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History of Craniosacral
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Cranial Osteopathy
There are traces of craniosacral work in many ancient
traditions; from India, China, the Middle East and
North America. However in the Western world this
system was unrecognised and unknown until one day
in 1899 a young Osteopathic student named William
Garner Sutherland observed a disarticulated skull.
Gazing at the articular surfaces of the individual
bones and noting the peculiar way in which they are
beveled he had an amazing insight. In his own words “Beveled
like the gills of a fish, and indicating articular
mobility for a respiratory mechanism.” He was
to spend the rest of his life studying this ‘mechanism’.
It was in fact, the underlying membrane system and
the craniosacral rhythm, which he called ‘The
Primary Respiratory Mechanism’. Dr Sutherland
developed specific techniques for improving the functioning
of the entire system. However, he was a mystic and
despite astounding successes his work was largely
considered unscientific. He died in 1954 at the age
of 81, having taught his techniques to only a small
number of people.
As he grew older, Dr Will (as he was known) became
more and more spiritual. He moved away from the practice
of cranial bone adjustment and began working more
with what he referred to as the tide, the potency
in the fluid and the Breath of Life.
In the last decade of Dr Sutherland‘s life
Dr Rollin Becker spent much time with him. Dr Becker
was to become president of the Sutherland Teaching
Foundation. A modest man, he maintained a simple
osteopathic practice and taught fellow osteopaths
his approach. Following on the insights Dr Will had
shared with him, he developed a way of working which
he referred to as bioenergetic. Dr Becker lived until
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Craniosacral Therapy
John Upledger, also an osteopath, began studying
Dr Sutherland’s work in the 1970’s. He
spent years at Michigan State University’s
department of biomechanics, where he carried out
original experiments. He developed a more scientific
theory, essentially demystifying craniosacral.
In the 1980’s Upledger began teaching Craniosacral
Therapy outside of Osteopathic schools. He is responsible
for the world wide spread of this work. |
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Craniosacral
Balancing
In the late 1970’s an
enlightened Indian master, Osho, began attracting
many Westerners to his ashram in Poona, India. Realising
the particular conditioning of his new disciples
he developed special active meditations and encouraged
therapists to work in his ashram - to prepare the
ground for meditation.
By 1989 the Osho Commune was
home to the largest centre for alternative therapies
in the world and included The Academy of Healing
Arts, specialised in bodywork therapies. A former
student of Upledger’s,
Bhadrena Tschumi, taught the first course of Craniosacral
Balancing here.
While initially based on the Upledger
Model, Craniosacral Balancing gave more emphasis
and space to the spiritual and meditative experiences
and connections which can arise from this work.
Bhadrena
established the International Institute for Craniosacral
Balancing in Europe and in 1991 taught the first
craniosacral training in Australia. Dhyan Trevor
assisted the course and participants included Najma
Ahern and Satyesh Pelgrave.
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Biodynamic Craniosacral
James Jealous, was born in 1943 and seemed destined
to become an osteopath. Once graduated he worked
with and was mentored by ‘the elders’ who
had been taught by Dr Sutherland himself. Dr Jealous
continued the work of Rollin Becker, bringing Cranial
Osteopathy back to its original spiritual base. In
1994 he commenced teaching his concept of Biodynamic
Osteopathy, aligning his work with the latest theories
of embryology, which saw the foetus developing around
an energetic midline. He linked this energetic force
with Dr Sutherland’s concepts of the Breath
of Life and Primary Respiration.
In the non osteopathic cranial field Franklyn Sills
built on the base created by John Upledger and spread
biodynamic concepts around the world. It is now the
foremost model in craniosacral work.
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Craniosacral Australia
Australian born Dhyan Trevor had first studied Craniosacral
Balancing in India in 1989 and moved to Europe to
further his studies. On his return visits to Australia
he taught occasional Craniosacral Balancing courses
in the Byron Bay area. Eventually resettling in Australia
in 1999 he established Craniosacral Australia, an
association of committed practitioners, which continues
to develop and deliver trainings.
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CRANIOSACRAL
TRAINING PROGRAMS: |
Intro |
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