cranio     nelson

Since the inception of cranial osteopathy by William Sutherland toward the end of the 19th century, modalities based on the cranial approach have been pioneering, pushing the bounds of western scientific knowledge. This is because cranio honours both the subjective and objective 'versions' of reality, whereas western science is still very much preoccupied with the objective. However, in recent years, science is starting to catch up... For example, work in the field of quantum mechanics in the late 1990's led to the discovery of the 'observer effect', which demonstrates that passive observation of phenomenon can change that phenomenon. Consciousness is causal! This offers some explanation of how, when a craniosacral therapist attunes to the subtle interplay of bodily systems with an underlying healing intention, the systems will naturally begin to express healthier function. Around the same time, neuroscientists discovered 'Mirror Neurons'. These are a special type of brain cell which fires both when we 'do something', as well as when we observe someone else doing that same thing. Why is this relevant to Cranio? Mirror neurons prove that we are far more connected to one another that we previously surmised. There is no real separation between two ‘individuals’. When a change happens in your being, it is acknowledged in mine, and vice versa. Current thinking is that this process has likely underpinned much of human development – including the development of language and technological sophistication. Mirror Neurons also provide an explanation of the mechanics underpinning higher human capacities like empathy - the ability to 'feel' into the experience of another person. The mechanism of Mirror Neurons explains how a well trained cranio practitioner is able to tune into the intricacies of the patient’s system and help facilitate release on many levels. It also explains how, when the practitioner accesses a deep states of stillness, the client will begin to resonate with this. During a cranio session, there is a direct, visceral transmission of health and wellbeing that entirely bypasses the superficial mechanisms of communication.

Craniosacral therapy can be a wonderful support to yoga practice by helping the bodily tissues and energies find a level of integration and spaciousness that can be difficult to create 'from within' on the mat. As a long term practitioner and teacher of yoga, I have personally found cranio helpful in: 1. Injury recovery and prevention - by supporting a sense of whole-body integration in fascia and connective tissue. Thereby reducing the possibility of straining individual structures and joints when you practice yoga. 2. Unlocking the outer and inner breath - supporting the free movement of the respiratory diaphragm as well as more subtle structures including the cranial bones, dural membranes and cerebrospinal fluid. 3. Awakening subtle body awareness - yoga asana can be great for developing our ability to 'feel into' our bodily sensations and processes. However, we may find that certain poses remain too 'triggering' or simply too difficult to access even after years of practice. Often this is the result of some form of past injury or trauma (physical or psychological) which has become imprinted in the body. Cranio can help unlock our ability to start working with these kinds of blind-spots in a safe way. 4. Moving through energetic challenges - yogic practices, particularly those involving breath regulation and intense focus, have the potential to arouse some very powerful energies (aka Kundalini). If the energetic circuits of the body aren't well prepared, this can lead to all sorts of challenges, from bodily discomfort and nervous system disturbance through to psychological and spiritual difficulties. Cranio can help your system find the space and grounding it needs to safely resolve these kinds of issues. Feel free to drop us a line if you would like to know more. Happy practicing! Jonathan

Although cranio can be very effective for supporting recovering from accidental injury, it is not currently recognised by ACC. This is primarily because of a difference in view - the cranio therapeutic process is truly holistic - although we work directly with the physical tissues we also bring many more subtle aspects of being into the treatment process in order to support optimum health function. This means cranio doesn't fit neatly into the ACC framework, and attempting to force a fit would tend to dilute the efficacy of the treatment. In our experience, full recovery from injury often requires that a number of interrelated causes and conditions be resolved, not just the damage to physical tissue.