Info

The Craniosacral Podcast

This podcast supports the personal and professional growth of craniosacral therapists via interviews and educational material from leading teachers and practitioners in the field. Hosted by Ryan Hallford, founder of the Craniosacral Resource Center and author of the Street Smart Craniosacral blog.
RSS Feed
The Craniosacral Podcast
2023
April


2021
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: Page 6
Sep 13, 2016

Ken DiPersio began his CST career with the Upledger Institute in 1991, and eventually went on to study the biodynamic approach with Michael Shea. He has created his own CST training curriculum based on his experience of both styles. In this interview he talks about his early experiences working directly with John Upledger, his unfolding into biodynamics, and shares his perspective on some biodynamic treatment principles.

Ken Dipersio has taught over 500 CST classes with thousands of students for The Upledger Institute, Kaiser College Occupational Therapy Assistant Curriculum, Cross Country Education, the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy, Independent Living Pediatrics, the Florida State Massage Therapy Association, the Sarasota School of Natural Healing Arts, Sarasota Memorial Hospital and KJD Therapy, Inc. Mr. DiPersio currently practices CST at MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center, Sarasota, Florida and has a private practice in St. Petersburg, Florida.


Ken's teaching website: www.kjdtherapy.com

MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center in Sarasota www.mindspasarasota.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Sep 1, 2016

Jonathan Evans is an Osteopath who loves treating babies. A graduate of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine and faculty member for the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation, he currently lives and practices in Australia. He is the founder of the Kindred Academy, an online training outlet for health practitioners and therapists that focuses on the hands-on techniques and therapeutic skills that are needed to be effective in a clinical setting. In this interview we discuss many topics related to the unique situations we face when treating babies via manual therapy.

This is the site to get the podcast discount: www.craniosacralpodcast.com/evans

Kindred Academy regular site: www.kindredbe.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Aug 19, 2016

Two previous podcast guests, Robyn Scherr and Kate Mackinnon, return to discuss their online course "Elements of a Successful Craniosacral Business." Their collaborative effort to help other practitioners build healthy craniosacral clinical practices is a smart and effective tool to get you up and running with a new practice or refine your existing business.

In the interview we talk about some of the material covered in their training and a few things Kate and Robyn have learned from coaching others in practice building and management. After following their last group of students closely as they worked through the 8-module class, I am really impressed with how concise and effective this program is.


More information about the class: www.livinginthebody.net/Classes

Robyn's site: www.livinginthebody.net

Kate's site: www.kmackinnon.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

Aug 10, 2016

Mike Boxhall has been immersed in the world of therapy for the last 45 years, studying counseling, psychotherapy, acupuncture and craniosacral therapy. He approaches cranial work as a practice of embodied experience that is not based on intellectual appraisal but rather rooted in the ground of the intellect itself. Mike seeks to bring practitioners into the wisdom of the heart, where the feminine principle can emerge with its deep therapeutic gifts. Mike's wisdom, simplicity, and humor make this one of my favorite interviews to date.

 

Mike's school page:

www.stillness.co.uk

 

The Empty Chair Teaching Foundation:

www.theemptychairteachingfoundation.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Aug 2, 2016

Eric Moya has been an instructor for The Upledger Institute for two decades, teaching several different classes for UI. In this interview he lays some groundwork for understanding his class "CST and Working with Chronic Depletion," discussing the differences between a restriction-based approach to CST and a pattern-based one.

Eric's business page: www.ericmoya.com


The Upledger page for "CST and Working with Chronic Depletion"

 

 The Idea Crucible:

www.theideacrucible.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

Jul 21, 2016

Mimi Ikle-Khalsa has been a key leadership figure in the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America for many years, serving as both the Board President and BOL Conference Chairman. In today’s interview she talks about the efforts BCTA/NA to advance the field of Biodynamic CST and gives us a preview of what to expect at the 2016 conference in New Mexico.

