Journey to Wellness Empowered Through CranioSacral Therapy
By Shawn D. Axten, PT, CST-D
What if our bodies included not only an intricate and marvelous blueprint for healthy function in our DNA, but also a “present-time” recording of your state of balance or imbalance? This present-time print-out can be assessed and treated through the CranioSacral system, and also allows you to tap into your inner wisdom or Inner Physician. The body requires energy to maintain any status quo, be it balanced or restricted. If you have a lot of unresolved areas of disorganized energy and tissue restriction from imbalance or past trauma then a great portion of your available energy would be expended toward this maintenance, versus generating or creating. In other words, if the energy your body needs to function is currency, do you have to spend more of it on maintaining or walling off distress in the body than you have left to spend on moving forward in life?[2] What does CranioSacral therapy have to do with a balanced and energy-efficient body? We collect scars from normal everyday life – physically, emotionally, and mentally – each becoming unique patchwork quilts over time. One person’s quilt (body) tells a different story than another based on its history and habits. CranioSacral therapy uses very gentle pressure, often less than the weight of a nickel, and careful respectful techniques to check the integrity and balance of the body structures, and release any restrictions to optimal flow. Therefore, the currency or energy flows available to the body increases as diversions are removed, allowing increased available energy to facilitate the body’s own self-healing mechanisms. How is that possible? Through restoring balance and efficiency on a mechanical and cellular level, and bringing attention and awareness to the trauma or old habits that led to the imbalance, a new manner of being in the world is made possible, with greater energy available for normal healthy function of the brain, neuro-motor, endocrine and immune systems. The CranioSacral System of the body consists of the cranial bones, facial bones, and the dural membrane (tough fibrous skin-like membrane) protecting the brain and spinal cord extending to the sacrum and tailbone. It includes the brain and all its structures, and the cerebrospinal fluid which cushions, nourishes, and removes wastes from the brain. This is a semi-closed hydraulic system produces and reabsorbs the cerebrospinal fluid, causing an expansion/production and contraction/re-absorption wave-like “CranioSacral Rhythm” (CSR). This rhythm and its personal signature can be felt throughout the individual’s body. It is the fabulous present-time “print out” of the body’s status of balance. The CSR holds a wealth of information to the trained CranioSacral Therapist. Since the brain is impacted by the signature of the CSR, the entire neuro-endocrine, neuro-motor, and sensori-motor systems are all impacted. Therefore, essentially every system in the body can be positively impacted through the gentle, well-intentioned touch of a CranioSacral Practitioner. The list of symptoms or physical ailments that have been positively impacted by CranioSacral Therapy is far-reaching and ever expanding. The Upledger Institute has documented improving symptomology of Headaches, Migraine Headaches, Motor-Coordination Impairments, Stress and Tension-Related Problems, Infantile Disorders, Scoliosis, Central Nervous System Disorders, Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ,) Learning Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Orthopedic Problems, Torticollis and Plagiocephaly (tight neck and misshapen head,) and many other conditions. More information is available at www.upledger.com. Most importantly, clients feel a greater sense of power in their personal journey to health and wellness. They spend time with a practitioner who can devote unconditional, non-judgmental, and impartial attention and encouragement. To complete the teamwork approach that is a so powerful in transformation, the client is learning to give their own body attention, increasing their body awareness. As this happens the client begins to understand the information their body is trying to share with them. Pain, for instance, is meant to be a fabulous feed-back loop to notify us that something is out of balance. It is not the problem, but the symptom of the underlying problem. When we mask pain, the body seems to merely find more drastic and serious ways to get our attention. Clients know that they are making positive changes in their health with immediate feedback, decreased pain and/or increased sense of relaxation and well-being. Patients of all ages benefit from CST and enjoy the relaxing, comforting approach to CranioSacral intervention. Helping their bodies to function at the most efficient level in the present, clients are doing something to help old traumas and symptoms resolve, as well as relieve the effects of current everyday stresses. CranioSacral Therapy is truly an empowering therapeutic tool in the personal journey to health and wellness. Shawn D. Axten, PT, CST-D shawnaxten_chum@yahoo.com 360-260-2003