What exactly is your CranioSacral System?

At the very core of your body lies your brain and spinal cord, within the bony protection of your skull and spine.   Cerebral spinal fluid is pumped around your brain and spinal cord in a wave-like rhythm by four ventricles which are located deep within your brain.

Your Craniosacral rhythm essentially is your brain breathing in and out cerebral spinal fluid.   Craniosacral Therapy supports this rhythmic flow by helping your nervous system settle into a state of stillness and by gently releasing membranious restrictionst throughtout the system pictured.  

The image (to the left) is of the Dura membrane surrounding the spinal cord and brain. This continuous membrane connects the sacrum (the lowest bony part of the spine--your tail bone) to the delicate membrane system within the head. Held within this membrane container is also the slow, rhythmic flow of cerebrospinal fluid. As in a water balloon, tension occurring anywhere in this system affects everywhere else in the system.

Since this is a continuous membrane system, it is easy to see how tension created from a car or athletic accident in the lower back can, over time, turn into migraines, teeth grinding or chronic neck pain. Tensions within a closed connected system inherently spreads throughout the system. The good news is tension can also be released in one area and therefore release tension throughout this enclosed, water balloon-like system as well. This is how Craniosacral Therapy is so effective—it helps this membrane and fluid system that surrounds your spine and brain, release tensions, come into balance and enter a state of stillness.