Can You Do Craniosacral Therapy On Yourself?

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, noninvasive approach to promoting relaxation and balance within the body. While receiving a professional craniosacral session from a trained practitioner is ideal, some people wonder if they can perform CST on themselves. The answer is that it's challenging to maintain the necessary neutrality and grounding to support your system without outside help. However, there are some ways to work on your craniosacral system independently, which I will explore in this post.

Using a Still-Point Inducer:

One effective tool for supporting the craniosacral system is using a Still-Point Inducer. A Stillpoint Inducer is designed to rebalance your nervous system and support your craniosacral system. It can help reduce pain, headaches, and stress while improving overall well-being. For more information on how to use it, its contraindications, and whether it's right for you, check out the blog post "Looking For A Way To Support Your Craniosacral System? A Still-Point Inducer Can Help!”

Visualization Meditation for Balancing the Nervous System:

Another helpful practice is visualization meditation.

Find a peaceful spot to sit or lie down.
Close your eyes if you feel comfortable, or keep them open.
Imagine a thermometer in your mind's eye, representing your craniosacral system. At the top of the thermometer, assign 10 to represent your sympathetic/fight or flight state. At the bottom, assign the number 1, representing your parasympathetic/ rest and digest state.
Take a moment to focus on your breath and the image of the thermometer.
Assign a number to the current state of how you feel from a scale of 1-10.
Now, take five slow, deep breaths.
Inhale through your nose for a count of 4, and exhale through your mouth for a count of 8 (adjust your breathing to your comfort level).
As you exhale, visualize the slowly decreasing number on your thermometer. For example, if your starting number was 8, imagine it going down to 7.5, then 7, and so on.
Once you have completed five breaths, take note of the new number on your thermometer. The goal is to feel more relaxed than when you started.
Sit with this new feeling for a few minutes, noticing how your body feels in this state.
Practice this visualization meditation regularly to help manage your stress and anxiety levels. This can be a powerful way to regulate your system between sessions.

Craniosacral Self-Care Techniques:

Your craniosacral therapist can also teach you specific techniques to use at home. These should be tailored to your tension patterns and can be a valuable addition to your self-care routine.

While receiving craniosacral sessions from a trained professional is recommended, incorporating self-care practices can also support your craniosacral system. Remember to always seek guidance from your therapist before starting any new exercise program. With consistent self-care, you can continue to support your system and improve your overall well-being.