About CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle form of bodywork or healing therapy using light touch to evaluate, and release restrictions in the soft tissues, called the craniosacral system. This system surrounds the brain and spinal cord comprising our central nervous system.

The practitioner uses a light touch to evaluate this system by gently palpating for ease of the body's tissues to this rhythmical motion produced by the forces created to move the cerebrospinal fluid within the central nervous system. This results in a healthy environment which improves and enhances the body's self-healing mechanisms and the ability to self-correct making CranioSacral Therapy able to help a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.

The brain and spinal cord combined make up the central nervous system (CNS) which is the controlling system of the body and is our core. Its care is essential as all our emotions, senses and motor functions derive their ability to function from here.

The craniosacral system is the housing or environment for the central nervous system  made up of an extensive membrane system which covers the inside of the cranium, dividing the brain compartments and then covering the length of the spinal cord and ending with an attachment on the  coccyx (tailbone). This membrane system holds the cerebrospinal fluid bathing the brain and spinal cord giving nutrients to these structures. Through a hydraulic system within the cranium motion is created and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is circulated throughout the central nervous system, this motion is created through the cranial bones, brain structures and the membranes to circulate the fluid.

One of the resulting effects of this movement of CSF within the CNS is that it is modulated by the brain and the motion is expressed throughout all of the body's tissues, making the craniosacral rhythm another natural rhythm within us. And because all our body tissues are connected from head to toe any restrictions of any kind in the tissues results in them having less craniosacral motion.

In CranioSacral Therapy we gently palpate and evaluate this rhythm in the whole body thereby determining movement  and freedom of the tissues to this inherent motion, then through this natural rhythm and the body's healing mechanisms we work to remove any existing restrictions to it.

Keeping this environment healthy is essential for our health and wellbeing. Our inner balance or homeostasis can only be maintained when the currents of life and fluids can freely flow everywhere.