Horse as Healer

When people think about Craniosacral Therapy and Horses they initially think about “Doing” Craniosacral Therapy on a horse. While this can be very powerful work for a traumatized or injured horse, I have found through my experience with horses that they are in fact the superior healers. Horses are naturally attuned to the Physiologic Tidal … Read more

Floating Babies

Water is a natural element that babies can relate too. Their bodies are literally born out of water, with the addition of having spent 10 months in a amniotic sac suspended in amniotic fluid.  Babies record everything they experience in their nervous system, muscles and digestive system. Unless they are provided with enough ‘pause’ they … Read more

Understanding the Fluid Dynamics of Craniosacral Therapy

All organisms seek to find balance individually and within their whole ecosystem. We can see this clearly demonstrated in nature when we look at a tree that continues to live and grow by adapting its growth pattern around dismemberment or the way the tree may grow in a spiral around another neighboring tree that stands … Read more

Visceral Abdominal Massage in Charlottesville, Va

Did you know….. Dominique is one of the Only Therapist in our area that has extensive training and experience in Abdominal and Visceral Manipulation Therapy? She has taught many therapist her techniques over the years through her course: Exploring the Abdomen and Organ System: Balancing Visceral Dynamics a 20 hr NCBTMB approved CE course for massage therapist. Many therapist and … Read more

Craniosacral Therapy and Prenatal Care

Craniosacral
Therapy is a type of Manual Therapy that Calms/Balances the Nervous System of
both, mother and child, encouraging emotional bonding which can otherwise be
short-circuited due to pre-natal and birth trauma/stress. When Mom’s
system is soothed and balanced during pregnancy, baby gains huge benefits. The
mother also benefits.  Quality of prenatal
care has a vast affect on birth outcomes. The best prenatal care includes one
that addressed both the physical and emotional wellbeing of the mother. Craniosacral
throughout pregnancy can help a mother be in process with her baby (and her
life!) while creating an opportunity to let go of any physical condition she
may be holding on to in her body.

Craniosacral
Therapy is a whole body therapy that uses a light touch to listen to subtle
rhythms and patterns within fascial system of the body. Unresolved tensions
from physical and emotional stress can affect and restrict the natural healthy
motion and function of the Muscular Skeletal System AND the Central Nervous
System within the body, leading to stress symptoms, discomfort and pain.
Craniosacral Therapy enables the body to realign to its natural health and
healing place by restoring motion and vitality.

 The
Basic Principles of Craniosacral Therapy:

There
are 2 basic forces at work in the living body: the Biodynamic Potencies generated
by the Breath of Life and Biokinetic or Conditional Forces introduced
into the system via trauma and life experiences (inertial fulcrums).

Nervous
system function is driving the conditional forces (and vice versa) which can
restrict the potent expression of the Inherent Health.

      The
craniosacral system (CSS) consists of the brain, spinal cord and the three
membranes that completely surround it, the cerebral spinal fluid, and the
fascial connections to all systems of the body through fluid dynamics and
nervous system balance.

      The
practitioner uses gentle soft tissue release by ‘listening’ to the craniosacral
rhythms to release tension in the fascia and fluid system throughout the whole
body. The craniosacral therapist assesses the body for restrictions and uses a
very light touch to encourage expansion, mobility and healing. 

      Unique
from other systems of the body, the CSS actually slows down and enters into
stillpoints. These rests are a therapeutic time of revitalization for the
CSS—similar to rebooting a computer. After facilitating a craniosacral
stillpoint, the individual’s CSS functions more strongly and is better
coordinated; the body is using its own innate ability to heal. This balances
the nervous system and greatly benefits the health of the baby.

Regular
Craniosacral Therapy Sessions During Pregnancy Can Help:

      Maintain
Health, Well-Being and Immunity.

      Depression

      Musculoskeletal
Dysfunction

      Chronic
Stress and Anxiety

      Migraine
Headaches

      Neck
and Back Pain

      Hormonal
Balance

      Supports
Brain Health and Nervous System Regulation for both Moms and Babies.

Birth
Psychology

The
unborn and infant child experiences what the mother experiences, what the
family experiences, and builds their body to suit the environment surrounding
the outside field of which it grows – this provides the template for physical
and mental health decades later. = Epigenetics – precursor to if and when
certain genes will be turned on later on in life.

Cortisol – effects of high stress

Prenatal Care that is more than just diet and
lifestyle is very important to birth outcomes and the future health of the
child. This consideration is an essential ingredient that all too often lacking
within the Medical Model of Care. The Midwifery Model of Care provides the kind
of care that incorporates physical, psychological and spiritual support.

Bodywork will not be able to replace this kind of holistic
care; however, it can greatly enhance a woman’s self care regimen in pregnancy
which directly affects the overall Health of mother and child.  

