SIX KEY CONCEPTS FROM BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
THE CRANIOSACRAL SYSTEM
Inside the bony structures of the cranium, spine and sacrum, a protective membrane holds the brain and spinal cord in gently fluctuating cerebral spinal fluid. Together these form the craniosacral system. This system is the first to emerge in embryology, the time before birth, and like the cardiovascular and respiratory system that follow, has its own rhythms and pulse which inform us about the health of the system.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Within the human nervous system, branches known as the sympathetic and parasympathtic allow us to speed up and slow down according to our needs. Both of these abilities are life-giving - moving out of the way of danger for instance, or slowing down enough to rest. These systems are also behind our physiological response to trauma - fight, flight and freeze. Our ability to move flexibly between them plays a large part in our overall wellbeing. Too often we may be stuck more in one than the other, or flit from one extreme to the other. BCST engages directly with the nervous system, inviting balance and regulation.
HEALTH
Our bodies are always striving for balance and have an innate orientation towards health. We refer to this as potency and it is active from conception onwards. As life unfolds, our bodies are constantly adapting, to experience, injury, stress... creating what we call "inertial fulcrums". In BCST we acknowledge the full picture - the places of compromise and the potency. During a session, we help you identify resources, both internally and externally, that support health. As potency surges, health is restored.
TOUCH
Touch in BCST is gentle, still and present. Rather than manipulating the body, the therapist's touch meets your body in order to listen to it and the systems within it. A practitioner's touch is informed by an understanding of anatomy, embryology, the nervous system, trauma and pain science, and developed through practice and a growing attunement to nuance.
EMBODIMENT
BCST is an embodied practice, meaning it pays attention to what is happening in the body in the present moment. As the practitioner tunes into this, you may be invited to notice sensations and changes as they occur. Developing a deeper awareness of the body and tuning into our senses (including internal senses - interoception) results in a greater connection and alignment between mind and body, which is fundamental to overall wellbeing.
THE RELATIONAL FIELD
The relational field is the space around us and everything (one) in it. Our nervous systems are constantly responding to it, and as we begin to notice this, we become aware of how high an impact it has. In BCST, first and foremost we establish a relational field, offering a space which is welcoming and safe. Within that space, the practitioner offers a grounded, neutral, non-judgemental and attentive presence setting the scene for the client's needs to emerge, and a space in which they can resolve.
About Isabelle
With a background in arts and culture, and several decades of living around the world, from Kazakhstan to Thailand, Italy to Turkiye, I have always been fascinated by the different ways people do things, but perhaps even more by how similar we all are. My favourite saying has long been the Thai classic, "same, same but different".
These interests have since a young age, included all things "alternative medicine". A random experience of Craniosacral Therapy led me down a path of no return, seeing fully that at the heart of human experience, is the human body — shared by every one of us and speaking its own universal language. As I began exploring further, came a growing appreciation for the innate intelligence of the body, its remarkable potency and its extraordinary capacity for healing.
I am a certified Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy practitioner. I completed my training with Body Intelligence, a member of the International Affiliation of Biodynamic Trainings (IABT), whose Foundation Training is accredited by professional bodies worldwide. I am continuing to develop my practice through postgraduate study and engagement with current research in the fields of neuroscience, interoception, trauma, pain, touch and more.
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Practitioner DIPLOMA
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