The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.  It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth – which make up the cranium – down to the sacrum or tailbone area. 

Cranio Sacral Therapy treats people rather than conditions.  It is primarily concerned with creating a healthy balanced state on all levels – physical, mental and emotional

The therapy has been successfully used to treat headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue, motor coordination difficulties, eye problems and central nervous system disorders and much more...

The client lies on a treatment table fully clothed and the Therapist makes gentle contact by placing the hands lightly on the body, as well as the head and spine.

Craniosacral therapy is safe, simple, yet very powerful and effective.  Small movements are made to the head and body to enable the body to realign by itself without trauma to the bones, tissues and ligaments. In the process it eliminates symptoms, diseases, dysfunctions and their root causes.

Relaxing and calming to the body (some even feel sleepy during treatment)

Provides relief from aches and pains and traumas to the body from car accidents, falls etc.,

Emotional trauma to the body creates blockages. CST is able to help with unblocking and clearing blocked energy.

NOT JUST FOR BABIES

There has been a great deal of publicity recently about the value of Cranio Sacral Therapy for babies and children.  Their systems respond very effectively to this form of therapy and it is extremely valuable in the problems to do with suckling, hearing etc., and problems related to birth process.

Babies and children can receive dysfunctions from forceps or suction delivery.  CST helps to realign bones and tissues after a traumatic delivery. 

Mums also benefit from treatment during pregnancy i.e.: - allows opening of pelvic area.  

Relaxing and calming who for some are stressful times - treatment after birth helps the pelvis to be re- aligned, muscle, tissue and nervous systems are soothed and assisted for a quicker recovery. 

CRANIO SACRAL THERAPY is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most gentle and yet powerful forms of holistic healing

It is a relatively new therapy, having been developed from one of those rare quantum leaps of inspiration by its founder, Dr. William Sutherland an American osteopath.

Going completely against the established teaching of his time, in the 1920’s he recognized a subtle motion within the intricate bony structure of the skull.  He called this motion “primary respiration” believing it to be of  far more importance to our well - being rather than mere breathing

During the next 80 years more and more people were drawn to investigate this revolutionary therapy and it was only taught to Osteopaths during this period.

Dr. John Upledger (surgeon, osteopath and physician) was one of the pioneers in this field developing Cranio Sacral Therapy and has refined the techniques to its present format that now also encompasses Emotional/ Trauma release with Somoto Emotional Release. (Trials done with Vietnam veterans)

Upledger found that treatment could be used to treat defects/malfunctions involving the brain and spinal cord, plus numerous other health problems

Fortunately, with Upledger’s pioneering work over the last 25 years it has now been made more available to a wider cross section to include Therapists.  More and more people have come to realize that here is a very powerful way of bringing the body back into balance and harmony.

At the very core of the body lies the brain and spinal cord, within a bony protection and bathed in a special fluid the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).  As the subtle movements of the primary breath take place the CSF travels along the core of the body drawn upward during ‘inspiration’ and flowing downwards at ‘expiration’.

This movement of fluid is like the movement of the oceans and has been called ‘the tide’. The subtle movement within the core of the body is taken up and expressed throughout the tissues and organs so that in an ideal body there would be a synchronised and harmonious rhythm within all the body parts.

Because our systems meet physical, emotional stress and challenge by contracting within that challenge they disturb and disrupt the flow of the tide.  It is as if the tide is flowing into a rocky shore; when it meets an obstacle, it has to find a way around.

Where the body is fully resourced the blockage is a temporary disruption.  However if the stresses are too frequent or if the shock too great, the blockage becomes gradually established and can eventually over time lead to discomfort, pain and disease

During our lifetime we will collect and disperse many different blockages; sometimes we are able to use the body’s natural processes to unblock and sometimes we need help. 

The light touch of a trained Cranio Sacral Therapist is able to detect blockage and restricted flow of the fluids, reflect this information back to the body helping to gather the necessary resources to re-establish harmony.

Joy is Upledger Trained: - CST II level, Paediatrics together with Somoto Emotional Release level II

The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.  It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth – which make up the cranium – down to the sacrum or tailbone area. 

The therapy has been successfully used to treat headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue, motor coordination difficulties, eye problems and central nervous system disorders. 

Osteopathic physician John Upledger developed Cranio Sacral therapy and has taught the technique internationally.  The therapy has been scientifically proved.

When we have a fall or an accident, the impact upon the body does not just affect the part hurt i.e.: - shoulder.  It is like throwing a pebble in a pond: The impact radiates throughout the body, it can go up, down or sideways.  When this happens it affects tissue and creates blockages to the flow of energy.   This can show up as a disorder later i.e.: - headaches, neck pain or other disorder.

Cranio Sacral Therapy treats people rather than conditions.  It is primarily concerned with creating a healthy balanced state on all levels – physical, mental and emotional.

One or a combination of techniques may support people with almost any condition. They are aimed at removing or reducing limitation to our innate self-healing process and aid the search for the root causes of a person’s ill health, causes that may have hidden for years. 

How does it work?

Craniosacral therapy is safe, simple, yet very powerful and effective.  Small movements are made to the head and body to enable the body to realign by itself without trauma to the bones, tissues and ligaments. In the process it eliminates symptoms, diseases, dysfunctions and their root causes.

Relaxing and calming to the body (some even feel sleepy during treatment)

Provides relief from aches and pains and traumas to the body from car accidents, falls etc.,

Emotional trauma to the body creates blockages. CST is able to help with unblocking and clearing blocked energy.

Babies and children can receive dysfunctions from forceps or suction delivery.  CST helps to realign bones and tissues after a traumatic delivery. Also helpful for Mums during pregnancy and after birth.

• Chronic Pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Restricted movement
• Headaches and Migraine 
• Repetitive Strain injury  
• Boosting recovery from injury
• Promoting general health and fitness
• Sciatica/disc problems 
• Reduced vitality
• Discomfort during pregnancy
• Recovery from injury and surgery
• Jaw and mouth disorders- (grinding teeth)
• Sports injuries
• Whiplash
• Evaluation of Newborns and children  – traumatic birth,
• Dyslexia / Dysfraxia
• attention Deficit Disorder and other learning difficulties

What is becoming more widely accepted is the value of this therapy to all adults and children alike. 

A wide variety of conditions have been found to respond to craniosacral treatment:

• Back and skeletal problems
• TMJ (jaw problems) from dentistry, stress, grinding teeth
• Sports injuries
• Exhaustion
• Chronic fatigue
• Insomnia
• Learning difficulties as well as Dyslexia/ Dysfraxia
• Falls or accidents – whiplash
• Anxiety and depression
• Post Traumatic Stress

The client lies on a treatment table fully clothed and the Therapist makes gentle contact by placing the hands lightly on the body, as well as the head and spine.

The process is a partnership in which the therapist assists the body to find its own vitality and healing resource.  It is deeply relaxing

There may be a feeling of tingling, shaking or of heat/cold as structures, muscles, and diaphragms and tissues release.  Sometimes there may be an emotional response as memories of past trauma, sadness and happiness, or of times past are released.  This is a valuable signpost that the body is healing. 

Afterwards a client may feel tired, elated, energetic, and loose limbed (feels/stands taller) or slightly achy but any side effects are short lived.

As the partnership builds over a course of treatments the response will be more rapid as the body regains its innate healing abilities.  It is possible for some problems to be resolved with one or two sessions while others may take longer if it is a chronic condition