Home page of the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America:

www.craniosacraltherapy.org

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

www.cranioschool.com

 

Jul 8, 2016

Brigit Viksnins practices and teaches a therapeutic approach she calls Alchemical Alignment, which includes Somatic Experiencing, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, trauma resolution, and physical and metaphysical touch. In our interview she lays out a map to help us better understand the Autonomic Nervous System and talks about her teaching and movement DVD.

Brigit's home page:

 www.alchemicalalignment.com

 

Click here to check out Brigit's "Alignment Sequence" DVD at CDBaby.

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

 

Jun 22, 2016

Suzanne Scurlock-Durana has been educating craniosacral therapists about the importance of self-care and healthy professional boundaries for over 30 years. In this episode she shares some of her understanding of full-body awareness in a clinical setting.

Special half-price offer on Suzanne's audio training program, just for podcast listeners:
www.healingfromthecore.com/craniosacralpodcast

Suzanne's website:
www.healingfromthecore.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

 

Jun 10, 2016

Michael Kern, founder of the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, discusses Health - the foundational concept in biodynamic cranial work.

 Michael Kern D.O., B.C.S.T., N.D. - Craniosacral Therapist, Osteopath and Naturopath with a practice in London. He has been teaching Craniosacral Therapy since 1987 and is a leading international exponent of the biodynamic approach, currently running courses in the UK, Switzerland, Russia, Germany, Ukraine and Czech Republic. He is the founder of the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, and was a senior tutor for the College of Osteopaths, the International Cranial Association, the Centre for Professional Development in Osteopathy and the University of Westminster. He is also author of the highly acclaimed book 'Wisdom In The Body - The Craniosacral Approach To Essential Health', now available in ten languages. He is also the co-organiser of the landmark Breath of Life Conferences that take place in London.

Michael's school site:    www.cranio.co.uk

 

Information about the Breath of Life Conference in London is here.

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Jun 2, 2016

Today Tim Hutton from the Upledger Institute discusses a few ethical matters that help us better understand the archetypal stories that play out with our clients in the treatment space. Understanding these matters helps us to provide better service to our clients and prevent professional boundary issues.

Tim's Upledger Profile is here.

www.upledger.com

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

May 13, 2016

In response to listener requests, today's episode is more classroom teaching from Michael Shea. Sit back and enjoy 4 hours of Michael teaching about biodynamic fundamentals and cardioception.

www.michaelsheateaching.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

May 1, 2016

Staci Copses is an Upledger Diplomate therapists and mentor. In this interview she shares with us some details about her journey through CST and resulting opportunities to apply it in homes, hospitals, and private practice.

Staci's home page:
www.copsestherapyservices.com

Brain Injury Association of America

Elements of a Successful Craniosacral Business

Ryan's school page:
www.cranioschool.com

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Apr 15, 2016

Tim Hutton is the Ombudsman for the Upledger CST Immune Response Curriculum. In this interview he describes the historical development of the UI model for working with the Immune System and takes us through some experiential exercises to get a taste for the approach. He also talks about some broader aspects of treatment and clarifies a few aspects about the UI approach to CST.

www.upledger.com

Direct link to the Immune Response Curriculum page.

Wikipedia link for the immune system.

Ryan's school link, as mentioned in the introductory comments:
www.cranioschool.com.

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Apr 10, 2016

Thomas Walker, a faculty member for The Rolf Institute, talks about his journey to incorporate a biodynamic understanding of embodiment and treatment into the Rolfing model.


Thomas' teaching site:
www.explorationsinwholeness.com

Thomas' clinical website:
www.rolfingcenter.com

A GREAT piece of writing about the "fluid body" from Thomas:

Bones to Fluids: A Path to Understanding Wholeness


The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration:
www.rolf.org

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Mar 30, 2016

Kate Mackinnon is an Upledger-trained therapist and author of the book "From My Hands and Heart - Achieving Health and Balance with Craniosacral Therapy" In this interview Kate talks about her journey through CST work, relationship with Dr. Wayne Dyer, events that led to her writing a book, and some thoughts about building a practice.

