I've been greatly enjoying the opportunities to offer WaterCranio sessions at the Tamarack Wellness Center, a therapeutic salt-water pool in Eugene. The 92-degree F water is relaxing, and the salt-water and UV treatment system is gentler on the body than chlorinated pools.

I've shared Aquatic Craniosacral Therapy in the water with babies, toddlers, pregnant women, and adults - and all have enjoyed it! Particularly the young ones seem to love coming to the pool, and babies love the soothing water of the pool. Pregnant women, who often run at a hotter temperature than others, are comfortable in the 92-degree water, and greatly enjoy the buoyancy and freedom of movement.

The craniosacral system and the myofascial tissues release faster in the aquatic environment, because the reduction of gravity allows for the tissues to release and  move three dimensionally. The water environment, and specifically the act of flotation in the water, allows the spirit to feel free, and unrestricted by the density of the body, thus emotional releases of joy and letting go are common for adults in the bodywork sessions. People report powerful changes physically, emotionally, and spiritually as a result of the WaterCranio sessions.  

I find that the body is a powerful teacher and given the right support, safety, and environment will release what is no longer needed and seek homeostasis. I am awed by how individuals bodies will spin in the water, or release in waves or spirals from the tissues, spine, and joints as the body unwinds. These gentle movements are allowed in the water, as I gently assist the body in releasing tension and floating free. The spirit and body can merge into one consciousness in the the water.

Babies love to be touched by the compassionate loving hands of their parents. Immediately upon being born, newborns thrive when held in the arms of their mothers or father. Studies at the Touch Institute at the University of Miami have demonstrated the powerfully beneficial qualities of touch therapy for babies and children. They discovered that babies in the NICU who were given massage every day then left the hospital an average of 2 weeks earlier than other babies, and gained weight 50% faster.

Bodywork is a word that includes all kinds of hands-on healing therapies, including massage therapy, shiatsu, acupressure, reflexology, craniosacral therapy, energy healing, reiki, and more. I like to use the term “bodywork” in my writing and practice to encompass all the many different kinds of healing touch available beyond the well-known and loved art of massage. Massage is a wonderful universal touch therapy practiced all around the world. Energy medicine is a very gentle non-invasive touch therapy that can even be performed off the body for very sensitive babies and adults, as well as everyone.

Continuing throughout infancy, babyhood, the toddler years, and childhood, it is easy, fun, and healthy to provide loving touch, massage, or bodywork to your children. Learning to practice bodywork for your baby is fun and enhances your communication with your child. If you are interested in learning about baby massage or other kinds of bodywork you can find books and movies at your local bookstore or library, or you can seek out professional bodywork in your community.

Getting Ready for Baby Bodywork

All you need to get started are warm clean hands and a flat surface to lay your baby down. Adapt the room temperature, lights, and sounds to be soothing for baby. I recommend working on a bed or the floor, with a soft towel underneath the baby if you are going to use oil for massage. When choosing a safe massage oil, please avoid synthetic oils, such as mineral oil or chemical perfumes, such as found in common “baby oils”. Instead choose an all-natural cold-pressed vegetable oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, or a natural baby massage oil blend by Mama Rose's Naturals, Weleda, Burts Bees, or other natural body care product companies.

When introducing your babies delicate skin to a new product, try testing the oil on a small patch of your babies skin, then waiting 24 hours, to make sure there is no irritation or skin reaction. You can also do gentle touch, massage, or energy work while your baby is dressed in comfy clothing. Bodywork can be integrated into your regular day. I used to massage my baby's feet when carrying him in a sling around during the day. At night time, I like to gentle massage my son's back in small circles down along each side of his spine at night to help him fall asleep. During the busy toddler years, I would massage his legs, arms, back, and head as he was playing, following him along as he played with trains, read a book, or played with a toy.

Feel free to be creative and anytime can be bodywork time! Just remember to have fun!

Bodywork for Baby

Babies only need a very light touch when massaging. A newborn needs no more pressure than the amount you can press on your own eyelids without feeling uncomfortable pressure. You can use a little bit of oil to make your strokes smooth and fluid as you massage your babies belly, back, head, arms, legs, feet, and hands.

Here are a few suggestions for Baby Massage techniques:

• Wrap your hand around your babies arms or leg and glide down to the hand or foot and back up to the shoulder or hip.
• Massage your babies belly in clockwise circles to enhance digestion and relieve gas.
• Bicycle pump your babies legs to relieve gas.
• With baby on belly or across your lap, massage down their back and up. Glide your hands down and up, and then make little circles with your fingers down along each side of the spine.
• Make little circles with your fingertips on your baby's scalp.
• Massage each finger and toe.
• Massage the soles of your baby's feet.

Baby Energy Medicine suggestions:

• Hold your hands on either side of your baby's body, where ever you feel energy is needed and send love and clear light to your baby.
• For a tummy ache, hold one hand one the belly and one hand on the small of the back.
• For a headache or for excited children, do the head-hold, with one hand on the forehead and one hand on the back of the head.
• Palm both calves with your hands to calm baby, ease digestion, and sooth colic.
• Listen to your intuition and use energy medicine freely with positive intent.

Create a regular time for baby bodywork in your family. Remember that with gentle touch and attunement, no harm can be done. Offered simply and with love, massage is a powerful bodywork practice for whole family health. Energy medicine offers many tools for parents through raising babies and children, as well as self-care.

Remember to have fun and trust your intuition!

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, non-invasive, and effective bodywork modality that is beneficial for whole body health, treats a multitude of conditions, and is effective for infants, children, and adults. Craniosacral Therapy can be deeply healing physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

The CranioSacral System (CSS) consists of the brain and spinal cord, the meninges which completely surround it, the CranioSacral fluid within the membranes, and the cranium, spine, and sacrum. The dura mater is the tough outer meninge that connects to the cranium and sacrum. The CSS is a closed hydraulic system with a slow gentle rhythm that resonates throughout the entire body.

Through gentle soft-tissue release the practitioner works with the CranioSacral Rhythm to release tension in the fascia and balance the ligaments, muscles, and bones. The CranioSacral Rhythm can be felt through subtle palpation through contact with the cranium, spine, and sacrum - as well as throughout all the muscles, bones, and cells of the body. If there is not movement or expression of the CranioSacral rhythm and tide throughout the body’s tissues, then restriction, dysfunction, and pain settles into the body.

The CST therapist assesses the body for restrictions and uses a very light touch to encourage expansion, mobility, and healing. CranioSacral effectively creates deep change through gentle touch by addressing issues at the core of the body’s health. In CranioSacral therapy the practitioner uses no more pressure than 5 grams (the amount needed to hold a nickel) to assess, resolve, and prevent restrictions in the body. The treatment is deeply relaxing and often recipients experience a timelessness or “stillpoint”.

Unique from other systems of the body, the CranioSacral System actually slows down and enters into stillpoints. These times of rest are a therapeutic time of revitalizing for the CSS – similar to rebooting a computer. After facilitating a CranioSacral stillpoint, the individual’s CSS functions stronger and is better coordinated, and the body is utilizing its own innate intelligence for healing.

Regular CranioSacral therapy sessions can maintain health, wellbeing, and immunity, as well as ward off depression, musculo-skeletal dysfunction, and stress. CranioSacral is recommended for all pregnant and postpartum women and new babies – as well as for all ages and stages of life!