What is Cranio-Sacral Therapy?
Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that aims to enhance and complement the body’s natural healing process. It addresses core issues rather than symptoms. By manipulating the craniosacral system (which includes membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, as well as the cranial bones and sacrum) CST works to bring balance back to the whole body by releasing chronic tension patterns and enhancing fluid movement allowing the body’s own healing mechanisms to operate more effectively.
We endure stresses and strains daily; the body absorbs them and can only handle so much before the tissues begin to tighten. These tiny restrictions can potentially affect the brain and spinal cord, compromising the Central Nervous System (CNS)
By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST’s light touch approach (less than 5g of pressure) can create dramatic improvements in your life. It can release tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health, wellness, and performance.
CST is not massage or physical therapy, but it does work with the whole body in much the same way. CST sessions are performed with the client fully clothed, lying on a warm comfortable massage table. The practitioner will evaluate the client for strain patterns, then with a light touch (less than 5g of pressure) will manipulate the tissues of the body, focusing on the head, spinal cord and sacrum releasing the tensions and encouraging the body’s natural healing process. You may feel subtle sensations of relaxation, warmth, or movement within your body. At the end of the session, clients most often report feeling deeply relaxed. And in follow-up reports they have stated feeling improvement in their physical and emotional well-being.
CST is safe and effective for infants, children, and adults of all ages.
Most often CST is used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease and enhance well-being. It is also effective and useful in addressing a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction such as:
- migraine headaches
- chronic neck and back pain
- autoimmune disorders
- motor-coordination impairments
- autism
- central nervous system disorders
- orthopedic problems
- concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- spinal cord injuries
- scoliosis
- learning disabilities
- chronic fatigue
- emotional difficulties
- stress and tension-related problems
- sleep problems
- fibromyalgia and other connective-tissue disorders
- temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- neurovascular or immune disorders
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- post-surgical dysfunction
and SO much more!
Contraindications
Any time there is a concern with intracranial/intraspinal fluid pressure changes, there is a contraindication to Cranio-sacral Therapy. Consult your therapist before booking if have recently experienced or have been diagnosed with any of the following:
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Acute stroke
- Cerebral Aneurysm
- Hemorrhage
- Herniated medulla oblongata
- Recent skull fracture
- Spina bifida
- Arnold Chiari Malformation
- Concussion (CST ok after 6 weeks and cleared by Physician)
