Craniosacral Australia - History of Craniosacral Bodywork

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Craniosacral History

THE STORY OF CRANIOSACRAL BALANCING

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 unrecognized and unknown until one day in 1899 a young Osteopathic student named William 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’. 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.

The next important step occurred in 1970. Following a remarkable experience assisting an operation, in which he observed a mysterious movement in the membrane system, Dr John Upledger commenced studying Sutherland’s theories. He spent many years doing scientific research which, with slight modifications, validated Sutherland’s work. Upledger began teaching Craniosacral Therapy and has written several books on the subject. He incorporated a method of working with emotions which he calls ‘Somato Emotional Release.’

“...and that silent stillpoint is within you. It has never moved. The Earth moves, the sun moves, the stars move. Everything is whirling; but something within you is absolutely still, eternally still.“

OSHO
‘The Transmission of the Lamp’ #11

In the late 1970’s an enlightened Indian master, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, began attracting many Westerners to his ashram in Poona, India. Realizing 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 1988 the Rajneesh ashram was home to the largest centre for alternative therapies in the world. In 1989 Bhagwan changed his name to Osho and a former student of Upledger’s, Bhadrena Tschumi, taught the first course of Osho Craniosacral Balancing.
Craniosacral became very popular among Osho’s disciples because the experience of receiving a session seemed to carry one spontaneously to a space of meditation. One of the basic cranio techniques is the stopping of the craniosacral rhythm known as the stillpoint. Often during meditation one enters into a spontaneous stillpoint.

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