The Journey of Living in Balance

Very few healing systems have such as complete impact on the nervous system as Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. The main purpose of craniosacral therapy is to release deep tensions centered around the central nervous system. It is only when we are free of pain cycles, chronic tensions and holding both in the body and the emotional system that we can be free to re-acquaint ourselves with our true nature.

Read moreThe Journey of Living in Balance

Clinical Situations Craniosacral Therapy has Shown Effective

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can help:

  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Anxiety and panic attacks
  • Appendectomy
  • Arachnoiditis
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Osteoarthritis (OA)
  • Asthma
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including Asberger Syndrome
  • Bells Palsy
  • Blackouts and fainting spells
  • Breast cancer (post mastectomy)
  • Bruxism
  • Cancer
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Cesarean birth
  • Childbirth
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
  • Chronic infections
  • Coccygeal pain
  • Compressed vertebrae
  • Cranial bone and meningeal membrane lesions
  • Degenerative brain disease (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and senile dementia)
  • Depression (and endogenous idiopathic depression)
  • Digestive issues and bloating
  • Dyslexia (can be of occulomotor or nervous etiology)
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Earache
  • Edema
  • Emphysema
  • Endometriosis
  • Fibroids
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Forceps birth
  • Headaches (and migraines)
  • Head injury
  • Heart disease (HBP, and atrial fibrillation)
  • Herniated vertebral discs
  • Hip replacement surgery
  • Hysterectomy
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD, acid reflux, heartburn)
  • Infant colic and feeding problems
  • Kyphosis
  • Limb length differences
  • Lordosis
  • Lymphatic stagnation
  • Memory loss
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Neck pain
  • Nerve Entrapment (including sciatica) and irritation (including carpal tunnel syndrome)
  • Neuralgia
  • Neuresthesia (including paresthesia such as in TOS)
  • Occlusion (bite) issues
  • Osteoporosis
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Paralysis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post surgical recovery
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Pregnancy (can be used in all phases)
  • Prostate problems and repairs
  • Rotator cuff injury (and other shoulder and arm soft tissue dysfunction)
  • Sacral concussion
  • Sciatica
  • Seatbelt injury
  • Seizures
  • Seizures
  • Sleep disorders (including apnea and insomnia)
  • Spasticity
  • Speech problems
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spondylosis
  • Strabismus
  • Strains and sprains and dislocations (recovery)
  • Stress
  • Stroke (post-stroke syndromes)
  • Subluxations (can be used by a chiropractor to normalize soft tissue)
  • Sympathetic nervous system hypertonus (reticular alarm system)
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD)
  • Tendonitis
  • Tenosynovitis
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
  • Thyroid problems
  • Tinnitus
  • Torticollis (and cervical muscle dysfunction)
  • Trauma and traumatic stress
  • Tumors
  • Urogential issues
  • Vacuum extraction birth
  • Vertigo
  • Vertebral fusion or vertebral implantation surgery
  • Whiplash injury

Attunement and Brain Health

Neuro-biology has come a huge distance in the past 10 years. They are finding that the very beginning of our ‘life’s journey’ has a tremendous effect on how we relate to ourselves and others in adulthood. Trauma anywhere from in the womb, during birth and the first 5 years especially effect which genetics (in terms of: long term brain health, cardio, metabolism, glucose, organ function) will turn on later on in life (adulthood). This has been the major finding in the Genome project. They uncovered something called Epi-genetics. Epi-genetics are what can be described as: how life experiences turn on and off certain genes. *Bruce Lipton was a major researcher in the Genome project and is well published

Read moreAttunement and Brain Health

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and its Relation to Trauma Resolution

As a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist I am trained to work with trauma. However, I am not a talk therapist. The way I am trained to work with trauma is to track what is happening in the nervous system through the felt sense via : my hands and palpatory skills, my observations of eye movements, facial expressions and body movement, the facial dynamics and motility holding patterns around organs, how the whole body fluid is orientating to the original fluid dynamics that we went through as an embryo, the articulation of brain through the pumping of cerebral spinal fluid and the movement of the cranial bones, and with my whole body through the resonance field.

I am essential listening to the whole physiology in the body and how it is interacting with the Breath of Life which is the driver and organizer of the whole system. I also listen with my ears to what and how clients tell me stories, to pick up ques’ as to how the experience in life in being manifested in the body. I also listen with my hands and my whole body which will mirror the clients wiring of the nervous system.

Read moreBiodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and its Relation to Trauma Resolution

Migraines and Craniosacral Therapy

The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine just came out with documented evidence Jan of 2013 stating that Craniosacral Therapy is effective for preventing migraine headaches. Of course, this comes as no surprise to me. In fact, it was my own experience as a migraine suffer that lead me to become a Craniosacral Therapist. 

Read moreMigraines and Craniosacral Therapy