Kate's website:<br>
www.kmackinnon.com

Email: <br>kate@kmackinnon.com

Information about CST business training is here.

Choose Love Foundation:<br>
www.jesselewischooselove.org

Mar 24, 2016

Brian Tierney is an instructor for Body Intelligence, the international biodynamic cst training group. In today's interview we get to hear about Brian's background in the healing arts, including doctorate study in psychology, and learn more about his involvement with Body Intelligence trainings.  

Brian's website: www.nrintegratedtherapies.com

Brian's guest post on the Street Smart Craniosacral Blog is here.

Email Brian directly if you would like him to send you a 60-page sample of his recent writing on Trauma:


brianwilliamtierney@gmail.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Mar 16, 2016

Robyn Scherr, an Upledger-trained therapist, shares with us the elements of a healthy business mindset that have helped her build a busy CST practice. She also discusses with Ryan a few elements of the current political environment in our field.

 

Robyn's home page: 
www.livinginthebody.net

(Her articles from Massage & Bodywork Magazine are in the sidebar of her page.)

Upledger Institute:
www.upledger.com

Mar 9, 2016

Cator Shachoy and Ryan Hallford cover a wide range of topics in this fun interview. The conversation starts at right/left brain dynamics and then branches into pediatrics, verbal skills, the midline, mind/body dynamics, practice building, spiritual iconography, TMJ issues, and more.

www.catorshachoy.com

 

Buddhist Heart Replacement in Tricycle Blog

 

Ryan's school:

www.cranioschool.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

Mar 3, 2016

Ryan discusses three potential sticking points along the career path of the craniosacral therapist: zealotry, disillusionment, and stagnation.

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Audio Transcription:

“Hi Ryan. Thank you so much for the podcast. I’ve really been enjoying it and learning a lot from the different guests you bring on. I am hoping you will take some time to discuss the potential pitfalls we face while getting established in the field of craniosacral therapy. Some of my teachers have mentioned that at times they went off on tangents or entered periods of difficulty with their practice. They have shared with me some insights about it, but I’m wondering what you think. What do you think I should look out for or be aware of when I am building a long-term career in CST?”

"Thank you, and please keep up the good work, Matthew     New York"

Wow, Matthew. That’s a great question. I wish I would have considered that question when I was getting started in the work. But I had to learn a lot of lessons the hard way because I’ve been pretty stubborn in a lot of ways in my career. So I think I’m pretty qualified to talk on the topic because not recognizing pitfalls has really cost me over the years. And even worse, it has cost my clients when I failed to show up for them in a meaningful way due to my blind spots.

There are so many things to consider when you look at the span of a career in this work. The permutations are endless as to what topics you could talk about, but I’ve been considering this since I got your email and I’ve honed in on three major pitfalls that I believe we should be aware of in this work when viewed over the course of a career, from the 30k-foot view, as they say. These will be some of the more prevalent issues that I have seen and or experienced myself.

 I’ll start with one of the first pitfalls we risk falling into when we set upon this path, and that’s zealotry.  Zealotry. So, what’s zealotry and what’s  a zealot? well, I looked it up on the interwebs just to make sure I am using the word correctly and I found two definitions that together kinda paint a picture that I think will be helpful for us:  The first definition for zealot that popped up on google was “a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.” The other definition I want to blend in here is from the Cambridge Dictionary and it says a zealot is: “ a person who has very strong opinions about something, and tries to make other people have them too.” 

