University research conducted by osteopathic physician John E Upledger and Biophysicist Zvi Karni led to the discovery that body tissue frequently retains the imprint of physical trauma. These emotional imprints, particularly those related to intense feelings taking place at the moment of trauma -like anger or fear- often get deposited, creating energy cysts, those walled off areas of emotion. At the beginning our body has the ability to adapt so that we can go on with our lives. However, as we take on more stress from daily events in life, our body might reach a tipping point and lose the ability to accommodate energy cysts. That is when uncomfortable symptoms and dysfunctions can become difficult to suppress or ignore. Fortunately, SomatoEmotional Release is a soft, yet profound, natural way to help the body release that emotional impact and accelerate its full recovery.

SomatoEmotional Release is part of CranioSacral Therapy. By using a very light touch, the facilitator feels the rhythm of the CranioSacral system to identify any restrictions or unbalances. Then, she will use delicate manual techniques to release those problem areas and alleviate some of the undue pressure on the brain and the spinal cord. As a part of this process, the therapist will maintain a comforting and trustworthy attitude that will facilitate, if necessary, the possibility of a SomatoEmotional release. It will happen naturally; there are often images, memories, and emotions coming up, and the therapist will help facilitate this process by using imaging and dialogue techniques that will guide the patient to encounter emotions that have been held in the body for a long time. The good news is, the patient doesn't need to analyze the problem to release it. The act of feeling will transform the tissue memory and the emotional translation of the event. The tissue will stop holding so much tension and weight and the body will feel free to get back to its optimum function.

We are unique. Every person experiences craniosacral sessions in a different way, and results can vary too: Some people experience such a deep state of relaxation that they feel like sleeping for hours. Other people feel full of energy after the session. Some experience an improvement of their pain condition or better mobility and function immediately after the session. For others, effects unfold gradually during the following days...Occasionally, during the first few hours or days people experience a phase of reorganization, where they feel some changes and sensations as the body releasespreviously held patterns and it adapts to a new state of wellbeing. CranioSacral therapy fosters natural processes of selfhealing, hence it is common to experience long lasting transformation.

Almost everyone can benefit from a CranioSacral Therapy session, which has proven to be specially effective in those complicated cases that have not responded well to other approaches. It is particularly helpful for people with head trauma and problems in head, neck or back. The extremely light touch used in CranioSacral Therapy makes it a very safe modality for pregnant women, children and babies who have experienced early stress, including delivery trauma. Releasing existing restrictions around the central nervous system at an early stage,can help prevent potential problems, such as learning difficulties or hyperactivity.

A craniosacral therapy session can take around an hour. The client will lie on a massage table, comfortably dressed. The therapist will softly place her hands on various spots of the head and body, helping him/her release, through a very light touch, the accumulated tension. It is very diverse what each of us experiences during a craniosacral session. Some of us feel a deep state of relaxation, some of up perceive different sensations or feelings as the body releases tension. Sometimes the person will see some images, colors, or memories relating to past trauma or a meaningful moment of the past or a present crucial situation. Every human being is unique, and so is our particular response to the therapy. For this reason, the number of sessions necessary to improve a condition can vary from one single session to a series of therapy sessions.

Few structures have as much influence on the body's ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord, which together form the central nervous system. And few systems have as much impact on the central nervous system as the craniosacral system—the membranes and fluids that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Every day, our body faces tension and stress, and our structures work to compensate for it. These changes often cause body tissues to tighten, distorting the craniosacral system, which in turn can lead to the accumulation of tension around the brain and spinal cord. The result is a barrier to the healthy functioning of the central nervous system and potentially any other system with which it interacts. Fortunately, these restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple palpation methods. Generally, by applying only about 5 grams of pressure—barely the weight of a coin—craniosacral therapy practitioners use their hands to assess the craniosacral system, gently feeling various areas of the body to evaluate both the ease of movement and the rhythm of cerebrospinal fluid pulsating around the brain and spinal cord. Then, light-touch techniques are used to release restrictions in any tissue that influences the craniosacral system. By normalizing the surrounding environment of the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body's ability to self-correct, Craniosacral Therapy can help relieve a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to strokes and neurological impairments.

There are certain situations where the application of CST would not be recommended. These include conditions where a variation or a slight increase in intracranial pressure would cause instability. Acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage, or other preexisting severe bleeding disorders are examples of conditions that could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes. If you have any doubts, please ask your doctor.