CranioSacral Therapy (CST)
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on bodywork technique that helps to dissolve restrictions in the CranioSacral System. CST uses holding and gentle pressure to release tensions in the body, which can increase your general relaxation and well-being. CranioSacral Therapy helps with many conditions, including Autism, muscle and joint pain, chronic stress, migraines, mouth/TMJ problems and Alzheimer’s.
Anatomy
The membranes that surround our brain, spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid are very important – and often forgotten. Membranes are attached to the bones of the skull and the sacrum. When accidents or inflammations cause these membranes to become restricted or to seize up, other parts of the body that seem unrelated are also affected. Gently manipulating the cranial bones and the sacrum frees the membranes, and your whole body can then rebalance and function with more ease.
CranioSacral Therapy works well for every age. Even though it is a powerful technique, it is completely safe for everyone because it is so gentle.
Working with Children
CST works well with children and can be adapted to their age and needs. They can be held on a parent’s lap or be treated while they play with toys. At all times, they are made to feel safe and secure.
Treatments are helpful for children with learning difficulties, cerebral palsy or autism, as well as for a range of health concerns such as hormonal imbalances, digestive problems or behavioural issues such as headbanging.
Go to How can CST help Children for a comprehensive list of symptoms and conditions that benefit from CranioSacral Therapy.
Working with Pregnancy
CranioSacral Therapy can help to increase fertility and prepares the body for conception. Emotional blocks can get cleared and the reproductive organs may come into better functioning.
During pregnancy, CST can help with back and joint pains, morning sickness, emotional difficulties or stress and fatigue. In addition to other methods it is also a wonderful way to prepare for the delivery and motherhood….and what is good for mom is also good for the baby.
A specially trained CranioSacral Therapist knows how to support the mother during the birthing process and can help with bonding between mother and child after the delivery. If the baby has difficulty breastfeeding, latching and suckling can be improved as well.
Working with Seniors
As people age more physical and emotional difficulties emerge. Claudia loves getting to the root causes of people’s issues. For example, anxiety or depression can be caused by dysfunctions in the brain, by restrictions of digestive organs or by traumatic experiences which have not been cleared from the body. There is a good chance that your emotions can settle down with regular CranioSacral treatments.
CranioSacral Therapy has shown to improve brain functions and there is currently a research study in progress to show how dementia can be influenced by CST. If you are interested in learning more or would like to participate in a private case study, please phone Claudia Parkinson.
Professional Associations and Memberships
Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC)
College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)
Questions People Ask
CST can help you in many ways – both desired and unexpected. It can help to increase your general relaxation and well-being. It often balances and smooths how your body, organs and brain function. Energy levels often increase after a session, and you can feel more like yourself again.
Pain
CST can ease every kind of pain, such as joint aches, headaches, back pain, fibromyalgic pain and muscle pain after injuries. It also helps with stiffness. We can often measure an increase in the range of motion (ROM) after CST treatments.
Stress
CranioSacral Therapy has a calming and balancing effect on the autonomic nervous system. You can experience better sleep, better digestion and a relaxed body and mind. CST can also assist the immune and endocrine system in achieving greater balance.
Migraines
CST is likely to help you with migraine headaches, especially if the cause is in your CranioSacral system. Many people have experienced ongoing relief from headaches after CST treatments.
I offer specialized CST training and experience for the following conditions:
Pregnancy
CST can help with many complaints experienced during pregnancy. It can help you to sleep better, experience less pain, and reduce nausea. Your baby will probably benefit from CST treatments as well.
Autism
For children with Autism, ongoing CST treatments have decreased agitation, improved speech, increased mind-body coordination, and improved social interaction. The autistic child benefits greatly from treatments every two weeks until adulthood. And it’s a good idea to continue with regular maintenance sessions for life.
TMJ pain and dental issues
CST can help with a number of dental and other problems in the mouth, such as teeth grinding and clenching. Sometimes people come to me with a chronic toothache that the dentist can’t find a reason for. A certain way of holding the tooth can release the tension and discomfort.
Aging
CST helps with pains, stiffness, sleeplessness and the functioning of inner organs. Some techniques can be very restorative and detoxifying for your nervous system, and that helps with memory loss. Some people even feel younger after CST sessions!
Children with any of the following conditions and symptoms can benefit from CST treatments:
| Accident recovery | Headaches/Migraines | Scoliosis |
| ADD/concentration problems | Head-banging | Seizures |
| ADHD | Head shape not normal | Shaken baby syndrome |
| Autism | Learning delays | Sleep problems |
| Cerebral palsy | Movement disorders | Speech/verbal delays |
| Colics | Nervous tics | Surgery, reducing complications |
| Coordination problems | Nursing problems | Swallowing problems |
| Depression | Projectile vomiting, spitting up | Teeth misaligned |
| Developmental delays or stalling | PTSD | Torticollis |
| Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, | Respiratory problems | Tourette’s syndrome |
| Ear infections | Violent/aggressive behaviours |
Adults with any of the following symptoms or conditions can benefit from CST treatments:
| Abdominal pain | Dizziness | Leg numbness, weakness | Shoulder pain |
| Alzheimer’s support | Ear, ringing in; Tinnitus | Lung, COPD | Sinusitis, chronic |
| Ankle pain | Energy low | Lung infections, chronic | Smell, loss of |
| Anxiety | Fibromyalgia | Macular degeneration | Spasticity |
| Arm numbness, weakness | Foot pain | Menstruation problems | Speech problems |
| Back pain | Headaches | Motor problems following surgery or injury | Spinal column injuries |
| Balance problems | Head injuries | Migraines | Stress reduction/ calming anxiety |
| Body pain, all over, | Hearing problems | Nausea | Stroke recovery |
| Brain fog | Hip pain | Neck alignment | Surgery, pain support after |
| Brain injury | HIV+ pain | Neck pain | Tailbone/sacrum pain |
| Breathing problems | Hospice support | Pelvic inflammatory disease | TMJD , jaw pain |
| Cancer treatment support | ICU/Intensive Care Unit support | Post-polio | Trauma recovery |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | Infertility | Pregnancy support | Traumatic brain injury/TBI |
| Chronic fatigue/low energy | Jaw pain | PTSD | Trigeminal neuralgia |
| Concussion, post-concussion syndrome | Knee pain | Rheumatoid arthritis | Vertigo |
| Coordination problems | Lactation/Nursing problems | Vision problems | |
| Depression | Leg pain | Shoulder, frozen | Whiplash |
CST timeframes recommended for different clients
• 90-120 min full session
• 60 min short session
• 30 min children and very sensitive elderly
For adults, I recommend a 2 hour session to begin with.
