The physical, mental and spiritual benefits of craniosacral therapy
“We focus on the breath and bringing clients into a deepening awareness of their own body, acknowledging areas of pain but also areas of goodness.”
Chris Riley is a trained craniosacral therapist who volunteers at the Living Well Centre.
Chris explains: “I was diagnosed in 2009 with a prostate cancer so I needed to take fairly radical steps in order to help my chance of surviving. It prompted me into a reappraisal of my life and reflect on my state of health – emotionally, spiritually and physically.
Although I wouldn’t have wished it this way, cancer has therefore been my ally and a great teacher. One of the many consequences is that it prompted me to train to become a craniosacral therapist.
Craniosacral work, which involves using gentle touch to manipulate different areas of the body including the skull, is principally about helping to rebalance the body’s energies and support its natural ability to heal itself. We focus on the breath and bringing clients into a deepening awareness of their own body, acknowledging areas of pain but also areas of goodness.
Understanding the importance of breath awareness alongside craniosacral work helps to produce a meditative state of deep relaxation. Actually, people feel so relaxed they sometimes go to sleep! It is through the positive calming and natural flow of energy occurring during this process that clients may benefit at physical, emotional and spiritual levels.
I love this work because it is non-invasive, relaxing and its two way, so it’s almost like I get a treatment as well which is rather fantastic! I enjoy volunteering at Rowans because I know patients and carers generally benefit.