Originally written by MaryAnn Reynolds for maryannreynolds.com.
MaryAnn is available with us at West Holistic Medicine. Click here to schedule or call us 512-814-0148
Craniosacral Biodynamics is in the same family of medical and manual therapies as original osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, and craniosacral therapy.
Although its cranial roots go back to 1899, Craniosacral Biodynamics began in the 1980s.
Dr. Andrew Weil, father of integrative medicine, received healing work from Dr. Robert Fulford, a gifted cranial osteopath, and understood well how this kind of bodywork can contribute to wellness. Dr. Weil relates this story in his book, Spontaneous Healing.
Reducing the stress load
Imbalances and strains on our bodies come from stressors of all kinds: physical, mental, emotional, energetic. Until they dissipate, they maintain a stress load in the system.
The human stress response helps us stay alive in the face of threats. Ideally, the system returns to a relaxed state when threats are no longer present.
Overwhelming stress can make this difficult, and the stress load does not dissipate.
Making it more complicated, many sources of stress are internal: anxiety about health, relationships, finances, the future. Can you relate?
Our systems’ self-healing capabilities activate in states of relaxation, not in states of stress. Thus, stress is a factor that contributes to chronic illness.
Craniosacral Biodynamics sessions help our systems relax, thus freeing up resources for self-healing.
A Craniosacral Biodynamics practitioner like me palpates the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in a patient’s body. This fluid flows rhythmically and is located deep inside the body.
A good therapist can pick up the motion and read this rhythm anywhere in the body, as well as sense more subtle tides and patterns.
How it works
After establishing rapport with a patient, I invite your rhythm to go into a still point — a pause in the rhythm that feels relaxing.
A still point may last anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour. This stillness interrupts dysfunctional patterns that contribute to dis-ease.
The stillness brings new health-giving resources to your patterns, so that when the still point ends, the revitalized patterns bring more balance, ease, and vitality to your system.
In this manner, Craniosacral Biodynamics sessions facilitate healing from the inside out, and it’s your own system that does the healing. I just help set up the right conditions.
Craniosacral Biodynamics works well alongside health-building practices such as good nutrition, exercise, sleep, rest, and other integrative health modalities.
It helps with chronic anxiety
Patients who have been living with chronic anxiety — which often accompanies chronic illness — often report feeling more resilient after each session, more relaxed, sleeping better.
Sometimes they notice other shifts toward better health in the days after receiving a craniosacral biodynamics session. Because the work is subtle, it can take a few days to really feel the results.
Many choose to receive regular sessions because they work cumulatively, accelerating stress reduction and recovery from illness.
What you can expect in a session
After you have checked in with your present physical, emotional, mental, and energetic state, you’ll get on the massage table, lying on your back. You’ll remain clothed, minus shoes, belt, and big jewelry.
I help you feel comfortable, with a bolster, pillows, a blanket, or a table warmer, as preferred. I invite you to let your body weight surrender to gravity, letting the table provide all the support you need, and to tune into your breathing.
Body awareness lets your anxious mind take a break.
If you can simply notice your sensations, without judgment, without a story, it strengthens your resources for healing.
I take a little time to prepare myself, and then I place my hands gently on your body, at your head or your feet, and tune in to your subtle rhythms.
I may change positions several times during a session. I’m usually quiet, for the most part. Your communication is welcome.
You may simply rest and be gently aware of changing sensations in your body, changes in breathing, and other indicators of transformation.
Sometimes patients are aware of strains releasing. Sometimes the work is so relaxing, patients fall asleep. Some patients tell of dreams or visual experiences.
It’s always interesting to hear your experience!
After your session
Afterwards, it’s always a good to idea to check in with yourself again and notice what’s different.
After leaving, you may want to take some time to relax and integrate the work.
Enjoy your state of reduced anxiety!
Don’t forget to check in with yourself over the next few days, because sometimes the work of optimizing energy patterns takes a few days to manifest into your awareness.
I can’t predict exactly how your system will respond to Craniosacral Biodynamics, but if you feel some improvement, I invite you to schedule another session, which will build on the first.
More about MaryAnn Reynolds
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, TMJ Relief
MaryAnn Reynolds is a licensed massage therapist, board certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork. MaryAnn’s interest in bodywork started in 1996, when an automobile accident left her with a concussion and soft tissue injuries. Unable to find the help she needed from traditional Western medicine, she worked with many practitioners in the healing arts.