I was introduced to body work, specifically CranioSacral Therapy (CST), when I hit a point in my traditional talk therapy where the amount of triggering got to be too much to move through.
My body was in a chronic state of hypervigilance. It was suggested that I find a therapist that specializes in body work.
After four sessions with a CranioSacral therapist, I started to “feel things” again. The best way to describe it is it felt like someone swept the cobwebs off my brain. I was able to actually relax, I was able to take recuperative breaths, I was softer as a parent and more feminine as a woman.
But what was happening, and why?
Due to the trauma my body had been enduring, my circulatory system was damaged, and my brain was working harder than needed. I was constantly tired and run down. My head was twice as heavy due to the buildup of fluid and blood not being able to cycle through.
Once my therapist was able to unlock my cranial bones and my cerebrospinal fluid was able to rush though, I started noticing the change.
Some people experience this after one or two sessions. For me it took more like 4-6 to really tune into what was happening and notice the changes in my mannerisms. People started saying, “something is different about you”.
After six years, I am still a regular at my therapist office as my body is aging and I am proactive about preventative measures.
CranioSacral Therapy is not new.
It was found by Dr. Upledger, an osteopathic doctor who studied at Michigan State University from 1975 to 1983. CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach to evaluating and enhancing the CranioSacral system, which is comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Dr. Upledger used the term “CranioSacral Therapy” to describe the structures that produce and enable a rhythm he observed while assisting in a spinal surgery. He eventually called this rhythm the CranioSacral rhythm and saw it as being created within the CranioSacral system.
I believe there is a growing population that is looking for ways to feel better, other than traditional physical therapy or pharmacology.
We are specifically looking for holistic ways to manage pain, discomfort, and dysregulated emotions. CranioSacral Therapy is just that, another tool in our tool belt to combat life, as we know it!
If you have an opportunity to try this form of therapy, I encourage you to try a few sessions before you decide if it’s for you or not. Just like any therapist, it takes a time to get to know one another and allow the magic to take place.
For more information on Dr. Upledger and his work, you can read the Inner Physician or visit the Upledger Institute site at: https://www.upledger.com/