CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases deep areas of tension in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve performance and health in the whole body. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.
Using a light touch, practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it’s effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with dysfunction and pain.
The Nervous System
Few body structures have more influence over your health and well-being than your central nervous system (CNS). And few body systems have more impact on your central nervous system than the CranioSacral system- the soft tissues and fluid that protect your brain and spinal cord.
You endure strains and stresses and your body absorbs them. Your body can only handle so much tension before tissues begin to tighten and potentially affect the brain and spinal cord. Ultimately, this can compromise function of the central nervous system and nearly every other system in your body.
CST releases those restrictions to allow the entire body to self correct and relax. Using a gentle touch, practitioners evaluate your internal environment. They then use techniques that are distinct to CST Therapy to release any restrictions they find. By freeing the CNS to perform at its best, CST naturally eliminates stress and pain, enhances your health and well-being and strengthens your body's resistance to disease.
What can I expect from a session?
A typical CranioSacral Therapy session takes place in a soothing, private setting. You remain fully clothed, just removing your shoes, belt, and jewelry before you relax on a comfortable padded table.
Your therapist begins by gently placing their hands on various parts of your body to monitor the rhythm of the fluid that is flowing around your CNS. By carefully listening with the hands to locate areas of weak fluid flow or tissue motion, your practitioner can trace those areas of weakness though the body to the original source of dysfunction.
Subtle manual techniques are used to release those problem areas and improve the form and function of your central nervous system.
A session can last up to an hour or more. It can be used alone or integrated with other therapies to create powerful effects. What you experience from your session is highly individual. The sessions are deeply relaxing, creating feelings of warmth, and well being in the areas the therapist is working on.
Did you know the body is a self-correcting mechanism?
There is an innate ability of the human body to heal itself. CST practitioners refer to this part as the Inner Physician (IP). CST involves facilitating and enhancing the body's own capacity to self correct when disease or traumatic processes overwhelm the system.
What conditions can CST help?
CranioSacral Therapy improves your body's ability to balance and self correct. It had been shown to help a full spectrum of issues including:
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