CranioSacralFascial Therapy with BodyTalk

By the time we’re adults, most of us have experienced two or three critical events, which has a real time effect on how we move and feel, which affects our health. Many of us experienced difficulties in birth, we may not even know about it. But being confined in the birth canal, or wrapped in the cord, or rushed to hospital, will have been felt in the nervous system and fascia, literally before we arrived in the world. These experience's shape our body and brain.

Most South African live very active life styles - we jump into dams, and fall off bicycles and play contact sports at school, and often get hurt. That injury on top of the birth story, begin to compound each other. And then there is usually one other event. A car accident, the loss of a loved one, sickness, being a victim of a crime and suddenly the tension pattern is locked in. It could be at the jaw, from clenching for so long (TMJ Pain), it could be chronic migraines and headaches from keeping it together; a tight shoulder which reaches into the neck and pulls it into an uncomfortable posture; the constipation which just wouldnt improve; the torment of insomnia. Its not the pillow, its not the sleeping position, its not the supplements. The body and mind have held on for a long time, and managed. And now it’s stuck. Combining BodyTalk and CranioSacralFascial Therapy, in a quiet safe environment, gives space to an adult, to lie on their back, fully clothed, and feel their body begin to unwind, and become freer. They usually say “ I need to see you” when they book. And they almost always say “I feel lighter” when they leave

Being born is an intense experience - no matter which way you arrive. There is pressure, whether from contractions of the uterus or from hands in gloves, there are pushes and pulls and twists on the head, neck and back as the baby moves from curled up in its safe position, out into the world. That’s assuming the womb was perfectly shaped, and the pregnancy progressed with no issues.

One of the comments I hear most often from a mother is that she felt the baby was squashed in the pregnancy. Or that it was noticed that the baby could not move as much as it would like during the pregnancy. For multiples, there are very obvious space restrictions in pregnancy, which means that the fascia and body settle into a curved pattern. This could change baby’s head shape, becoming uneven and asymmetrical, with resultant tension in the neck and shoulders. It’s really common for this tension to just stay, especially if a baby is swaddled often, even more so if they are in hospital or unwell - their body just doesn't get a chance to stretch out and expand in all the directions.

Aside from the physical demands of birth, and possibly trauma, there are so many emotions present! There is excitement and joy, but also worry and fear - especially when there are difficulties. The nervous system of a baby is connected to its mothers', and baby will be feeling these emotions, as well as their own. Two or three treatments in the early weeks and months of life, to help release these emotions can make a huge difference in fussiness, crying and restless in a baby.

Colic, reflux, spitting up and digestive problems are so common in babies, causing pain and distress for baby and parents. The stomach and intestines sit right below the diaphragm, a huge muscle which extends from the ribs at the front, through to the back. A twist of tension in the back and torso, causes torque through the diaphragm, which then affects the movement of the stomach, and the valves. Using the lightest touch to free up the fascia of a tight baby, along the back, gives the body a chance to unwind and open up. Baby’s usually have a big poo after a treatment and usually have better digestion from their first session. Parents often have such a struggle with feeding, and start changing formula and diets and bottles, and positions for feeding - but helping the body be softer and more able to suck, swallow and digest with mobile, free tongues, lips, and throats makes a tangible difference, and quickly.

The fascia of the feet ends at the tongue, or the other way around (tongue to feet!). Every part of the body is connected and affects each other. Sometimes we need to put on a glove and gently work inside the lips and cheeks, to free up the mouth and neck - this release goes all the way down the body to the feet. Or we may need to free the fascia of the feet up - and the lips and hips and back become more mobile. Tongue ties respond well to this treatment, as does releasing the scar tissue caused by drips, revisions and incisions on the arms, legs, feet and mouth

During a craniosacralfascial treatment for a baby, the parents will often hold the child and Julia will sit close enough to touch the baby. The comfort of the baby comes first: there is no pain, and no anxiety in the treatment. If the baby becomes over-stimulated, we simply take a break and a rest. Their little brains are working all the time, and they need to process the changes. They communicate clearly about how they are feeling and will begin to move differently in the session already. Where necessary, the parents will be given exercises to practice at home, but usually the baby just moves and eats and sleeps more easily because of the lovely loose feeling in the body.