Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC: 2017

Friday, November 17, 2017

Getting In Touch With CranioSacral Therapy

Join us for an interactive presentation to learn about the healing power of CranioSacral Therapy & SomatoEmotional Release.

"How does CranioSacral Therapy work, exactly?"
"What's the theory behind this unique practice?"
"What does a typical session include?"

If you've had these (or other!) questions about CranioSacral Therapy, please bring them with you to our upcoming presentation:

Getting In Touch With CranioSacral Therapy
Presenter: Darin Puppel, BCTMB, CST

WHEN: Saturday, December 2, 2017 OR Sunday, December 3, 2017
WHAT TIME: 2:00 - 4:30 PM
COST: Free!

The same content will be covered on each day, so you can choose the date that will work best with your schedule. The event will be held right here at our Lake of the Ozarks manual therapy office:

Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC

110 Crossings E. Drive, Suite 5

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Our office is located on the rear lower level of the Cooper Building.

What Will Be Covered?

We are planning an engaging, interactive presentation that should be fun as well as educational. Here is a sneak peek at the topics we plan to include:

General explanation of what CranioSacral Therapy is and how it works.
Overview of the relevant anatomy that CST frequently treats.
A look at the key innovators who helped develop CranioSacral Therapy.
A simple but thorough discussion of the theory behind CST and how we practice.
An introduction to SomatoEmotional Release, how it was developed, and its therapeutic power.

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and get direct feedback from our CranioSacral Therapist at the Lake of the Ozarks, Darin Puppel. Darin will also perform a short demo session on a volunteer so that everyone will have an opportunity to see CranioSacral Therapy in action.

Why CranioSacral Therapy?

Humans are complex creatures with complicated lives. We have several aspects to our existence: physical, psychological, emotional, professional, energetic, personal, spiritual, and more. Each of these aspects are inextricably interrelated. You are not segmented into bits and pieces - every part of you affects every other part.

CranioSacral Therapy enables us to treat the entire person as an integrated whole. By listening attentively to the body, we are able to respond to its true needs. CST isn't about treating symptoms; it's about addressing the root cause and facilitating the body's natural progression towards health.

RSVP To Reserve Your Spot!

If you are planning to attend, we kindly request that you RSVP to Bailey Puppel by texting/calling 573-480-7080 or messaging our Facebook page. Space is limited, and we want to be sure that we can accommodate all of our guests. Feel free to invite family, friends, or whomever else you know that may be interested in the event.

Questions? Comments?

Hopes, dreams, fears? Contact Darin or Bailey Puppel to learn more about the upcoming presentation. We look forward to seeing you there!

Hands That Listen

- Post by Bailey Puppel

Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC

www.InfiniteTouchLLC.com

Phone:
(573) 280-4470
(573) 480-7080

Hours:
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday-Friday
by appointment only

Address:
110 Crossings E Drive, Suite 5
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

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Monday, October 30, 2017

A Closer Look At The CranioSacral Rhythm

It's one of the most critical parts of the body, but it is often completely overlooked by modern care providers.

The craniosacral system is comprised of the ventricles in the brain, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that they produce, and the structures that house and protect the brain and spinal cord. As its name suggests, this system begins at the cranium and stretches down to the sacrum (the triangular bone at the end of the spine). Though it is only in this localized area, its function drastically impacts the body's vitality.

In this month's blog, we are taking a closer look at the craniosacral system and how we use it to conduct treatment sessions at our manual therapy office at the Lake of the Ozarks. First, however, we need to take a closer look at the central nervous system and the fluid that surrounds it.

The Central Nervous System

The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system. These structures are without a doubt the most crucial structures in the body. The brain controls everything that happens in the body - respiration, digestion, movement, senses, reproduction, thoughts, emotions, and all other bodily processes. The spinal cord is responsible for relaying messages from the brain to the different parts of the body so that the appropriate actions may be taken.

As you are probably well aware, damage sustained by the brain and/or spinal cord can result in severe and far-reaching consequences. For this reason, the central nervous system is protected by the cranial bones, vertebral column, and various tissues and fluid to insulate, cushion, and guard against impact. However, what you may not realize is that even if the brain and spinal cord remain intact with no obvious signs of damage to their structure, their function can be impeded by various external factors.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid is one of the most important substances that helps protect the central nervous system. It flows around the brain and the spinal cord in a continuous loop, serving three primary functions:

Insulating against blows or impacts by serving as a shock absorber
Distributing nutrients to the brain and spinal cord
Removing waste products from the central nervous system

The amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the craniosacral system must remain fairly constant, with a volume of approximately 2/3 of a cup. In order to maintain this balance, the system is always oscillating between filling and emptying.

