Subtle Touch Bodywork For Specific Conditions & For Everyone

“The moment is filled with the effort to be present with the Health in the patient and the story as it unfolds into it’s own answer.”

—James Jealous, DO

Craniosacral Therapy originated as “osteopathy in the cranial field” with Dr William Sutherland and was brought out of the realm of osteopathy into the realm of bodywork by Dr John Upledger. Its biomechanical effects concentrate mainly on freeing restrictions in the bones and tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord for more optimal nervous system function. Its biodynamic effects concentrate on freeing restrictions in the energy-fluid matrix of the body and returning the body to midline orientation, it’s original blueprint, facilitating more ease, balance, and health in all body functions. The work uses gentle contact, rather than compressive forces, to allow for unwinding and release of restricted tissue or fluids. It is deeply relaxing and appropriate for working with a wide variety of conditions.

Acupressure is a gentle hands-on modality that uses all the same points, channels, and theory of acupuncture, which adds many possibilities to a session for working with a variety of conditions in both the physical and emotional realm. Like craniosacral work, acupressure has the goal of freeing restrictions, or stagnation, of the energy-fluid matrix of the body so that all the body systems are nourished and working harmoniously together.

What kinds of conditions can be improved by these styles of bodywork?

• Headaches / migraines

• Back pain

• Neck and spine issues

• Concussion

• Chronic pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Nervous system injury

• Nervous system conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, autism, seizure disorders

• Anxiety and depression

• PTSD

• Insomnia

• Digestive issues (often exacerbated by stress)

• Depletion / exhaustion from injury recovery, long term chronic illness, cancer treatment

A word about PTSD— Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is complex and brings with it a constellation of long-term symptoms:

Emotional

• Shock, denial, disbelief

• Anger, irritability, mood swings

• Guilt, shame, self-blame

• Feelings of grief, sadness, or hopelessness

• Confusion, difficulty concentrating

• Anxiety, fear

• Withdrawing from others

• Feeling disconnected or numb

Physical

• Insomnia, nightmares

• Being startled easily

• Racing heartbeat

• Aches and pains

• Muscle tension

• Fatigue, exhaustion

• Difficulty concentrating

• Edginess, agitation

• Difficulty sleeping, waking up too early, inability to get back to sleep

Many of these symptoms may be present with PTSD as a result of the body-mind orienting to the stress response. The stress response is our sympathetic nervous system response—fight or flight. The complimentary opposite is our parasympathetic response—rest and digest. Both are very functional and necessary, and we are better when spending the bulk of our time in a more relaxed, parasympathetic mode. This helps us to sleep, digest and nourish ourselves, and to have a healthy and robust immune system. This is a complex balance of our nervous system / mind-body function. We are gaining understanding all the time about how these functions support each other, and there is no simple switch that can make everything right. What we can do with awareness and touch, and particularly with the subtle, still work of craniosacral therapy and acupressure, is to open the possibility for the body-mind to remember an orientation away from the stress response toward relaxation and ease.

As an experienced practitioner and teacher of craniosacral therapy and acupressure, I have a strong interest in the possibilities inherent in this work for moving body and mind toward it’s original orientation of health, using the oldest and most natural of remedies—hands-on work. It has been my pleasure to work with the veteran population here at Mountain Medicine, and particularly to see some positive change starting to happen with PTSD.

One final note—this work is for everyone. There is nobody who cannot benefit from deepening into stillness, reducing or changing their orientation to stress, and allowing the Inherent Health that is always present to come forward.

Carl Johns, LMT

Mountain Medicine Integrative Wellness Center