Wellness
By SeeFoon Chan-Koppen
I was expecting my head to be cradled and gently moved side to side as this was what I experienced in the two sessions of craniosacral therapy I’ve ever had in my entire life. At those times, I was left with the feeling of, “Is that all there is?” – regarding the session – and yet, there was a recognition that something deep had occurred in my physiology.
Therefore when I went for my first session of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy in Ipoh I was expecting more of the same.
To my surprise, she began by saying to me on the first encounter as I walked through the door, “You have a lot on your mind” to which, taken aback, I countered with, “and how did you detect that?” And she replied, “I can tell from your energy field.”
“So I am dealing with someone who is highly sensitive and intuitive” I thought. I began with relating to her all my physical ailments and about how little energy I had. When the session was over, I literally floated out of her place, lightheaded, relaxed and relieved of all my stresses and strains. And so began my relationship with Caitlin Tham who’s from Ipoh (hooray, another alternative wellness resource for Ipoh!), coupled with the resolve to do this every week if possible.
So what is this miracle stress relieving therapy? Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle yet profound non-invasive, hands-on treatment for the whole body which assists in the body’s capacity for self-repair. Performed on a massage table, the client is fully clothed and the touch is generally light and still.
The treatment is focused on supporting the health of the whole being, especially the nervous system. This is the system that dictates all of the body’s functioning, constantly sending and receiving information. Craniosacral touch can bring about a reorganization that is physiological, psychological and energetic.
As this is a gentle therapy, it’s suitable for all ages including newborns, the elderly and people with delicate, degenerative or painful conditions. Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can lead to changes in areas of restriction and discomfort and an optimising of overall health. I certainly experienced more energy, calmness and mental clarity after just two treatments.
Craniosacral Biodynamics originated in osteopathic medicine. It is a unique specialty field with a deeper understanding of energy dynamics. Anyone who’s ever had a deep tissue massage can testify to the knots and blockages that a good massage therapist finds in one’s body. These are the stored remnants believed to be caused by stress whether physical or emotional such as injury, illness, or trauma. These are held in the energy dynamics of the body along with the physical structure. The beauty of the Biodynamic approach is that it works with the individual’s inherent resources for change and healing.
Physically – BCST influences the central nervous system; brain and spinal column, as well as the fluid that bathes it. This fluid is called the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). From our skeletal system and the bones of the cranium to the ebbing and flowing of our endocrine system, this cranial modality is effective, yet gentle.
Emotionally – Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can affect very deep and primary patterns, while providing the client with resource and space to explore their emotional landscape. Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy provides a deep sense of resourcing within the client. This resourcing provides a safe container for emotional issues to resolve.
Spiritually – Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can open doors to both our hearts and soul, profoundly changing our lives.
CST has been characterised as pseudoscience and its practice has been called quackery. Search the web and one will find the therapy being debunked by some.
And yet, how do I explain the feeling of total calm and peacefulness I feel after a session. With my presenting aches and pains diminished? And she barely touched me; with none of the movements that I have come to expect from massage and all the while, I am fully clothed. I actually find myself going into a very deep space. Not sleep per se but a deep meditative state.
Medical doctors would pooh pooh it all and dismiss it as the placebo effect. But how would they explain that I didn’t take any medicine; I wasn’t hypnotised, and she only put her hands on my legs and under my body near the rib cage. And in about an hour I walked out refreshed and energised.
When I asked Caitlin about the process, she explained that she basically tunes in to the client’s energetics and to the client’s body. She can actually feel imbalances in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and works at bringing it back to balance.
So what made Caitlin decide to train in BCST, I asked, “I have an autistic son and was desperately looking for ways to calm him down as he was quite uncontrollable at times. My search led me to BCST and as luck would have it, there was a training course being conducted in Kuala Lumpur.
“I haven’t looked back since. I now work with mothers who bring their autistic kids to me and using BCST, I manage to calm the kids down. My own son has improved considerably in being less rowdy and throwing fewer tantrums which makes training him much easier. I don’t claim to perform miracles but I can definitely see results in the clients that I treat,” said Caitlin modestly.
Autism is not the only condition that responds to BCST. Other conditions which may respond favourably range from allergies, arthritis, back pain, colic in babies, to hearing issues, fluid retention and a host of other maladies.
As for me, I’m hooked on Caitlin and BCST and with her on my doorstep in Ipoh, help for all my aches and pains are but a short drive away.
Contact Caitlin 016 529 9328 or caitlintkf@yahoo.com or https://www.facebook.com/caitlin.tkf?fref=ts or www.bodyintelligence.com/practitioner.
