About

Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy (BCST)

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy helps unblock old patterns and allows you to move towards your true potential in life, with freedom. The technique is very subtle but the benefits can be profound. In CST a light non-invasive touch is used to examine membranes and the movement of fluids in and around the central nervous system.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy has its origins in the field of osteopathy. In the early 1900s, Dr. William Sutherland, an American osteopathic physician, detailed the movement of the cranium and pelvis. He called his work cranial osteopathy. Dr. Sutherland’s ideas later became the “Biodynamic” approach which denote the nature of the creative forces at work, which organize our mind-body system from embryological development, throughout life.

The human body, by design, orients towards health with all of the available resources. When everything is functioning well, our tissues and cells freely express these rhythmic motions.

In life, we experience events such as trauma, injury, stress or grief that can disrupt the natural rhythm of this system.

A Craniosacral therapist, who has a thorough awareness of anatomy and physiology, can connect to the expressions within the body and identify the places of strain and restriction. Restriction of movement acts as a primary precursor of the development of disease and pathology.

Practitioners put their hands on a body to sense the presence of subtle movements and then use a range of non-invasive skills, this is part of the Biodynamic model, that promote the conditions for a release of held restrictive patterns and places of inertia. We find when that occurs, healing begins. Clients get better from a wide range of different conditions in ways that are often very surprising as well as heartwarming.

The therapy creates a safe space for traumatic experiences to emerge and resolve smoothly without being overwhelming or re-stimulating. Regular treatments of Craniosacral Therapy can help to restore balance, harness your body’s natural healing ability and promote embodiment and a movement towards health.

Cranio Heart

Cranio Heart is run by Coci Herrick.

Coci

“I am a seeker by nature and was thus drawn to this practice as it is essentially about seeking, settling and reorganising.

Within the therapy there is a pause or stillness, that occurs when a state of balanced tension is reached. As a long time meditator, I immediately felt a strong connection to the practice wherein the state of wholeness and stillness that exists within all of us is seen as an active imperative.

I deeply venerate my CST teachers, and those in the field who I admire, these include Judah Lyon, Michael Shea, Franklyn Sills, Peter Levine (to name a few) and the ever-present support and friendship of Andy Ewing, the first therapist who created the space in my heart which allowed me to enter this field.

I have spent close to a decade working in healing spaces where deep trauma has been managed, traumatic memory processed, and the nervous system calmed. Traumatic shock and stress leaving the body brings us back to our true nature, to our very centre.

I am an active part of The Art of Living, a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO. The Art of Living is dedicated to creating a stress-free, violence-free society. I have aligned myself with this ethos and working in BCST, a skill that has been encouraged by my teacher, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, I wish to contribute to the happiness and freedom of all.”

‘It was very relaxing and I felt blissful, tingly and expansive. Coci’s professional, relaxed and caring nature felt embodied with integrity and kindness.’

Carmen Clews

Listen to silence. It has so much to say

Rumi

FAQ’s

How it all Works!

How is a Biodynamic CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY session PERFORMED?

Craniosacral Therapy is performed on a fully clothed client lying down. A very light touch is used on various parts of the body, to monitor the cranial rhythm, via the Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), in order to detect potential restrictions and imbalances.

This treatment is gentle, subtle and non-invasive. The intention is not to provoke the tissue’s defence mechanism but to establish a calm and relaxed state. Relaxation is the process by which the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is activated and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is turned off, transitioning the body from fight-and-protect mode into calm-and-connect mode. The PNS is only activated when the brain perceives that the environment is secure. Relaxation tells the brain that it is out of harm’s way and it is safe to release its hyper-vigilance. It is in this space where healing begins to take place and restrictions begin to unfold.

It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothing. It is less restrictive if you remove your footwear so do bring clean socks if you don’t feel comfortable with touch on your bare feet.

How many sessions are recommended?

To fully benefit from BCST, you may need more than one or two sessions. Each individual will respond differently and some conditions may require more treatment than others. The number of sessions needed varies widely and depend greatly upon your own conditions, stressors, and comfort level.

Your practitioner will be able to discuss your treatment options after your initial consultation and first session.

Your first session will be 1.5 hours long, beginning with a 30-minute consultation, followed by a one-hour session. The consultation is to review your medical history, current state of mind, your physical state and your motivations. After that, each session lasts one hour.

What will I experience during or after a Session?

Clients receiving BCST report a wide variety of experiences, including the following:

A decrease in pain and tension, while others have felt a sense of harmony and peace, feelings of balance, a deepening self-and body-awareness and increased functionality or focus immediately after the session. Sometimes these effects will develop gradually over the next few days rather than directly following the session.

Regardless of what you experience, BCST helps the body resume its natural healing processes and these improvements can continue for days or weeks following the session.

After each session, avoid strenuous activity or exertion so that you can fully embrace the feeling of well-being and harmony. It is also important to keep adequately hydrated by drinking water or herbal teas.

If I have a medical problem can BCST help?

BCST is intended to work alongside the healthcare service your doctor provides. If you have a particular concern about your health we would always recommend that you consult your GP.

Can I use BCST with other complementary therapies and approaches to health?

BCST works well on its own as well as alongside other complementary approaches such as acupuncture, homeopathy, reiki, yoga, etc. In fact certain approaches, such as Ayurveda, a healthy diet, exercise and meditation are highly recommended and will greatly help in creating a well balanced individual.

Your therapist will, depending on your requirements, create and explain various resources that you can use on your own, on an ongoing basis, to continue the connections created during your session to enhance your health and well-being.

Is CST suitable for children?

As craniosacral therapy is so gentle and non-invasive, it is suitable for all ages and children respond particularly well to the treatments. Children are generally very open and receptive to healing as they have not developed a set of protective modes that their bodies go into during therapy, which as is often the case with many adults.

Children may struggle to recognise or be able to clearly express their emotions and they often do not have the understanding or resources to clearly articulate a feeling. These unexpressed feelings get stored as restrictive patterns in the body as points of tension and discomfort. This is where Craniosacral work is so amazing, as kids do not have to find the words to heal – their own bodies, once in a therapeutic relationship, know what needs to happen to correct their restrictions. Together we work towards releasing these areas of stored tension and aim to restore natural balance and movement to the body.

Treatment times will be shorter for all kids, even up to early teens, anything from 45 – 60 minutes is appropriate. The plan is always to release patterns of stuckness and get them back into the world to enjoy their lives as naturally and as happily as possible.