To find health should be the objective of the Doctor. Anyone can find disease.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle and effective manual treatment approach for the whole body including the cranium. It is very suitable for all ages from babies to the elderly and can effectively help to resolve many types of physical pain, and general health problems.
Craniosacral is based on the teachings of osteopathic physicians, A.T. Still, D.O. and W.G. Sutherland, D.O. and uses a subtle rhythm of the body to relieve stresses and strains that have accumulated in the body either recently or over many years.
The craniosacral rhythm or mechanism as its sometimes called, is a rhythmical, fluid motion that can be felt throughout the whole body, including the cranium, similar to a very refined form of breathing. At any one time all the cells of the body are in constant metabolic motion, from the smallest cell to a whole organ or a bone, each part has its own, rhythmic motion as it functions. This motion is ultimately an expression of the body’s own, inherent, self-healing forces, or life force and as such plays a vital role in our state of health and well being.
Ana Bennett
I provide skillful hands-on craniosacral treatment for the whole family. I am a UK-trained osteopath and craniosacral therapist with over 26 years of experience treating people of all ages from newborn babies to the elderly. Craniosacral is a gentle yet effective approach that can be a valuable and sometimes essential component of your return to optimum health.
Many types of pain and discomfort such as low back, neck, joint, headache as well as a whole range of other health issues can be gently relieved with craniosacral treatment. My approach is informed by the principles of osteopathy, taking into account the whole person and all types of symptoms.
I currently see patients at my offices in Amherst, MA, at the Leta Herman Alchemy Healing Clinic in Northampton, MA, and in Warwick, MA.
What I Treat
If you’d like to know if Craniosacral is right for you, or if I can help you or a loved one, please contact me. I treat many patients for many different challenges, below is only a small list.
How Do Treatments Work?
All of us at some time in our lives experience some level of physical or emotional stress or trauma. When this happens our body tends to tighten up and we can retain a physical memory of these events. The body is remarkably intelligent and will do its best to adapt to these effects at the time but often some lasting strain remains, which can restrict the body’s free movement. Over time these restrictions in movement can build up and the body might find it more difficult to cope with the accumulation of stresses and strains, resulting in pain, or ill health. This can apply to children and babies aswell as adults.
My training, background in osteopathy, and clinical experience have enabled me to learn to interpret the pattern and the quality of the craniosacral mechanism, and using respectful, listening hands and a very gentle pressure I use the craniosacral mechanism to allow a more normal and balanced motion to return to areas of stress and strain, this in turn improves the motion, health and circulation to all parts of the body.
What to Expect?
What Do Treatments Feel Like?
Patients have reported feeling a wide range of sensations and feelings during treatment. The most common experience is a feeling of warmth, relaxation and calm, or you may feel nothing at all which is also fine and has no bearing on the treatment outcome.
I usually recommend not doing any strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after the treatment. You may feel a little sore in odd places, or an aggravation of symptoms for a short while—these are all normal reactions that happen while your body continues to adjust and to heal. Please always feel free to call me if you have any concerns.
The number of treatments required varies for each person, depending amongst other things on your state of health and how long you have had the problem. This is something that I will discuss with you during your first consultation.