When the fluid is its filling phase, the craniosacral system is said to be "in flexion." When the system is emptying, it is said to be "in extension." The loop is continuous, and the flexion/extension rhythm, though subtle, can be palpated throughout the entire body. This is the rhythm our Lake of the Ozarks CranioSacral Therapist tunes into when determining the best course of treatment.

Using The CranioSacral Rhythm For Treatment

In an ideal situation, the cerebrospinal fluid would be allowed to ebb and flow unimpeded. All structures of the body would have the mobility required to shift gently as the fluid travels its course, allowing each structure to gain the maximum benefit of a fully functioning craniosacral system.

Unfortunately, this ideal rarely - if ever - manifests in real life.

The craniosacral system is delicate. It can be easily impeded by countless different things, from distinct trauma (such as physical trauma or car accidents) to seemingly unimportant incidents (such as tripping over a step but catching yourself before you fall). It may also be impeded by emotional and/or psychological challenges, such as failing to speak your truth during an emotional conversation.

By tuning into the craniosacral rhythm at various key locations throughout the body (called "listening stations"), we can identify where the flow is impeded or, in some cases, entirely obstructed. Generally, we begin our therapy sessions in the location where the rhythm appears to be the most restricted.

Once this location has been identified, we meld with the tissue using a very gentle pressure (often only five grams or less) and allow it to lead us where it wants to go. By following its chosen path, we support the body on its journey toward improved function and help facilitate its natural progression towards health.

Contact Us To Learn More!

While some people may experience more profound results than others, practically everyone can benefit from CranioSacral Therapy in some way. The light touch used and the inherently non-invasive approach in CST make it a safe, effective option to add to your healthcare arsenal.

If you would like to learn more about CranioSacral Therapy and how it may be able to help your specific situation, please call us directly at (573) 280-4470. We truly look forward to being a part of your journey to a healthier, more fully integrated you!

Hands That Listen

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Understanding CranioSacral Therapy

You've learned it has countless applications, but what exactly IS it?

If you saw our last blog post about the different types of manual therapies we offer and the types of conditions we can help treat, you know that the applications of CranioSacral Therapy are extensive. However, the actual methodology (and, to some extent, the philosophy) of CranioSacral Therapy is largely unknown. In this blog post, we aim to help you get a better understanding of CranioSacral Therapy - what it is, how it works, and how it can help you.

What Is CranioSacral Therapy?

At its essence, CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on way of tuning into and releasing abnormal tensions in the body that are impeding its function. It is named after the craniosacral system (the structures that house and protect the central nervous system), as many of its techniques were originally designed to treat these structures. However, the applications of CST have since been expanded to treat every part of the body.

Osteopathic Physician Dr. John E. Upledger developed CranioSacral Therapy after years of extensive research and testing at Michigan State University, where he served as the Professor of Biomechanics. He later founded The Upledger Institute, which now hosts classes and intensive programs throughout the United States (and in several other countries) to make CranioSacral Therapy accessible to both patients and therapists around the globe.

How Does CranioSacral Therapy Work?

Photo Source:
facebook.com/upledger.institute

The craniosacral system has a pulse that can be felt throughout the entire body. Our CranioSacral Therapist at the Lake of the Ozarks uses a light touch to evaluate this rhythm. By identifying disturbances in the rhythm, Darin can determine which location within the body could most benefit from treatment that particular day.

Once we have identified where to begin treatment, we approach that part of the body using the same light touch. By coming in slowly and lightly in this manner, we avoid using unnecessary energy to battle the body's defense mechanisms that are activated by firmer pressure. This maximizes the benefit that the body may get from our touch. Using such a light touch also enables us to be sensitive to the subtle changes within the tissue. These subtle changes and movements are what guide each session.

How Can CranioSacral Therapy Help You?

If you read our previous blog post about the different therapies we offer, you may remember that we firmly believe in the body's innate power and wisdom to heal itself. We love CranioSacral Therapy because its methods truly embrace this philosophy.

By palpating the craniosacral rhythm to evaluate where treatment is needed, we can often identify the true sources of our clients' conditions - even when the source is nowhere near the location where symptoms are manifesting. Many of our clients who previously had difficulty identifying the cause of their symptoms have benefited from CranioSacral Therapy.

SomatoEmotional Release

No conversation about CranioSacral Therapy would be complete without also mentioning SomatoEmotional Release. The body processes every event we experience. If an event is overwhelming or traumatic, the body may store the accompanied energy/emotion to be safely processed at a later point in time. Inevitably, the body must compensate around this stored energy. Over time, the body may begin to develop physical symptoms that trace back to these held energies. Sometimes the symptoms are not obvious, but can still be just as debilitating.

SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is a process that the body may go through to release held tension, energy, and/or emotion. SER can be spontaneous - often, there is no conscious decision by either the client or the therapist to pursue an SER. However, we are trained and equipped to support our clients through this emotional aspect of their release, should the need arise. In future blog posts, we will take a closer look at how SomatoEmotional Release works.

Contact Us To Learn More!

While some people may experience more profound results than others, practically everyone can benefit from CranioSacral Therapy in some way. The light touch used and the inherently non-invasive approach in CST make it a safe, effective option to add to your healthcare arsenal.

If you would like to learn more about CranioSacral Therapy and how it may be able to help your specific situation, please call us directly at (573) 280-4470. We truly look forward to being a part of your journey to a healthier, more fully integrated you!

Hands That Listen

Friday, August 18, 2017

Introduction to Infinite Touch - Part 2: What We Do

Welcome back!

A few weeks ago, we published our introductory blog post. This first post focused on the team at our manual therapy office in Lake Ozark MO. This week, we are continuing our introduction by focusing on our overarching healing philosophy, the unique therapies that we offer, and the various applications of our work. Keep reading to learn how the services offered at Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC may be able to help you!

What We Do

Our Healing Philosophy

Humans are complex creatures with complicated lives. We have several aspects to our existence: physical, psychological, emotional, professional, energetic, personal, spiritual, and more. Most of us are unaware of the interconnectedness of these things; however, you are not segmented into bits and pieces. You are an integrated whole, and every part of you affects every other part. It is within this concept of holism that we focus our therapy sessions here at Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC.

Our mission is to provide the community with high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable therapy options in an optimal environment for integrating the health benefits of the therapies we offer. We deeply believe in the body's innate wisdom to heal itself. Our purpose is to look for restrictions that are preventing or inhibiting this natural progression towards health and to help the body overcome these obstacles.

We work with clients of all ages and developmental stages. No matter where you may be in your life's journey, we are honored to be part of your path towards becoming a healthier, more fully integrated you.

Our Healing Therapies

Much of our work revolves around our four primary therapies: CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Massage Therapy, and SomatoEmotional Release. We will discuss each of these therapies in more detail in the coming months, but here is a brief description of each of them for now:

CranioSacral Therapy ~ This therapy is named after the craniosacral system (the structures that house and protect the central nervous system), as many of its techniques are intended to treat these structures. This system has a pulse all its own that can be felt throughout the body. By detecting subtle disturbances in this rhythm, we can evaluate and determine where treatment is needed and what techniques will be effective for restoring balance and vitality to the system.
Visceral Manipulation ~ This therapy focuses on the visceral (or organ) aspect of the body. All of our organs have a certain position in our bodies and a certain degree of movement that they are allowed. When their space is invaded or their movement is restricted, their functions are compromised. By restoring the proper relationships of the organs to their surrounding structures, we can help the organs regain lost mobility and function.
Massage Therapy ~ This therapy is among the oldest forms of healthcare. Every culture around the world has its own form of therapeutic touch. Asia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, Africa, Native America, and even today’s scientifically-minded medical world has found ways to aid people's healing through hands-on contact. We love diving into the wealth of knowledge and experience passed down through the millennia in order to provide the best experience for our clients.
SomatoEmotional Release ~ This is a process that occurs when the body releases held energies and emotions. Our bodies process everything we experience in our lives. When an experience is overwhelming or traumatic, the body may choose to hold onto the experience so it can be safely processed at a later point. A holding pattern is created to guard the tissues where this energy is stored. Inevitably, the body then has the added challenge of compensating around this holding pattern. The therapies that we offer may give the body the proper environment and necessary resources to revisit its held experiences so that it may finally begin to integrate them. We are equipped to aid in this aspect of your healing process.

In addition to these four primary therapies, we are trained in Eco Somatics, Myofascial Therapy, Reiki, and various massage techniques including Medical Massage, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Swedish Massage, Sports Massage, and Deep Tissue Massage.

Each of these therapies offers profound individual benefits, but we find that by blending the techniques from these various modalities, the results can be truly phenomenal. Because multiple therapeutic techniques are often used in a single session, we charge the same rate no matter what is useful to you on any given day. Our exact pricing information is available on our website: www.InfiniteTouchLLC.com.