For many of us, when we first discovered cranial work, or maybe a particular style of cranial work that really spoke to us, we were deeply affected. Our whole lives may have been changed as a result of the new perspective on manual work. We may have experienced the healing of a serious physical or emotional disease, we may have had a sort of conversion experience as a result of a very strong sensational episode that significantly changed the way we view our lives, the world, or our place in the world. We may feel like we have finally found a home in the wilderness, a place we can call our own,  that has the potential to fulfill our every need. It is not that unusual to hear people who get serious about this work relating similar stories of tremendous transformation when they began interfacing with cranial work. For some new students, there arises a great sense of relief and purpose in their life because they finally feel like the world is taking on a manageable meaning, or perhaps it is opening into an inspiring void. It can go either way, really. But the point is that we may feel like we have found something very special. And I believe we do find something special when we find this work. The joy, the love, the enthusiasm, the conviction, and the hope, that arise for some of us when we find cranial work is truly spectacular and it can be really beautiful to watch this energy move into a person’s life. It is serious fuel, and it can carry us a long way, both personally and professionaly.

But there is a shadow side to this spiritual and sensory ignition and blossoming of faith in the work. And that shadow is zealotry … a kind of fanaticism, which can run all along a spectrum from mild to severe for some practitioners . The craniosacral zealot can simply be a convert to the field of cst in general, or perhaps has a fierce loyalty to a particular style or teacher, unable to see potential shortcomings of said approach or teacher. Now, please don’t get me wrong here. Don’t misunderstand me. I think the enthusiasm that enters the new students life can be really magical and very positive. And I also have experienced that the relationships that form between students and teachers in this field are really special. They can be really beautiful, and result in a healthy growth into higher orders of functioning in our work and our life. But the zealot demonstrates an imbalance in that they are uncompromising and to varying degrees not willing or even able to recognize the potential limitations of the path they are on. They feel like they have found the “one thing” that will deliver them to mastery of the healing arts, or they have found the “true path” in the work. Or they have found the best teacher on the planet- the only one who gets it all right.

 These beliefs have the seed of health in them, but almost always erode into a less idealistic reality as time passes. For example, I occasionally see this in the modern biodynamic community. Let’s say a relatively new student, maybe half-way through his foundation training, is absolutely convinced that biodynamics is the one true way to practice cranial work or any healing art. His teacher may have convinced him of such through steady logic, and his relatively few experiences at the table have consistently confirmed the potent validity of bd work. He may begin to view other approaches, say like Upledger Institute, the Milne Institute, or even forms of Osteopathy, as inferior because they have an underlying theoretical  architecture that he rejects or perhaps they don’t fit his criterion for what he envisions as the perfect training. This guy is the one who poo poos other schools, feeling quite proud that he has found the real path. He constantly extols the virtues of his particular teachers approach, unable to really objectively consider the merits of another approach because he rejects the premise of the other schools outright and refuses to get his hands dirty to actually try elements of their application. Meanwhile, he may have less than 40 actual treatments under his belt. And many of these were administered in the in the increased potency of the group field of a classroom, which gives him a decided advantage as far as favorable outcomes go. I hope you’re getting the picture I’m painting here. In this case, the zealot doesn’t yet know that he doesn’t know. He is dogmatic, worshipping at a temple of abstract ideology or a charismatic teacher, perhaps at the expense of accurate perception of what is happening with his clients.

The conviction that he is on the right path is good, but it is incomplete at this point. The absolute conviction of the new zealot and the steady confidence of the accomplished master may appear similar, but they have a very different quality to them. One is born of blind idealism, while the other has been tempered and humbled over thousands of hours of exploration into the nature of the mechanism we work with. The master may appear uncompromising in some regards, but ultimately he knows his limitations and will concede when he sees clues that he needs to exhibit flexibility in order to better serve the client.

The zealot builds walls with his words, and creates negative karma that circulates in our community. Healthy inquiry and dialogue suffers or becomes impossible because there is not a respectful exchange of ideas between us. The zealot not only causes problems for our field as a whole, but for himself also. He plants thorns with his staunch enthusiasm … thorns that eventually mature and pierce him as he walks the professional path.

So, belief and confidence in our teachers and our approach is a good thing. But we need to stay grounded as they say, and respectful, and always stay on the lookout for possible gaps in our approach, areas that need improvement. Having a mentor or two, maybe with slightly different perspectives can be helpful to keep us oriented and avoid absolutism in our beliefs about how the work should be practiced. By all means, we should stick to our guns as to what feels right for us, but the beginner should realize that there is much to learn over the coming years, and you might be surprised how your viewpoint changes over time.

