We have had a bit of vagal system extravaganza at MMI lately. I have been inspired by some dissection stuff during my class with Gil Hedley to re-look at vagal system anatomy. Dissection is messy business, and while we saw the vagus in the wild, as Gil likes to say, it was difficult to get the impressions of it that I wanted.

When in doubt, check the jaw. In our mapping of the craniosacral system, I place utmost importance on treating the jaw. While not directly part of the CS system, the jaw may be the place where the most energy enters into the system. I want to share a case study as an example of how this can work in the clinic.

The myodural bridge is where myofascia of two of the sub occipital muscles, the rectus capitis posterior major and minor, have fascial connection with the dural tube–the membrane surrounding the spinal cord. This means that good myofascial work at the sub occipitals could also be considered fairly direct work on the craniosacral system.

It is almost the Summer Solstice. Peak light amidst dark times. I’m not a fan of bypassing and would rather embrace what is and transform from there, knowing that the process of transforming structures both intrapersonally and collectively is messy and something that occurs over time. It is, as anonymously quoted by the psychologist Ira Progoff, “this solitary work we do together.”

I think about this quote a lot as it captures a specific dynamic of our professional lives. We are often in a room, just us with one other person doing our work and yet we also need a community of colleagues with whom we can share the totally weird and unique dynamics our job involves. Seriously, what other job is like ours?

May is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) awareness month. I am three months into a training program through the Ehlers Danlos Society’s ECHOs program. I have learned so much and feel humbled at what I was unaware of regarding the symptom pictures associated with these syndromes. It's more than bendy joints.

I’ve wanted to share some thoughts in honor of Craniosacral Awareness Week and it’s been a troublesome endeavor for me: partly because the work is important to me and partly because I am conflicted by what I see happening in the field and it makes me sad. It’s also unsettling to share thoughts and feelings that go against the grain.

Medicine, even natural or holistic medicine, is a field that despite what one might think, doesn’t reward unconventional and non-conforming viewpoints. When I began studying craniosacral therapy 25 years ago, I never would have imagined there would be a paradigmatic mainstream in the field but it appears that one has emerged. This fact contradicts my experience practicing, studying, reflecting on and teaching this work over the last 25 years.

I get asked a lot about “my approach” to craniosacral therapy (CST). Of course, I have one. It is always evolving and is rooted in my experience of doing the work with the people I am treating. I am not beholden to anyone else’s ideas about the craniosacral system, I love being with each person’s system and listening to and participating with  how their system presents itself…

I want to highlight a piece of writing  by Susan Raffo on the history of “Osteopathy” and craniosacral therapy (CST). It is an unfortunate history and needs to be addressed in all places that folks are learning and practicing this work. I am grateful to have come upon Susan Raffo’s work, both this piece and her newish book, Liberated to the Bone. 

We are in the midst of evolving health challenges, and there is very little that the conventional healthcare system will be able to offer those who are suffering from complications related to long COVID. Our work as holistic health practitioners is a missing link in our decidedly under functioning healthcare system. Because of this, it seems relevant to consider craniosacral work as a component of care—and hopefully healing—for people suffering multiple chronic and long-term afflictions after COVID infection.

You know the struggle so well. You’re psyched for a class and want to learn as much as you can to help your clients or patients. The instructor knows what they’re talking about and the technique is great. And yet…

It all happens too fast. The lectures, the labs, the task switching, the jumble and complexity and and and… and you can’t take it all in. You struggle to focus on the thing that got you so excited to be there in the first place.

A "flipped" classroom addresses this struggle. We feel it's the ideal format for learning hands-on skills like bodywork, acupuncture, and other hands-on skills.

Periodically we will use this space to share and elaborate on conversations that come up in class (truly, one of my favorite things about teaching and the MMI community are the spontaneous dialogues we get to have when we come together). I love the richness and the depth that we get to almost immediately. As it’s happening I wish more folks could have the opportunity share in the richness…

Image: Archaic cuneiform table E.A. Hoffman

We recently talked with Michael about his past experiences as both learner and facilitator and how these have shaped him in his journey as a teacher, in building curriculum and ensuring students matter.

Image: "Rainbow Falls Abstraction" by Lyndsey Fox * Giclee Print *lefoxstudio.com @lefoxstudio