Tune Up Your Body With Craniosacral Therapy

October 22, 2008

By Gabriel Bobek, Guest Contributor

Slow down!… Stop running!… LISTEN! Is your body
saying this to you? Living in a world of deadlines and
cell phones there’s a good chance it is. This
time-obsessed age pushes our nervous systems and bodies
beyond healthy limits and the stress can aggravate or cause
much illness.

In the expanding field of alternative healthcare,
CranioSacral Therapy is a modality that is foremost about
listening. By listening and tuning into the ever present
craniosacral rhythm, a therapist detects misalignment,
restriction and/or obstruction and gently accesses the
body’s internal corrective mechanisms.

A “New” Kind of Body Rhythm

CranioSacral Therapy is grounded in the osteopathic
principle of the body as an integrated unit marvelously
designed to heal itself and is based on the tiny ebb and
flow of cerebrospinal fluid that supports the central
nervous system. The bony cranial and vertebral cavities
are lined with a tough waterproof membrane containing this
glistening clear fluid within which the brain and spinal
cord are suspended and protected. The small movement of
the system can be compared to a water balloon that is
squeezed very gently.

Through rigorous scientific experiment Dr. John Upledger
proved this rhythmic movement happens continuously just
like our breathing and heartbeat. This rhythm can be
detected anywhere on the body and listening to it reveals a
wealth of information directly.

For example, is the craniosacral rhythm of one leg more
restricted than the other, and if so, where specifically?
The rhythm is an accurate indicator of past and present
conditions and can be accessed to promote freedom, release
and recovery.

CranioSacral Therapy is holistic, exceptionally gentle and
safe. Unlike drug or other interventions there are no
negative side effects.

As a CranioSacral Therapist I am keenly attuned to your
process throughout the session, listening with my hands and
helping you to tune into your whole system profoundly. By
involving you in the process we expand awareness of your
self-healing potential and engage mechanisms that may have
been untapped.

The Many Facets of Cranio Sacral Therapy

It is fascinating that solutions often come in treating
areas distant to the problem.

One craniosacral therapy session can boost, rebalance and
revitalize your nervous and immune system but can also
treat a broad range of conditions including:

• chronic neck & back pain
• headaches & migraines
• TMJ dysfunction
• stress & tension
• ear/eye/nerve conditions
• chronic fatigue/sleep disorders
• post-traumatic stress

It’s recommended for pre & post surgery and has been shown
to improve surgical recovery.

As an example, I currently have a client with long standing
Ménières Disease, a serious ear condition that includes
ringing in the ears, vertigo and painful debilitating
migraines. There’s been steady improvement with each
session but it was upon releasing his sacrum at the other
end of his spine that the most dramatic improvement
occured. Since then his migraines and vertigo have stopped
completely and he’s decreased his medication by half.

Relax and Revive

A CranioSacral session is received lying comfortably face
up on a massage table in regular clothing and tends to be a
very pleasant and deeply calming experience. Depending on
the severity and type of condition a course of 3 to 5
sessions produces results which indicate whether continued
treatment is recommended.

Newcomers to CranioSacral are often surprised by the
gentleness of the touch but this is the therapy’s secret.
By working below the body’s recoil response profound change
is coaxed from the inside out. The results come in gentle
waves over time and may be noticed immediately, the next
morning or even days after a session, subtly yet deeply
supporting healing and building momentum towards well
being.

CranioSacral Therapy is an excellent complement to
traditional Western medicine—enhancing and integrating its
benefits. It is also a great way to reduce stress and
recharge our batteries.

Let’s slow down and tune in to the sounds within us – the
answers are there for those who listen.

* * *

Gabriel Bobek has been practicing CranioSacral Therapy
since 1995 and is a licensed NY State massage therapist
with national certification. If you would like to
experience a session in his spacious sunlit midtown studio,
mention this article and receive a discounted price of $70
for an hour session. For further information visit
www.backboneandwingspan.com and click on CranioSacral, his
biopage or call him directly at (646)-334-1366.