What is Craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, manual therapy that
has evolved from osteopathy.
It uses touch to evaluate and rebalance both the craniosacral system -
constituting the skull and spinal column, together with the membranes and fluid
which surround and protect them – and the rest of the body’s systems, allowing
unobstructed movement of all fluids, tissues and joints.
As an holistic therapy, it focuses on the body as a whole:
body, mind and spirit. It recognises
that all structures and functions of the body, including the organs, are
related and that any imbalance or dysfunction in one part of the body will
affect the way other parts of the body work.
In essence, when a part of the body is altered due to physical trauma,
emotional stress or illness, for example, this can be communicated throughout
the body by the blood, nervous or hormonal systems, giving rise to
imbalances. The gentle touch of the
therapist helps to create optimum conditions for the body’s natural healing
process, encouraging it to overcome such imbalances and restore the body’s
natural harmony.
It is important to note that whilst CST and cranial
osteopathy emerge from the same roots, a craniosacral therapist is not
osteopathically trained and works more with the emotional and psychological
aspects of the body. Cranial osteopaths train initially in osteopathy which has
a more mechanical approach, and then completes postgraduate training in cranial
work.
