This is my first time offering Biodynamic Bodywork at a fair with about 20 vendors. I’m one of two body/energy workers, the other one offering Reiki.
I work with tissues, fluids, and energy, in this modality that developed from old-time osteopathy.
Clients stay clothed except for shoes and perhaps dangly earrings.
I use gentle touch to tune into biorhythms, inviting non-vital rhythms to pause, recalibrate, release imbalances, and add that release inertial energy back into the whole of your life force, giving your more healthy resources.
This form of bodywork helps release stress and trauma, rebalancing your nervous system. This is where your system has more resources to do maintenance and repair, than when you are stressed.
Biodynamics can help with all types of recovery, insomnia, grief, brain fog, headaches, migraines, head injuries, pain, breathing, detoxification, digestive and elimination issues (and issues with other organs).
Anyway, I just finished a 30-minute session on a man named Peter, who is going to have surgery soon for three hernias.
He identified his top two issues as insomnia (for which he takes meds) and pain.
When people have specific issues like this, I want to address them. Some people just want to relax deeply.
So here’s what I did to address Peter’s issues. From holding his heels, I tuned into his cranial rhythm. The cerebrospinal fluid flowing between cranium and sacrum is palpable as a subtle rhythm affecting every bone of the body.
Peter’s rhythm was shaky in the right leg. It several minutes to settle down. I then invited a cranial stillpoint, which lasted a few minutes.
I put my hands on his clavicles to activate his lymphatic system, which helps the body detox.
I touched both sides of his neck to activate his vagus nerves, which send signals between the brain and most organs.
I used a parasympathetic hold at his side to invite his system to move from anxiety about the surgery to a state of calmness, which will help him sleep better and reduce pain.
I ended with a sacral stillpoint, which helps ground the changes.
He was deeply relaxed when our time was up — so relaxed, it seemed unbelievable to him that his system got so calm within 30 minutes.
The Wellness Institute/Roger Gilchrist is offering training in Craniosacral Biodynamics (BCST) in Austin. This is exciting because he’s one of the most experienced teachers on the continent (30+ years, trained as a practitioner and teacher by Franklyn Sills, founder of this modality, and a master teacher).
We are fortunate to have him teaching in Austin. This level of training hasn’t been available in Austin or anywhere in Texas since 2019.
Seminar 1 was held in late September, and students were very enthusiastic about the skills they learned over the four days.
It’s not too late to join. Seminar 1 will be offered again Dec. 9-12. The remaining 9 seminars in this certification-level training will be offered every three months, in February, May, August, and November, ending in February 2028.
Teaching assistants provide support between classes.
I did this training in Washington, DC, in 2021-23. It deepened my skills immensely. For more about this practice, click here.
Here’s what some students from Seminar 1 in September have to say about it:
“Several factors influenced my decision to choose The Wellness Institute. It’s an established institution, and Roger’s experience, along with the supporting faculty, was a significant draw. The proximity to my home was also a convenient factor.
“After completing the first seminar, I am confident that all participants will be well-prepared to become excellent practitioners. This is a thorough program that offers a personalized approach and ample opportunities for hands-on practice.” ~ Diana Tono, Norman, OK
“I feel so blessed to be learning BCST from Roger Gilchrist. He is a true master. With the help of his co-teacher, James Foulkes, you feel truly seen and heard. The teachings are clear, easy to understand, and grounded. I am excited to continue to learn and practice this work.” ~ Tempera McCarron, Sedona, AZ
I began training with the Wellness Institute after becoming deeply fascinated with BCST through the sessions I received from MaryAnn Reynolds. The work had such a powerful impact on me that I wanted to learn more about it. When I found out there would be a training in Austin, I was so excited to have that opportunity, especially since there wasn’t another training in town. I read about Roger and picked up his book, and after reading his work and receiving his very thoughtful class communications via email, I knew I wanted to learn from him and from the Wellness Institute.
After completing the first seminar, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Roger and James did such an excellent job teaching the material and keeping everything engaging. They gave everyone individual attention and created a truly safe space to learn and experience. I reached a level of stillness that has never come so easily before. I feel confident that anyone who takes this course will become a highly skilled practitioner, if that’s the path they choose. I feel very grateful to be learning from such gifted teachers and to be part of this community. ~ Ariel Matthews, Austin, TX
I have received several treatments & taken several classes w Christian Current, one of the TA’s for the training. I have worked w several other colleagues who are also BCST certified over the yrs.
