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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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  Pilates is a method of conditioning the body. It strengthens and tones muscles, improves flexibility and posture, and develops coordination and balance.
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CRANIOSACRAL
THERAPY
CranioSacral
Therapy dates back to 1970 when osteopathic physician John E. Upledger first
witnessed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral system during a spinal
surgery. Two years
later, Dr. Upledger attended a short course of cranial osteopathy developed by
Dr. William Sutherland. The course
focused on the bones of the skull. Sutherland’s
material demonstrated that skull bones continue to move throughout a person’s
life. Putting
this new information together with the odd pulsing rhythm he’d observed years
before, Dr. Upledger theorized that a hydraulic system of sorts was functioning
inside the craniosacral system. In 1975 he
joined the Osteopathic College of Michigan State University as a clinical
researcher and Professor of Biomechanics. There
he led a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers to
test and document the influence of therapy on the craniosacral system.
For the first time they were able to explain the function of the
craniosacral system, and demonstrate how light-touch therapy could be used to
evaluate and treat malfunctions involving the brain and spinal cord. In 1985,
Dr. Upledger went on to establish The Upledger Institute to teach the public and
healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy.
To date, The Upledger Institute has trained more than 50,000 healthcare
practitioners worldwide in the use of CranioSacral Therapy.
The craniosacral system
consists of the brain and spinal cord and their coverings, including the skull,
the sutures (joints) of the skull, the three connective tissue layers
surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This
system has a connection with the other connective tissues of the body called
fascia. This fascia is located beneath the skin, around muscles, nerves and
organs of the body. Our body is wrapped in this fascial tissue. Because of the
inter-connection of this fascial system throughout the body, abnormal tension
patterns can be transmitted from one body part to another. This fascial system
has a pulse, or flow, of its own, separate from the pulse that your heart
produces. In this case, it is called the craniosacral rhythm. and can be
detected by trained practitioners. The CSF is produced in
the brain (the choroid plexus), and circulates around the brain and spinal cord,
where it provides cushioning and nourishment to these structures. It also acts
as a conductor for the electrochemical impulses of the nervous system. The sutures of the skull
are capable of a small degree of movement, which facilitates the proper
functioning of the natural hydraulic pump that is responsible for the
circulation of the CSF.
In craniosacral therapy,
the practitioner assesses the craniosacral rhythm for abnormalities and works
with the energy system of the body to facilitate tissue release. A standard
treatment would involve assessment and treatment of the entire body, from the
sutures of the skull to the feet.
You will lie on your
back on a comfortable treatment table, with your clothes on. The lights will be
low, and you will hear soothing music playing softly in the background. The
entire atmosphere is designed to facilitate relaxation. The practitioner uses a
light touch (the weight of a nickel) to assess and treat. Some clients feel
nothing during the treatment. Other clients feel a deep sense of relaxation, and
decreased stress. The treatment encourages the body's natural healing mechanisms
to improve the functioning of the brain and spinal cord, which in turn
facilitate the dissipation of stress and enhance the immune function of the body
as a whole.
The initial session
usually takes 90 minutes. Subsequent session generally take 60 minutes.
Responses to treatment will
vary with the individual client. Some clients experience a renewed energy; some
experience a sense of relaxation. Occasionally, because the treatment influences
the nervous system on a profound level, a client may experience an emotional
release during the treatment itself. If this occurs, the therapist
will offer emotional support and will ask the client's permission before
concluding the treatment. |
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