One of the things I just found that has affected my health in a big way is craniosacral massage. Have you heard of it? If not, do not worry about it; you have come to the right spot. I am going to explain everything in a simple, relatable manner. Let’s dive in.
What is craniosacral massage? It was a gentle touch, almost like someone strokes your head. That is how craniosacral therapy functions. It is a form of bodywork, which focuses on the skull and sacrum bones through manipulation. These areas, where obstructions block fluids from coursing through, thereby elevate everything else within your health system.
It always seemed so far-fetched when I first heard about it. That sounds so gentle, yet how the hell can that work? We tend to perceive the pressure every other woman has it, but for me too, I believe that was in my head. A therapist will lightly touch your body to sense the rhythm of fluids that are in movement. This allows them to find the exact locations in your body that might be blocking you, causing pain or discomfort.
So, how does this all work? The therapist often begins by laying their hands on your head or near the spine. They then tap into the slight movements of your body. They are like listening to the story your body tells. Each little wiggle, bend, and squeeze hints at something happening beneath its surface.
This section I found very interesting. It is kind of like a detective story where the therapist tries to pick up clues about what way your body hides information. This is because their hands can identify areas where the fluid is no longer flowing as it should, and they aim to release these restrictions. It is a very soothing process, and I had several times when I fell into some deep relaxation.
You may be thinking, “What do I get out of this?” That’s a great question. Craniosacral therapy can have a number of benefits. One of them is its reputation as a stress buster. After only a few sessions, my stress levels decreased considerably. The soft skin on your fingers helps you to guide the body into a deeply peaceful yet soothing state.
Stress Relief, but not only that. Please read more about other benefits of craniosacral massage in treating headaches, chronic pain, and sleep problems. I had daily headaches for months and after getting craniosacral therapy, they went away. It is also good to help anyone who has been through trauma or under any emotional stress. The therapy may also help you release stuck emotions that live in our somatic bodies, which then brings a sense of emotional liberation.
If you are considering craniosacral massage, then chances are high that you are wondering what occurs during a session. Let me walk you through it. I had no idea what would happen the first time I went. However, it was surprisingly comfortable and relaxed.
Your outside clothes need to go no further than the top of your head as you lie on a massage table. The therapist could ask you a few things like how you are feeling or is there anything specific that you would like to work on? After that, they will lightly rest their hands upon your head or neck and sometimes both. They employ such a faint touch that sometimes you would even think they are not doing anything.
But do not let the soft touch fool you. During the session, your therapist will feel — very subtly — for areas in which there might be a restriction of cerebrospinal fluid movement. They will spend three minutes in each area, allowing tension and stress relief from head to toes. The entire experience was extremely relaxing in my opinion. It was as though a gentle wave started to wash over my body taking all the stress and strain with it.
So, you are probably thinking is this therapy for me? It’s a valid question. Of course, craniosacral therapy is not the thing for everyone… but if you want a little bit of relief and enhancement that is gentle yet powerful? On top of that, it is extremely helpful when experiencing chronic pain syndrome or a lot of stress/ trauma.
On the other hand, if you like more full-on body work such as deep tissue massage, then craniosacral therapy may be too subtle for you. However, I was surprised by how much it did help me even though normally I lean towards firmer pressure. It is worth a shot, especially if other treatment modalities haven’t worked for you.
Craniosacral massage is all about the therapist, so it’s sort of a crapshoot — you have to find someone that feels like they can work with and who you feel confident working with. Instead, look something up before you place the call on DID. Tara Goes (Career Coach), was professional until the formal interview: “You are weak,” this cannot be any further from what you can expect a professional to say. You have to get a hold of someone who practices craniosacral therapy as it is sly, all the more if that particular person happens to be well-versed in those delicate rhythms of our body. Leverage the free consultation to get any and all questions that enter your brain answered. A good psychologist will expand any of your preconceptions about what they do and are always willing to talk.
I also thought I would just tell you a bit about Craniosacral Massage from my own personal experience with it and perhaps this will help signal to you if it could be something for you too. I started off a little suspicious, but intrigued. It was something I had heard good stuff about, but didn’t think could be effective as it looked so gentle.
The 1st session bought me in, as addicted. I felt a sense of ease and peace I had not with other bodywork. Eventually, I began to notice that the pain in my head was not as intense and frequent, and my stress had significantly decreased. It was almost as if the therapy had managed to reprogram my body and everything started to run together more smoothly.
I liked how one-on-one the sessions felt, most of all. She heard me and treated what I was struggling with, not just the symptoms. That amount of focus… it created a major difference in the kind of results I got.
It Might Sound Mysterious… For people that have never experienced craniosacral massage, it sounds a little new-agey and odd. A gentle but fierce way to nourish yourself and help your body do its own healing. You should definitely take a look if you’re wondering. It could be exactly what you needed as support to calm yourself, create balance, and find peace.
The general sessions of craniosacral massage time in at approximately 60 minutes. One session may be shorter or longer than other sessions, depending on what is occurring for you and also the style in which the therapist works. As a matter of fact, on the first session, even more time may be allowed for consultation to discuss your concerns and goals.
How often you do craniosacral therapy is going to be based on what your body needs. For chronic symptoms, you may want to start weekly and then wean off as things get better. If just general wellness, once a month may be enough. This would be a good subject to take up with your therapist.
Overall, it is not a dangerous therapy, and the treatment craniosacral massage can be received with people of any age group. But in patients with particular medical conditions, for instance, injured heads or vertebrae, it is best to consult with your doctor about suitability for the specific treatment.
Craniosacral is super gentle; however, most are extremely relaxed and set at ease during a session. You will be comfortable without any chance of discomfort during the session. That being said, if at any time it feels WRONG or you start to panic-please tell your therapist right away so they can change things up.
This cranoisacral massage can also help with mental issues and is particularly useful for the relief of stress and anxiety, along with the trauma of emotional injuries. It can also be a useful complementary therapy in maintaining general well-being and emotional balance but cannot replace treatment by professional mental health specialists in any way.