Articles & Podcast
Why Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?
by Margery Chessare, LMT, BCST, RCST ®
I am often asked the question, "Why study (or receive) Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?" There are many areas that distinguish Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) from not only other forms of craniosacral therapy, but from most bodywork modalities. Let's look at just a few…
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Podcast: Working with the Fluid Body, Fluid Embryo
Margery Chessare talks about Craniosacral Therapy with April Hannah of The Path Series
To listen, click here. Also available on iTunes (search "Margery Chessare" in podcasts).
Understanding Michael Shea’s Biodynamic Cardiovascular Therapy
By Michael Shea with Margery Chessare
Turtle Back Craniosacral Education is honored to regularly host Michael Shea, PhD, one of the preeminent educators and authors in the fields of craniosacral therapy, somatic psychology and pre and perinatal development. He is the originator of Biodynamic Cardiovascular Therapy (BCVT).
Biodynamic Cardiovascular Therapy is the application of biodynamic craniosacral therapy principles to the cardiovascular system. This work was begun in the 19th century by the founder of Osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still; he declared that “the rule of the artery is supreme.” That wisdom is still true today.
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You are a Miracle
Posted by Janeen Barnett, LMT, APP after participating in Turtle Back's Biodynamic Basics course
(posted on Au Soleil Healing, 11-17-16)
A few weeks ago I was honored and blessed to travel to beautiful and historic Saratoga Springs, NY and take an Intro to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy class.
On a Practitioner level I learned a few new holds to add to my bodywork toolbox, as well as new ways of being present in the work. It’s been a fun and creative process as I begin to weave these new skills into the tapestry of my sessions.
On a deeper holistic level I was re-minded of several concepts that are applicable to everyday life, regardless of who you are or what you do.
We are all unique!
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The Breath of Life: An Introduction to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
by Cherionna Menzam, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCST, RCST ®
People often ask me if I do energy work. This may seem like a simple question but, to me, the answer is complex and informative. First, I would say that all bodywork is energy work in that everything involves energy. We are made up of energy. Every tissue in our bodies emanates a bio-electric field. We respond to each other energetically, whether we are aware of it or not. I do not, however, consider Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy to be “energy work.” This beautiful bodywork involves attention to the physical body and is based on physical sensations, although it includes attention to the non-physical and energetic dimensions of our being.
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Craniosacral Therapy: Accessing The Healer Within
by Paul Brown
It's no secret that proper nutrition, exercise, and living a low-stress lifestyle are among the keys to good health and longevity. If we pay close attention to these three cornerstones of our health, our body will reward us with vitality and well-being. Amazingly, even when our body gets a little out of balance--a sore tennis elbow, an irritating cold, or an achy neck from a tense business meeting--we are each equipped with a high-performing immune system miraculously designed to heal our body and protect us from disease. Craniosacral therapy is one way to optimize that system and create balance within the body.
Click here to read full article at MassageTherapy.com
Primary Respiration and the Cycle of Attunement
by Michael Shea, PhD
I was reading an interesting piece of research in the infant-mother attachment literature. After studying moms and babies at play and without any stress, it was discovered that over 70% of the interactions called attunement occur every 100 seconds between the mom and the baby. This means that there is a function of regularity built into our nervous system when we are socially engaged that allows us to pay attention more closely to the person we are with. In this case the rhythm of attunement, when there is no stress, happens every 100 seconds. In the world of biodynamic craniosacral therapy, that regular tempo is what we refer to as Primary Respiration.
Continued here...
Depression, Anxiety and Craniosacral Therapy
by Jessica Hudson
(posted on Scribd, 5-17-13)
Depression or mental disorders have been in the news recently in the tired old debate about whether the root causes lie in our genes and brain chemistry or whether, instead, they are to be found in our environments. Can we not agree that both can be and are factors? It seems to me to be absurd to try to categorize a condition that is unique for every sufferer.
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Considering Craniosacral Therapy
Article by Carol Brussel, BA, IBCLC published by La Leche League International
When a baby is unable to nurse or nurses so poorly that he causes pain to his mother, he presents a true challenge. A mother who experiences pain or who perceives that her baby is not breastfeeding effectively is a mother who is at risk of prematurely weaning this baby (Riordan and Auerbach 1999).
After working through all of the usual avenues of information and resources that can help in this kind of situation, some Leaders have found a new therapy, called CranioSacral Therapy (CST), can be helpful. CST is a light-touch manual therapy used to encourage the body's self-correcting mechanisms. Generally using about five grams of pressure, or about the weight of a small coin, the practitioner evaluates the body's craniosacral system. This system plays a vital role in maintaining the environment in which the central nervous system functions. It consists of the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord as well as the attached bones-including the skull, face, and jaw, which make up the cranium, and the tailbone area, or sacrum.
Since the brain and spinal cord are contained within the central nervous system, the craniosacral system has powerful influence over a wide variety of bodily functions (The Upledger Institute 2001). The extremely light touch used in this therapy means that at no time should CST treatment cause damage.
