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The
Body Tells Its Story Click to Subscribe or Unsubscribe from this newsletter In this issue:
by Aureal Williams, BSN, RN, LMT
Craniosacral work, like all types of touch to the body, can release stored cellular memory that is conscious or not. Simply touching someone, gently and with care, can release emotional cloudiness or confusion. In addition, an alpha state of consciousness is often experienced since craniosacral work addresses the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system. This alpha state resembles that velvety space between wake and sleep, or that tender feeling when we daydream, or the calm contentment we feel when immersed in nature. In his book, The Alpha Solution For Permanent Weight Loss, Ronald Glassman, PhD, MPH writes, "The alpha state is like a corridor between our conscious and our unconscious minds." With its calm, restful effect, the gentle work of craniosacral work opens us to the alpha state where we can access what is held in that border between the conscious and the unconscious and thereby, help to release emotional shadows that our bodies sometimes carry. Each session of my work with craniosacral begins with a check-in, when the client shares what is going on in his or her life, how her body feels that day, and what he would like from the session – the intention or purpose of the visit. On this day, the client shared her check-in and there was no mention, at the beginning of the session, of the active emotional component that came up within the session. What manifested was a surprise to both the client and tome, the practitioner. The client got comfortable on the table and we proceeded with the session. About ten minutes into the session, I was intuitively guided to hold one hand at the occiput, at the base of the head. The occiput is the seat of vision, or clarity, within the body. With the other hand, I was intuitively guided to hold on the right rhomboid, a muscle on the upper part of the midback that is connected to the "heart belt" that band of energy that circles the body, front and back, in the region of the heart. During most of my work, I am silent. Rarely, do I ask questions of inquiry related to emotional content during a session. I will ask if something feels like too much pressure, or if a client is doing all right, however, I rarely ask about emotional processes during the hands-on work. I prefer, instead, to give the client space to have his or her own experience of the work, uninterrupted or distracted by me. In this session, a loud and clear question kept nudging me to break the silence and ask the client. About this time, the client moved her legs and I took that as a cosmic sign of encouragement to follow this intuitive lead. The question I was prompted to ask the client was, "Do you feel like you want something that you won’t let yourself have?" The client responded with sobs of relief, acknowledging that yes, she was struggling with just that issue related to a trip of a lifetime. Did she deserve it, could she manage it, could she get time off from work, would the support of her boss and co-workers show up to assist her, was the trip right for her? She had been holding this experience of self-doubt within her physical and emotional body. Through her willingness to be present to her own process and the very gentle, intuitive touch of the craniosacral work, the pent-up distress was opened to consciousness and released. Being in the alpha state of sublime relaxation, through the craniosacral work, the client and this practitioner were able to access that corridor Dr. Glassman talks about, between the conscious and the unconscious mind. What we found were questions related to her ability to link heart (via rhomboid at heart belt area) and sight (via occiput – seat of vision). If she sees something that she likes or might want, can she allow herself to explore it? Yes is the answer and she is in the process of doing that now. This was an exceptional experience for me as the practitioner because, through it, I see that touching the part of the body that relates to a particular capacity, such as occiput for clarity, brings clarity to the work itself, not only to the client’s inner experience. Holding my hand at the client’s occiput contributed to framing the question about clarity – did she want something she was having trouble letting herself consider? How this works, I do not know; it is astounding majesty every time, opening wonder at the exquisite mystery of life. News From the Field Green Walking Beats The Blues, New Study Recommends Ecotherapy For Depression from Medical News Today, May 14, 2007 This article talks about a new trend toward, "ecotherapy," allowing nature to help boost our feelings of well-being. Specifically, the article addresses the positive effects of walking in nature. Hearing this news got me to thinking about driving choices, taking the back roads rather than the interstates when possible, and how much this soothes the soul and spirit. When I lived in Ashland, Oregon, there was a ride I would take, about 15 minutes away from where I lived, every time I felt down or depressed. Taking a ride on Dead Indian Road, a terrain of uninterrupted rolling hills and forest territory would lift my spirits immediately. It was a most effective technique for shaking the blues. Here in Cincinnati, I will opt for a ride through Sharon Woods when I travel between Blue Ash and 275 West. Driving through the green belt on the rippling road in the heart of Sharon Woods takes a few minutes and has the immediate effect of lifting a mood to a higher, more spacious vibration. Another driving choice I make, when coming from Columbus, or even Lebanon, is to take the back roads through Loveland and Indian Hill, rather than I-71 on my way home to Mariemont. Riding through the green belt here has the same effect -- my heart feels lighter and my inner smile feels wider. I feel more alive and take these routes as often as I can. What are some choices on your routes that can increase the green effect in your life? Announcements
Astro-Calm, an experiential group for those familiar with astrology. May 24, 6.30 PM 8:30 PM, $35.00, Blue Ash. We will use calming, introspective techniques from craniosacral work to open to an intuitive experience of the astrological energies available to you now. Working knowledge of astrology is helpful for this class. To register, email Aureal or call 513.706.7332 All the best, Aureal
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