Did you know your mind and spine can also be massage and relaxed? It can. A few years back, I discovered the then rare, but now becoming more mainstream, type of massage called CranioSacral Therapy (CST). How? My yoga instructor, and who I will refer to as a Resort Girl Guru, Susan Hackett, introduced me to CST.
This gentle light-touch approach releases tensions deep in the nervous system. The trained therapist uses the CranioSacral rhythm to detect restrictions deep in your tissues. The rhythm comes from your spinal fluid and flows into the brain, emptying and filling it – creating a wave. It allows the body to relax and self-correct, naturally freeing yourself of pain, stress and discomfort. What is cool about the procedure it that is performed fully clothed on a comfortable massage table. So, I asked Susan to tell Resort Girls a bit more about CST.
Susan, how did you get into this very specialized field of massage, CranioSacral Therapy?
I am a Registered Nurse with a Master’s Degree in Nursing. I am also a certified meditation and yoga instructor. My interest in CranioSacral Therapy came from a book given to me on the subject years ago. It inspired my desire and passion to mix my western medicine background with alternative and preventive practices, and this therapy is a great match. My broad experience in medical conditions helps me to guide you in connecting with your body’s natural healing abilities via CST.
What conditions are benefited by this CST? My introduction came as you recommended CST after teaching yoga class…
There is a full spectrum of conditions that benefit from CST including migraines, fibromyalgia, chronic neck and back pain, scoliosis, post-traumatic stress syndrome, ADD/ADHD and TMJ. Children also benefit from CST for cerebral palsy and autism.
Susan, besides muscular benefits, can this massage can help with emotional and trauma issues?
Yes, there is a SomatoEmotional Release (SER) that expands and is based on the CST principles. Your emotions can also get stuck in parts of your body. I connect with those tissues and ask what they need.
Susan, I know first-hand how beneficial SER is when combined with CST. Not only are your muscles healed but emotions too…
Yes, I ask a serious of questions during the sessions… and your responses are always very creative! [We share a big laugh]
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Susan and I continued to have a lively and interesting interview under the rain-covered porch at the Plantation Inn. As we ran from the yoga studio, we were drenched from head to toe from a powerful storm passing over the river. But her inner warmth continued to inspire me to ask many many more questions for my personal benefit. Susan has been a spiritual, mental and physical guru to me for over 3 years and I am blessed to have her friendship.
Although it is a more specialized massage technique, do seek a CST therapist… to massage your mind, cleanse your tissue and emotions to be a better you!
To find out more about Susan Hackett, visit http://www.iahp.com/susanhackett/.
To learn more about the pioneer of CST therapy, Dr. John E Upledger, visit http://www.upledger.com/.
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