The Applications Of Our Therapies

Each session at our Lake of the Ozarks manual therapy office is unique. Our primary therapist, Darin Puppel, tunes into the unique needs of each individual client to identify what may be most useful to them on any given day. The customized nature of our work allow us to benefit clients with a vast array of needs. Here are some examples of the conditions our therapies have been shown to help with:

Migraines, headaches, TMJ, and sinus pressure
Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic stress, fatigue, and postpartum depression
Arthritis, fibromyalgia, torticollis, and post-surgical pain
Birth trauma, lip/tongue ties, and colic
Fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery
Constipation, digestion, and circulation
Tinnitus and balance problems
Back, neck, jaw, hip, and other joint pain
Muscles stiffness, strains, and sprains
Posture, flexibility, and range of motion
Head and face trauma

As you can see, the therapeutic applications of our work are as unique and varied as our clients. If you would like more information about how our therapies may be able to help you with a specific issue, feel free to call us directly at (573) 280-4470.

A Closer Look At Our Healing Therapies

Our blog posts in the coming months will delve deeper into the far-reaching benefits and applications of each of these therapies and processes. In the meantime, please visit our website or give us a call to learn more about how Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC may be able to benefit you.

'Til next time!

Hands That Listen

Monday, July 3, 2017

Introduction to Infinite Touch - Part 1: Who We Are

Welcome to Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC!

Infinite Touch is a manual therapy office at the Lake of the Ozarks, specializing in CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, SomatoEmotional Release, Massage Therapy, and more. In this preliminary blog post, we are excited to introduce you to ourselves and our business. In our next post, we will continue the introduction by discussing the work that we do.

Who We Are

Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC is co-owned by my husband, Darin Puppel, and me, Bailey Puppel. Darin has been practicing bodywork for several years and has been the primary therapist at Infinite Touch since we opened our doors in February of 2017. I recently made a career switch so that I could dedicate my time to helping grow our new family business.

Darin Puppel

Darin Puppel, BCTMB, CST
Founder & Therapist

Darin is a Board Certified Massage Therapist by the NCBTMB, which is the highest certification for a massage therapist in the U.S. He is also Technique Certified by the Upledger Institute in CranioSacral therapy, and is currently pursuing the higher certification of Diplomate.

Darin graduated with honors from the Massage Therapist & Health Educator program at the National Holistic Institute in Studio City, California. While enrolled in the program, he tutored fellow students, led study groups, and volunteered for a number of local events. He completed an internship at Brooks Therapeutic Massage (awarded "Best Massage in Los Angeles" during the 2008 City Search) and took a full-time position there after graduation. He moved back to Missouri in March of 2011, where he began a private practice based out of the Lime in the Coconut Specialty Compounding Pharmacy. In February of 2017, he opened Infinite Touch Integrative Therapies, LLC.

Darin has been an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association and the International Alliance of Healthcare Practitioners since 2011. He has also been actively involved in continuing education, taking numerous classes since 2011 and serving as an Teaching Assistant for the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators and the Upledger Institute since 2014.

Bailey Puppel

Bailey Puppel
Co-Owner

I graduated summa cum laude from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, where I earned a B.A. in Communications and a Minor in Theatre. Upon graduating in 2014, I took a full-time position as a Social Media Coordinator at MSW Interactive Designs, LLC and was promoted to Internet Marketing Specialist in my second year with the company.

I met Darin shortly after he had completed his first continuing education course in CranioSacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute. As Darin advanced through the curriculum, I learned a great deal from him about the healing power of this gentle therapy. In my spare time, I began educating myself on various Cranial techniques, and I found myself becoming increasingly drawn to the therapy. In June of 2017, I officially made the career switch to join my husband in our family business.

I am currently devoting my efforts to marketing, scheduling, and various administrative responsibilities while I train to become a therapist. I should be licensed to take appointments by fall of 2018.

Darin and I live in Lake Ozark, Missouri. Last year, we welcomed our first child into the world: a little boy named Shiloh. (If you follow Infinite Touch on Facebook, you've probably seen several pictures of Shiloh already!) We are an active family - we enjoy traveling, hiking, kayaking, camping, paddle boarding, and anything else that gives us an excuse to be outside. We both have serious soft spots for all animals and run a high risk of having a small menagerie someday, but for now we're limiting ourselves to a spirited tabby cat named Jace and two adorable miniature dachshunds named Carla and Lizzy.

What We Do

Our next blog post will focus in-depth on the different therapies we offer, the various conditions we can help treat, and our overarching healing philosophy. For now, suffice it to say that we believe that the body possesses an innate wisdom with the capacity to self-heal. Each of our manual therapies at the Lake of the Ozarks is centered around this core principle.

Watch for our next blog post to learn more about our professional services. You can also visit our website at www.InfiniteTouchLLC.com to get a description of the different types of therapies we offer and some examples of useful applications for them.

Talk to you soon!

Hands That Listen