I have had a client come to me for massage to work on whiplash issues related to a fairly severe auto accident which happened a year ago.   After 3 appointments she was getting relief but there was still some vague area she could not describe but that was not being addressed.

I suggested she try a cranio-sacral therapy.

I have heard people explain cranio-sacral therapy as the human version of a computer soft reboot.  There is much more science behind ...

Levator scapula is one of the muscles of the neck.  The origination points are at the  first through fourth transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae.   The insertion points for the levator scapula are the superior angle and the medial edge of the scapula.  There are several  movements this muscle allows including extending the neck and head.

When we sit for hours in front of a computer or spend hours reading  the levator scapula can be held in a stretched position ...

Many times I hear clients say they have a rotator cuff tear or injury.  I ask them specifically  if they know which of the four muscles making up the rotator cuff was injured.  Most of them are unaware that the rotator cuff is made up of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis muscles.  Any muscle can actually tear or partially tear.   The muscles of the rotator cuff are no exception to that.

On occasion a client may have heard ...

The human body is a complex and fascinating creation.  Not only does the body include muscular,  skeletal, circulation, breathing, craniosacral rhythm, organs, glands, etc but also energy meridians, chakras and so forth.

It is not surprising then that all bodies do not respond optimally to a specific individual body work therapy.   Body work therapies include ( but not limited to) massage, craniosacral therapy, rolfing, chiropractic, acupuncture, reiki and physical therapy.   Routines can be added to health care/maintenance include (but ...

I recently had a client who tragically lost her husband.  The shock of the loss, the immediate surrounding by friends and family, the memorial service, the reality of legal issues following takes a toll on a person.   Some folks say the grieving process takes two years; going through seasons, holidays, birthdays.  Grief is a process.  Massage can help.

As some time goes by and the day to day routines come back in to focus a decompression of the passed events ...

I recently had a client come in who had been hit in the face while crouched down by a neighbor’s very large dog who thought it was time to play and head butted her.  After 3 craniosacral treatments the vision in the eye was pretty much back to normal but not all the way.

We focused on the sphenoid bone which acts as the back wall of the eye socket.  That worked helped the vision even more.   While I was ...

The sphenoid bone is deep in the cranium.   It articulates with fourteen bones in the skull.   Cranio sacral therapy can work with this bone to make sure the articulations with the other bones in the skull are not restricted.   The cranio sacral protocol uses very light pressure and is not painful in the least.

Have you ever asked your massage therapist to massage your ears?   If that is not part of your massage routine try it some time.    Massaging the scalp is quite relaxing and blending the massage to include the ears is a natural flow.  A ‘ear tug’ can sometimes reduce sinus pressure.  A trained cranio sacral massage therapist can test flexion and extention using the ears.

Ears are not just to listen with and to wear earrings on.   Include them ...

Ever wonder why you feel so relaxed after a massage?  Many aspects related to massage engage the parasympathetic nervous system.  The function of the parasympathetic nervous system is to restore the body to ‘balance’ after experiencing stress or pain.

One of the most under estimated aspects of massage is simply the weight of the blanket on the stomach.  Other elements of massage that engage the parasympathetic nervous system are music, lighting, aromatherapy and of course the massage itself on the body. ...

There are three distinct branches of muscles making up the Tranvsersospinalis Group; semipinalis capitis, rotatores and multifidi.  The action of these muscles allows us to extend (straighten) the vertebral column and to rotate to the opposite side.  Thinking about how much we move daily, stretching, reaching, bending over and straightening, these set of muscles get a work out.   Since they are not the large muscle groups such a quads or hamstrings they don’t get much attention – UNTIL you ...