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

- 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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