Chronologically, I think one of the more prevalent pitfalls that some practitioners face next in their journey with the work is disillusionment. Disillusionment. The quick Google definition I found for disillusionment is “a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.” People who go into this work often fall in love with its application, the sensory experience, the lifestyle, the people, and so on. This enthusiasm fuels them well for a while, but if they take the leap into serious clinical practice and stick with it, they might go through a challenging period or periods when they find they find their clinical efficacy is not what they expected it would be. They might not be getting fireworks in the treatment room. They might not be getting much of anything in the treatment room for stretches. Their practice may go through periods of feeling lifeless or frustrating, and they may become disappointed in the whole venture. This goes for any approach to the work.

Now I’m not saying this is a required experience for everyone! I’m not trying to be a downer here. Many people sail quite smoothly and robustly through their entire career, and I hope that you, Matthew, are one of them. But it does not come easily for everyone. One of the new developments for me since I started doing the podcast is that I have been called upon as a consultant by a handful of listeners. They have requested to pay me for my time to talk with them on the phone about some of their challenges with the work. Many of these calls have been with practitioners who have a few years under their belts and are dealing with increasing amounts of confusion or a general lack of confidence. Clinical work may have humbled them as they learn that things don’t always follow the map laid out in their training. Or they might be wrestling with competing theories espoused by various teachers, not sure what to do. Some of them have lost their faith in their ability to effectively do the work in a clinical setting when the stakes are high.

There is a sense of a lack of forward momentum with some of these struggling therapists. Their frustration and subsequent second-guessing has become pathological to an extent, and they may begin to take that frustration out on others. One of the most common targets of the disillusioned practitioner is their teacher. They may feel somewhat betrayed, or that they were sold a bill of goods that they could make a career out of this work. They may state that they feel inadequately trained to deal with some ot the situations they face on the table. They often finally start to own some of the negative opinions about their teacher they would not allow themselves to recognize while in the honeymoon phase of their training. So, yes, the honeymoon is over for these folks. They are kinda standing in a mess trying to figure out what to do with it, how to get their own legs, how to move into a more adult-like phase of autonomy with their work.

This is the threshold that often makes or breaks a cs therapist. Some bail on the dream at this point and revert back to grosser forms of bodywork where results are more easily guaranteed, wondering if they could have really made it as a cs therapist, or they just leave the field all together. But some claw their way through it, stay focused, keep working and stufying, get creative, and figure out a way to dig out their deeper gifts. They search until find their own voice and learn how to sing with it in the cranial realm.

I think there are several factors that contribute to the entry into disillusionment. One is isolation. After a student finishes a foundation training or first sequence of classes in their chosen school, they may start to wither from a lack of contact with peers. Many of them are in the process of figuring how to run a practice. They might have the burden of rent for their office while they try to get a steady flow of clients. This may take years for some. When money is tight for these emerging practitioners, they may not feel they can afford quality trainings, so they forego them and lose out on the burst of energy, insight, and enthusiasm that these trainings often provide. Some practitioners may go a couple of years without getting in the classroom as a student. As a result they wither a bit inside and may become stuck in routines with their work rather than staying spontaneous with a constant flow of new ideas and sensory experiences. A problem related to this is not getting cranial treatments for themselves. It is so helpful for us to get regular work from different practitioners. Not only do we keep our systems free by doing so, we stay tapped into the experience of being a client and also may pick up some new handholds or verbal skills by getting on the table ourselves.

It is important to stay positive if you find yourself dealing with symptoms of disillusionment. Get in touch with established practitioners who are doing well, and share your heart with them. Ask for their advice about treatment tactics, running a practice, and staying balanced. Also, It is helpful to accept that you have not set upon a particularly easy path. It is definitely a rewarding path, but it takes continual focus and at times a lot of work to build the practice of your dreams. Be patient and take a long-term view of the whole experience, and you will be rewarded.