What to wear
For CranioSacral Therapy you can remain fully dressed. It helps if you wear a thin layer of comfortable stretchy clothing.
What I do
I use a skillful touch (palpation) to find the restrictions in your body and hold them very gently. This treatment usually feels pleasant. Sometimes you will feel pain or discomfort from past experiences for awhile. This feeling generally disappears during the treatment.
CranioSacral Therapy is based on the discovery of subtle rhythms, pulses and flows within the craniosacral system and the whole body. When I place my hands on your body at certain places, such as the head, ribcage, and legs, I sense subtle movements in the tissues. I am reading or assessing the craniosacral rhythm, which can be felt everywhere in the body. When I find irregularities or asymmetries – or even areas of non-movement in the craniosacral rhythm, I get an idea where your body needs help. Often I move by intuition, directly knowing where to put my hands during a session.
It will depend on the cause of your condition and how you and your body respond to this therapy. Sometimes the problem disappears after one session. In other cases, several treatments are required. It is difficult to predict.
I recommend that you commit to 3-5 sessions and then evaluate if CST has been effective for you. If it has been effective, it is good to book maintenance sessions each month.
Every body is different. I can’t promise a certain outcome, because I don’t honestly know how long you will need to “fix” or deal with your particular issue. If a condition is chronic, regular CST sessions can be very soothing and help you to function better in your life.
CranioSacral Therapy is very gentle and non-intrusive – the gentler the touch, the deeper the body will let me in. If I used a strong touch, your body would likely go into resistance and I couldn’t reach where I need to work.
Massage therapy uses a stronger, harder touch, and you can feel the effects right away on the muscular level. With CranioSacral touch you might not feel much, but that does not mean that little or nothing has happened.
What I do is so subtle that many people will not notice it. CST works with the subtle movements of the craniosacral rhythm and the subtle movement of the bones. If you get CST sessions more often, you might learn to tune into what is happening.
It is possible that your body will realign during a session. After the treatment you might feel minor aches or pains for a day or two as the muscles adjust to this new position.
Especially on the day of the treatment, be sure to drink lots of water. Soaking in a hot tub or a hot bath with Epsom salts can help you to integrate the effects of the session. I recommend that you take it easy for at least one day after the treatment.
Enjoy the warmth!
A new favourite …
Polished and heated bamboo tools are used to provide the effects of Swedish massage or a deep tissue massage. Similar to hot stones, a warm bamboo massage can be deeply relaxing and rejuvenating.
Even though Bamboo Massage is not yet well known, many people who have tried it really like it. It feels good and the heat goes deep into the muscles and makes the massage more effective. I am using fractionated coconut oil as it is healthy for your skin. Nut-free oil is available upon request.
A Massage Therapy session can range from 45 to 120 minutes. It can be slow and gentle or more vigorous, just as you prefer.
You will be fully draped as per provincial requirements.
Swedish Massage Therapy
Swedish Massage Therapy is a gentle full-body massage that allows you to relax from physical, mental and emotional stress, restoring harmony and flow. Simply exhale and let your tensions melt away. As your body and mind relax, your breath can deepen, and you can become more aware of your body’s wisdom and its ability to restore and heal itself.
Effects of Massage Therapy
- Deepens and eases breathing
- Relaxes and or invigorates
- Relieves cramps and muscle spasms
- Relieves muscle pain, tension and stiffness
- Improves posture/ body alignment
- Increases flexibility and range of motion in joints
- Improves circulation and nourishment of skin and joints
- Detoxifies the body
- Stimulates the immune system
- Stimulates the lymphatic system
- May lower the blood pressure
Many people request a deep tissue massage. I believe that muscles get tight to protect more delicate structures of the body, like organs, nerves or vessels. So I want to take care of the underlying causes of a tight muscle first before trying to relax it. The exception would be if you are doing a lot of sports. In that case, you should look for a sports massage therapist.
When I do deep tissue work, I use wooden tools like warm bamboo to get a similar effect. This protects my hands for doing other kinds of hands-on treatments.
If you play hockey, soccer, or football and have had concussions, come see me for CranioSacral Therapy. It’s effective, and I really like to help people’s brains get better. I can also help if you have a limited range of motion of the joints, balance problems, or old injuries. If you want a deep tissue massage, I am not the one to see – unless you want a bamboo massage!