Karri Knowles, CMP

Craniosacral Therapy, Bodywork

Craniosacral Therapy

The origin of Craniosacral therapy is from Osteopathic medicine and involves the rebalancing of the craniosacral system with gentle manual manipulation for soft tissue and structural release. Imbalance can cause tension, lack of movement between sutures and bone structures, reducing the easy flow of CSF,  impacts the central nervous system communication, essentially everything is connected, our nervous system connects with all of our organs and all systems functions. When our nervous system relaxes our fight or flight response shifts and releases tension everywhere in our body, on the attachments of tendons, ligaments and muscular tissue bringing our body into an upright position which equals less structural stress in addition to full body healthy functioning. 

What is defined as the Craniosacral system is the circulation of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), interlying central nervous system, and protective dura layer that surrounds the skeletal bones and interior of the cranium as well as the spine and sacrum (tailbone).

What does a session look like... you will remain fully clothed on a massage table, throughout the session I will employ a series of gentle hand holds at different locations or diaphragms of your body. I will be following your Craniosacral fluid rhythm, this leads me to the areas of tension and here I hold until your body has completed an "unwinding". Following this unwinding pattern leads from one hold to another and as we follow these releases deep structural patterns relax, pain is released, stress or mind chatter dissolves and balance restored.

At times and for new clients they can be surprised by emotional releases or emotional connections to physical issues, when these come up if a client voices the experience we might share dialogue to explore and assist in these releases. This often is very therapeutic and rewarding to release these experiences in a nurturing mind body awareness.

Clients have described treatments as... precise, focused, extremely relaxing/grounding, meditative and tending to leave one with an overall feeling of balance, alignment, clarity, well being and feeling emotionally and physically whole.

Clients find relief from symptoms and conditions such as...Chronic and Acute muscular and joint pain, Jaw related dysfunction, tension, teeth clenching/grinding, Headaches/Migraines, Traumatic injuries, Head and Spine injury, Concussion, Nervous system disorders such as - Anxiety, Stress, Insomnia, PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder), Hyperactivity, Depression, Grief, Sinus Problems, Tinnitus and other ear related dysfunction, Birth related trauma in infants, nursing, latch, jaw tension, tongue tie, torticollis, Learning disabilities, Orthodontic related issues, Asthma, COPD, Vertigo, Neurological issues, Strokes, Seizures, Cerebral Palsy digestive disturbances such as GERD, Irritable Bowel, Autoimmune diseases, Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia and Alzheimers, Dementia.

Injuries and surgery

 In response to injury and shock your body activates protective stress response mechanisms, sometimes this cycle needs to be interrupted as it can become stuck and limit healing. CST stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system enabling self regulation, supporting the immune system, injury and wound healing to occur. Additionally CST can restore energy and strength after exhaustion and emotional crisis.

Addressing structural and muscular tension patterns enables greater ease of movement flushing out areas of congestion, stimulating lymph, craniosacral fluid, detoxifying and triggering healthy hormone/chemical response such as endorphins, a natural pain reducer.
     Connective tissue runs the length of your body, and injury in one area will also impact others, unwinding tension patterns does so much more than simply focusing on the affected area.

Dentistry and Craniosacral Therapy...                   

  • Orthodontics on a cranium that is balanced by CST eliminates the possibility of teeth readjusting to prior faulted placement by reducing the present torsion and restrictions.
  • Specific manual and CST techniques release tension patterns in the jaw, hard palate and facial bones alleviating discomfort related to alignment procedures, trauma or dysfunction.
  • Appliances such as night guards can be painful and bothersome; CST can reduce or eliminate the need for night guards in some cases.
  • Post orthodontia, once appliances are removed CST maintains cranial bone and membrane balance.
  • Reducing abnormal traction and compression on the TMJ improves function on innervating cranial and cervical nerves and influences mandibular positioning.
  • Successfully treating clients with TMD, headaches, cranial pain, sinus congestion, sleep apnea, loss of equilibrium, deviated septum.

The article "The Symbiotic Partnership of Dentistry and Craniosacral Therapy" by Benjamin Shield is a great resource to learn about this work if you are new to it.

Part 1:   https://www.wegdermitte.de/index.php?sid=277

Part 2:   https://www.wegdermitte.de/index.php?sid=278

 

Client Testimonial:

     "Thank you Karri, for my emergency Craniosacral treatment last week! I am still feeling complete relief from my flare-up. I had spent three days unable to move my neck without extreme pain, and experienced complete relief from my symptoms immediately after my first session. Thank you again!"

J.R.