The third pitfall that I think it is worth considering I’m simply calling stagnation. Stagnation. This can be seen in practitioners that have a significant amount of experience, may have built a successful practice, and are considered accomplished by their peers. This phenomenon might be seen as a professional plateau, where their clinical results might be consistently effective, but they are losing their enthusiasm and love for the work. Stagnation in this sense is different than disillusionment in that these practitioners have confidence in the work and have found their own voice. They are just kinda getting bored. They may be kind of apathetic or even cynical about their practice at times. They’ve figured out how to make it work for their professional life, but the thrill is gone, as they say. They may not be interested in taking any classes because they’ve already studied most of what interests them, and may have a feeling like they’ve “seen it all.”

I think this is normal for any field of endeavor. When you do ANYTHING for 20 or 30 years, you are most likely going to pass through periods of boredom. I’ve seen colleagues approach this challenge in different ways. For some it may mean studying a totally different form of therapy for a while to crack open their habits and force them to experience the body in a different way, to open up new parts of their sensorium. Others approach it by improving other areas of their life outside of work by taking up painting or weightlifting or dance lessons, or whatever. By stimulating our life as a whole, we might begin to find a new spontaneity in everything that we do. We might gain new perspectives into embodiment by stretching ourselves in new directions and engaging our nervous systems in new ways. And like I said earlier, getting different forms of bodywork or therapy for ourselves might help with stagnation as well.

The best practitioners that I have met never seem to “arrive” at success in the work. While they may have attained a recognizable level of mastery, they are constantly stretching themselves and staying fresh … asking new questions … Searching the horizon for the next new unfoldment of our understanding of the work. In a sense, we need to constantly stay young in our exploration and experience of cranial work. I’m working on that myself with this podcast venture, Matthew.  When we feel a period of stagnation coming on or find ourselves in the middle of one, the best approach is often to do something bold to stir things up, to challenge ourselves in a way that opens up a new avenue for growth. Then step into it and see what happens. See what you learn.

I think we can hold stagnation at bay by staying connected with our professional field in general and especially colleagues that we find stimulating. Adopting a life-long policy of continual learning and continually challenging ourselves can keep us on a healthy path as well.

So zealotry, disillusionment, and stagnation. I’d say these are a few pitfalls to look out for on your journey with the work. I sincerely hope you can avoid these, Matthew, by keeping an eye out for the signs that you may be brushing against their borders.

Thank you for your question. It’s a really good one. And I’ve really tightened up my own ship just considering how to answer it.

So, my dear listeners, where are you right now? Are there elements of any of these pitfalls in your practice? If so, how can you take action now to correct your course, find better balance, and settle more firmly in the joy of the process of growth that our work provides?

 

Feb 25, 2016

Nina Davis is one of the most visible pediatric craniosacral practitioners in the Austin area. Today you will find out why, as she shares some insights into clinical work and the importance of professional relationships in establishing a successful practice.

 

John Chitty Biodynamics:<br>

www.energyschool.com

 

Upledger Institute:<br>

www.upledger.com

 

Find a lactation consultant here.

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

Feb 11, 2016

Today I'm happy to introduce you to Caitlin Lyon, a CST practitioner in Solvang, California. Caitlin shares with us her journey through the work, a little about her experience in acupuncture school, and her current approach to practice building.

 

Caitlin has a beautiful website. Check it out:<br>
www.lyonwellness.com

Carol Agneessens:<br>
www.holographictouch.com

Ged Sumner and Steve Haines at Cranial Intelligence:<br>
www.bodyintelligence.com

Gary Peterson at the STAR Institute:<br>
www.starinstitute.us

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Feb 5, 2016

This episode features live classroom recordings of Michael teaching his approach to working with traumatic brain injury.