I have been asking Christian & Ryan Hallford (host of The Craniosacral Podcast, who also taught in TX) for yrs when a BCST certification training would be offered in Austin. Due to the interest of myself & many others, MaryAnn & Roger were able to organize this one. It is a special opportunity to get to study w instructors & TA’s who studied under BCST founder Franklyn Sills, who also bring their own unique knowledge, experience, skills & wisdom to this training.
The first training was quite informative, interesting, enjoyable & inspiring. A lot of information & technique was imparted for an introductory training, but the atmosphere & pace felt relaxed & comfortable. Part of the preparation involved in sensing & working w such subtle & deep mechanisms, dynamics & energy in the body requires one to slow down, to quiet oneself, tune out internal & external interference & distractions, & to be able to be attentive, present, open-minded & neutral. This in itself is therapeutic for both the practitioner & receiver, & a welcomed contrast to the daily hustle of demands, expectations, agendas, pressures, conflicts, attachments, stresses & anxieties. I love Craniosacral Therapy bc it means listening to the body & tap into its infinite inherent healing potential & wisdom. To go into this journey of discovery w this particular group of educators & students was special & powerful. There was a positive, supportive & productive dynamic & group discussion & reflection.
Roger & James did an excellent job of teaching, presenting, leading & facilitating the learning & practice. The flow w which they alternated, complemented & built upon one another’s information & ideas felt very natural & dynamic. They both bring a calm, grounded, experienced respect & enthusiasm for the work & their students, & a well-rounded, holistic, eclectic knowledge based in the science of human health & various physical, psychological & spiritual teachings. They are attentive to, & interested in, each student & help them feel seen, heard, recognized & supported. Their love for what they do helps spark the interest & passions of others for it. We are fortunate to have educators of their caliber & I am grateful & appreciative for their teachings. ~ Jesse Crandall, Austin, TX
I was directed to Christian Current for craniosacral biodynamics when I needed brain surgery in 2016. It was helpful and I felt more in control of my body and more comfortable with what was to come.
It also helped when my infant daughter needed a frenectomy. My mother (very conventional) saw the difference in the baby’s response after the session and started getting sessions herself.
I learned that our bodies can do more healing than our medical system gives it credit. I’m a female engineer but am planning to practice Biodynamics after training in it so I can have a 100% fulfilling career.
I was a little intimidated in the classroom on the first day because I don’t have any bodywork experience, but it was refreshing to me to instantly jump into hands-on practice twice a day. I did a lot of self-discovery in the class. I didn’t expect to know myself better in the classroom, but I did.
The benefit of this training is it’s a safe space with endless hands-on support. Plus, you’re healing yourself while you’re working on others. ~ Adrianne Marcum, Bella Vista AR
If you have any questions, please contact me. I can send you an application and answer most questions.
Roger is teaching in Prague and Sydney for the next month but is checking email. His email is wellnessinstitute@yahoo.com.
The Wellness Institute/Roger Gilchrist is offering training in Craniosacral Biodynamics (BCST) in Austin. This is exciting because he’s one of the most experienced teachers on the continent (30+ years, trained as a practitioner and teacher by Franklyn Sills, founder of this modality, and a master teacher).
We are fortunate to have him teaching in Austin. This level of training hasn’t been available in Austin or anywhere in Texas since 2019.
Seminar 1 was held in late September, and students were very enthusiastic about the skills they learned over the four days.
Seminar 1 will be offered again December 9-12, so it’s not too late to join. The remaining 9 seminars in this certification-level training will be offered every three months, in February, May, August, and November, ending in early 2028. Teaching assistants provide support between classes.
I did this training in Washington, DC, in 2021-23. It deepened my skills. For more about this practice, click here.
Here’s what a couple of students have to say about it:
“Several factors influenced my decision to choose The Wellness Institute. It’s an established institution, and Roger’s experience, along with the supporting faculty, was a significant draw. The proximity to my home was also a convenient factor.
“After completing the first seminar, I am confident that all participants will be well-prepared to become excellent practitioners. This is a thorough program that offers a personalized approach and ample opportunities for hands-on practice.” ~ Diana Tono, Norman, OK
“I feel so blessed to be learning BCST from Roger Gilchrist. He is a true master. With the help of his co-teacher, James Foulkes, you feel truly seen and heard. The teachings are clear, easy to understand, and grounded. I am excited to continue to learn and practice this work.” ~ Tempera McCarron, Sedona, AZ
If you have any questions, please contact me. I can send you an application and answer most questions.
