and directing.
When you get a Hands-on Wellness craniosacral treatment, you'll be receiving this unique form of gentle treatment to restore balance in the nervous system, allow for greater flexibility, help with pain reduction, improve athletic performance, optimize organ function, and enhance overall wellbeing.
Even though there is an energetic component to this treatment that the therapist taps into to sense the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid and the energy in the body, one need not practice any form of religion in order to be a craniosacral practitioner or receive this therapy. It is particularly effective for those suffering from chronic illness or chronic pain, children and the elderly.
What can I expect during a Craniosacral treatment?
A physical release may feel like taffy lengthening or butter melting. There may be a rippling, pulsing, or tingling sensation or a release of heat. Sometimes you may feel an increase in sensations in other areas of your body. There may be involuntary movement in some body parts. Some individuals feel release right away; others take a little longer.
The other way in which craniosacral treatment is different from conventional body- or energy work is that during sessions both therapist and client / patient need to be consciously present throughout the process of stretching. It is considered a form of body-centered meditation, transforming you into a more focused, centered, and grounded person and it is a powerful mind-body healing tool for the release of pain from physical or emotional causes.
Hands-on Wellness OT encourages you to hydrate well before and after a session and listen to your body's "voice" in directing the attention toward areas of tightness, pain or discomfort as well as pay attention to whatever emotions may occur during or after a release. This can happen because a memory related to the current pain was triggered or trapped during a previous physical or emotional trauma. These feelings come up for a reason. Allowing yourself to feel your emotions allows for true healing to happen. People receiving a craniosacral treatment often feel noticeably improved afterward - expect to feel more freedom in your body and more JOY!