www.michaelsheateaching.com

Cortiva Scottsdale, AZ

Major areas of concern:<br>
1- Nature of TBI/Concussion<br>
2-ANS – Defensive physiology; traumatic stress circuits <br>
3- Soft tissue/ Osseous reflexes, orienting, head righting<br>
4- Compromised cerebral blood flow, lymphatic movement<br>
5- Manual therapy (CST), bridging/blending palpation skills<br>
6- Attunement cycle – self-other-space<br>


Overview Of First Protocol

1. Sit, settle, attune<br>
      a. body scan, movement of respiratory diaphragm, heart, movement of the tide within the field of the heart (heart to heart connection)

2. Carotid sinus<br>
      a. assess for superficial/deep, fast/slow, strong/weak

3. AOJ – Flexion/Extension, vertebral Artery<br>
      a. Most important piece is flex/ex movement, because that is the developmental movement that happens in the womb. This is the rehabilitative motion that we need in head traumas.<br>
      b. Wait through a couple of releases. Gradually, you being to put a little bit of flexion and then wait. Then go through extension and wait.<br>
      c. When it begins to happen spontaneously, this is when healing has begun. Create the intention for movement and then see how that travels to your hands, the hands invite the movements and waits to see how the head responds.<br>
      d. Once this happens, it is easier for the vertebral artery to move fluidly—however, this may happen first due to other soft tissue space having been created.<br>

4. V spread at occipitomastoid suture<br>
      a. avoid extraneous contact with the skin<br>
      b. sense the space between your hands.<br>

5. CV4<br>
      a. second go-to alternative. Stacked hands or pinky contact from the sides.<br>
      b. evaluate the lateral/medial movement of the occiput.<br>
      c. some say this is where you have the greatest ROM of the occiput.<br>
      d. intrinsic motion, settling stopping, starting with new type of motion.<br>
      e. anticipation is that the starting after the stopping would have more vitality and surge than the previous cycle. There is a build up of strength/potency<br>

6. Parietal lift<br>
      a. ILA – feel the motion, stopping, and new motion. Again, the restart should feel stronger. “Ignition”

7. Coccyx-radial<br>
      a. bridging between the two systems, waiting for the two hands to synchronize.

8. Feet<br>
      a. can hold the heels or scoop on top.<br>
      b. from French osteopathic view, holding the feet reintroduces the organism to birthing. Because in the womb, the kicking of the feet initiates a lot of this action. By holding the feet, there is something to provide resistance that now it can work against.<br>

Side effects<br>
 If you finish a session and they don’t feel better. Start with the sacrum or feet. Get the system grounded.
 Hold feet 3-5 minutes or coccyx-radial; start with just coccyx first for side effects. Get comfy there prior to including the radial pulse.

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

 

Jan 29, 2016

Back by popular demand, Andrew rejoins us to discuss his teachers, esoteric aspects of manual therapy, craniosacral politics, and a heckuva lot more ...

Andrew's email:
bhagavad23@hotmail.com

Andrew's writing, "Adventures in Osteopathy" is available on Ryan's blog.

Interview with Stuart Korth, from the site "1000 Years of Osteopathy"

Andrew's Facebook page for learners: www.facebook.com/Craniosacralstudent

The College of Craniosacral Therapy, London

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Jan 20, 2016

This episode features an interview excerpt from the Whole Being Films DVD "The Heart: Stillness and Embodied Compassion"

In this informative DVD, Michael Shea outlines his latest understanding of the heart via:


- an interview with Elmer Postle


- a lecture presentation of cardiovascular embryology


- video explanations of cardioceptive skills and hand positions


- four meditations relating to compassion, embodied embryology, and transparency.

 

Check out the Whole Being Films website for this and other great titles pertaining to CST:  www.wholebeingfilms.com

Michael Shea's Website:  www.michaelsheateaching.com

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

Jan 16, 2016

Christian Current relates his experience of a Franklyn Sills post-grad training, discusses the realities of clinical work, and cracks Ryan up.

 

Christian’s Website:
www.christianmichaelcurrent.com

Karuna Institute:
http://www.karuna-institute.co.uk/

 

www.craniosacralpodcast.com

1 « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next » 7