Roger is teaching in Prague and Sydney for the next month but is checking email. His email is wellnessinstitute@yahoo.com.
After dental work Difficult home birth recovery Full moon eclipse overwhelm recovery Post-COVID recovery Recovery from brain surgery Recovery from hernia surgery Releasing anesthesia after dental work
Specific Areas of the Body
Back pain Cranial tension Diagonal strain pattern (L hip, R shoulder) Emergency neck pain Headache Intestinal upset Jaw issues Joint pain (shoulders, elbows, hips, knees) Low back pain Memory loss Mid-back pain Migraine prevention Osteoporosis pain Pain from dental work Poor digestion Release of force vector after injury Respiratory allergies Sacrum pain Sinus congestion Spinal pain Tachycardia Upper neck tension and pain
Whole Body Issues
Anxiety relief C-PTSD relief Long COVID relief Depletion Dysautonomia “Everything” Grief after loss of pet Healing Insomnia relief Marital separation Mast cell activation syndrome Renewal Seeking calm after a shock Seeking calm before making major decision Stress relief Wellness boost
Click here to read my previous seasonal summary, for winter 2022-23.
These are the reasons people received sessions from me between December 3, 2022, and March 17, 2023. I compile these to show the range of issues that Craniosacral Biodynamics can help with.
Some people had multiple issues. Some issues were experienced by multiple people. Note that issues range from physical to emotional to energetic.
Because Biodynamics increases coherence and optimizes homeostasis, it is able to address this wide range.
Whole body issues
Anxiety Chronic stress Travel stress Stress from caretaking Stress from power outage Dysautonomia Autoimmune issues Mold allergy Menopause Trauma Depression Deeper relaxation More coherence Needing renewal More equanimity More balance Post-surgical relief Grief Abandonment Loneliness Recovering from abusive relationship Clarity about enmeshed relationship Adjusting to new baby Balance yin and yang Depletion Fatigue Fibromyalgia Chronic fatigue Sore muscles Curiosity about Biodynamics
Specific parts of the body
Cranial tension Brain fog Sudden hearing loss High pitch tinnitus Migraines Headache Dizziness Vertigo Congestion from allergies TMJ issues Neck pain Bitten by horse and shaken Neck tension affecting voice Shoulder pain Heartache Digestive issues Herniated disc Pain from scoliosis Back pain Nerve pain Spinal tension Spinal cord injury Sacroiliac joint pain Sciatica Leg pain Neuropathy
What is Craniosacral Biodynamics? The name may not mean much if you are unfamiliar with this type of hands-on therapy.
It helps to share why people seek it, so I write these seasonal summaries of what my clients are seeking.
Craniosacral Biodynamics is different from most types of bodywork in that it works from the inside out, with internal rhythms and patterns, rather than working from the outside in, like massage therapy.
It can help with a wide variety of issues.
In every session, receivers shift into a deeply relaxed state in which the innate intelligence in their system can pause, reflect, and reorganize their tissues, fluids, and energies toward greater health.
One of the benefits of this modality is that it affects specific physical issues as well as whole body issues. The deep relaxation that clients experience empowers the body’s innate healing abilities for all kinds of issues.
Some clients come in with one issue, others with three or four. Often there’s a mix of specific physical issues and whole body issues.
Changes occur during sessions and continue afterwards. Sometimes clients notice a week or so later that an issue has disappeared.
The work is also cumulative. Often issues do not reoccur, and in subsequent sessions the work addresses deeper strain patterns and imprints of overwhelm, releasing these bound energies to return you to greater wholeness and vitality.
