Craniosacral Biodynamic; an introduction and origins.

Craniosacral Therapy is an incredibly gentle yet powerful form of hands-on treatment that can be applied to the entirety of the body. This technique was developed from the pioneering work of American osteopath William Garner Sutherland and further refined by osteopaths such as Rollin Becker and Jim Jealous.

The fundamental idea of Craniosacral Biodynamics is to recognise the powerful origination of life rather than just the results of these forces. As practitioners, we strive to notice the impacts of these forces from within the person instead of attempting to modify the state from the outside.

The foundation of Craniosacral Biodynamics was established by the pioneering work of Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917), the founder of Osteopathy. Still was the first to observe the ease of movement of bones and other structures in the body, though he did not include the skull, as it was then thought of as immovable. Despite this, Still treasured the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the brain and spinal cord, and commented:

"A thought strikes him that the cerebrospinal fluid is one of the highest known elements that are contained in the body, and unless the brain furnishes the fluid in abundance, a disabled condition of the body will remain. He who is able to reason will see that this great river of life must be tapped and the withering field irrigated at once, or the harvest of health be forever lost."

William Garner Sutherland (1873-1954), Still's student, became interested

in the cranial bones. One day, he had an uncommon thought that inspired Sutherland's initial research. It occurred to him while viewing the temporal bones of a disarticulated skull.

He wrote:

"The thought came to me 'beveled like the gills of a fish and indicating a primary respiratory mechanism,' not only struck me, it stayed with me. That was how I came to undertake a study intending to prove to myself that mobility between the cranial bones in the adult is impossible".

As a result of his studies, Sutherland came to be the founder of Cranial Osteopathy. After 40 years of study, experimentation and practice, Sutherland's understanding and perception evolved, shifting his focus from the movement of bones to incorporating the "Primary Respiratory Mechanism." This mechanism includes the meninges (membranes) around the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, connections between the cranium and pelvis, and the brain and nervous system. These components remain fundamental in modern cranial therapy.

Sutherland's cranial concept became increasingly more holistic and complex as the years passed. His work was informed by his clients' experiences and continuous research and experimentation. He began to discuss the 'Breath of Life' and 'Primary Respiration'. He perceived this Breath of Life as a mysterious, all-encompassing force beyond the physical body. With his "thinking-feeling-seeing-knowing fingers", he could sense the delicate, rhythmic liquid movements within the body. He also detected the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, tapping into the "potency", or life energy, of the Breath of Life, transferring this potency to all cells of our bodies, bringing life and health.

Primary Respiration, driven by the 'Breath of Life', is the organising power that provides the basis for embryological construction and keeps us alive throughout our lives. This reflexive movement is experienced as two complementary, rhythmic cycles Sutherland referred to as primary inhalation and exhalation. The phrase' Primary Respiration' is utilised to indicate that it is present before our pulmonary respiration, which is considered our secondary respiration.

Sutherland's Breath of Life teachings were met with resistance from many osteopaths, who instead chose to stay with the more tangible methods he had put forth in his prior teachings.

He advised his students to put their trust in the natural flow of life, for during the last 10 years of his life, he had shifted his focus from taking action to being more aware of the underlying influences that shape our destiny. "Rely upon the Tide", he said.

He wrote:

'Visualise a potency, an intelligent potency, that is more intelligent than your own human mentality … You will have observed its potency and intelligence, spelt with a capital I.

It is something you can depend upon to do the work for you. In other words, don't try to drive the mechanism through any external force. Rely upon the Tide'.

It has taken a long time for practitioners to comprehend and apply the implications of this advice. Utilising the Tide is a highly unusual practice in the modern Western world. It requires a considerable change in perspective. Osteopaths during Sutherland's era had just as much difficulty with this as many practitioners and students today.

Most forms of Craniosacral Therapy and Osteopathy are based on the earlier work of Sutherland, while Craniosacral Biodynamics stems from his later phase. Instead of biomechanical methods, our focus is on the underlying forces, regardless of the symptoms clients may be experiencing.

Craniosacral Biodynamics emphasises the recognition of the life force, known as 'potency' by Sutherland, that is always present in the body. A.T. Still, the founder of Osteopathy, believed that health is ever-present and encouraged physicians to focus on finding health rather than seeking illness. He asserted that "To find health should be the object of the physician. Anyone can find disease." To access this potency, it is sometimes necessary to re-enact the subtle phenomena of the body, as the life energy driving this expression is essential to well-being. Unresolved traumatic forces may be tied up in body areas, resulting in tension and pressure patterns. Craniosacral Biodynamics assists the body in managing these forces so that the body can become attuned to its own inherent health.

In our practice, we take the time to settle ourselves and offer a calming presence for our clients, allowing their systems to feel secure. This presence helps them remember their natural state of health and encourages them to connect with us through Primary Respiration. As our clients adjust, they may take a deep breath as they begin to feel more integrated and fluid. At this point, we can observe their intelligence expressing itself more clearly and the body resolving issues. Our role as practitioners includes tuning into our clients' processes, aiding in resolution, and promoting a fuller, more accessible, and more conscious expression of themselves.