Specific physical issues
tension in thoracic inlet atlanto-occipital joint tension pain around C1 transverse process frontal headache tight cranial bones mid-back strain chest and upper back tension neck, shoulder/s pain or tension jaw tension or pain sacrum unbalanced dysfunction from old knee injury structural asymmetry from playing a musical instrument energy block at back of heart vestibular cranial nerve and brain stem issues foot pain hip joint popping
Whole body issues
healer burnout work-related stress long-term stress dysfunction from trauma deep attachment trauma reorganizing after releasing deep attachment trauma fixations from Enneagram type post-partum recovery overwhelm from mothering young children insomnia anxiety depression PMS overwhelm from excessive heat
Here are some reasons people have come to me for Craniosacral Biodynamics sessions in the past few months. Most of the time, people had multiple issues going on. I’ve consolidated them into general categories.
integration after trauma, recovery from multiple traumas, physical and emotional childhood trauma
re-regulation after long COVID, reset after multiple challenges during pandemic
sadness, grief
emotional upheaval, severe emotional shock after break-up, feeling unsettled from work
managing bipolar condition
empty feeling at solar plexus, chaotic feeling at solar plexus, engaging personal power instead of hiding
insomnia
better heart rate variability
stress, anxiety, wanting to feel secure and relaxed, anxiety about upcoming presentation
auto-immune issues
holding heaviness in part of body
adjusting to new nightguard
wonky atlas, cranium feels unbalanced
withdrawal from psychiatric drug while waiting for new one to kick in
reset after various health issues
addressing a layer of inertia
three past untreated concussions
You may be curious how one bodywork modality can work with so many different issues.
The simple reason is that Craniosacral Biodynamics augments your own system’s ability to heal, no matter the cause of dysfunction. Everything in your system has a pattern, and sometimes patterns become unbalanced or strained.
Practitioners trained in Craniosacral Biodynamics can help your system move these patterns toward resolution — if they are ready to change.
We all have multiple strain patterns, and there is always something ready to transform.
How does it work? During a session we both get very quiet and still. You sink into a state of deep relaxation. Some people fall asleep. Others stay awake enough to feel shifts occurring within.
I tune into your system, and with attention and support, it pauses, gathers potency (intelligent energy), and starts reorganizing the patterns that are ready to optimize.
I was curious about the reasons people have sought me out for Craniosacral Biodynamics sessions, so I looked through my intakes for sessions given since December 1, 2021.
It’s now March 29, 2022, so this sample spans nearly four months.
The variety is broad. The range includes working with very specific conditions in the tissues, chronic issues, acute issues, energetic issues, mental and emotional issues, imbalances of all sorts, recovery from medical treatment, recovery from illness, stress, and issues caused by stress.
I’m here to do my best for you. In this line of work, we are always seeking more health. You are too, or you wouldn’t be here. I look forward to working together.
Please read through my policies. I’m happy to answer any questions you have.
Appointments
Bodywork sessions are by appointment only. You may schedule your own appointment online. You may also contact me first (preferably scheduling a free phone consultation) if you have any questions.
Please try to arrive 5 minutes early to decompress before your session. If possible, allow yourself some down-time after your session to integrate.
Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you. I send a reminder email and text 48 hours in advance of your start time.
If you need to reschedule, please be kind and do so as soon as possible. You may reschedule online or by emailing, texting, or leaving a voicemail for me.
If you miss an appointment with less than 24 hours of notice, you will be responsible for full payment for the session.
Rates
Initial appointments and 90 minute sessions: $165.
Follow-up appointments/60 minute sessions: $135.
Multi-session packages and subscriptions are discounted by 10 percent.
Payment
When you schedule yourself online, you prepay with a credit card.
If you prefer to pay with cash, check made out to MaryAnn Reynolds, or a cash app, I will need to schedule your session for you.
Special instructions for American Express cards: enter the card number minus the last digit. Then enter the four-digit CVV code. Then enter the last digit of the credit card number. If this doesn’t work, try another type of card or ask me to send you a payment request in PayPal or Venmo.
I accept Health Care Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account cards.
Tips are not accepted. I do appreciate feedback (both positive and about how I can improve), and spreading the word to others in person or in writing about a good experience is deeply appreciated.
I do not work with insurance companies, but if you request a receipt, I can provide one after your session(s) that you can submit to your insurance company or HCSA/FSA plan for reimbursement.
Packages
Multi-session packages are discounted by 10 to 20 percent.
Packages never expire, and they are non-refundable. If you buy a package and cannot use all the sessions, you may request a gift certificate for the balance.
If you would like to request a package or gift certificate not listed on my Scheduling link, please contact MaryAnn at 512-507-4184.
Mask policy
When Austin/Travis County is in Stage 4 or 5, masks are required at all times throughout the office suite and in my private office, regardless of vaccination status.
The only exception is during the intraoral portion of TMJ Relief sessions, when you will need to unmask. I will give you some antiseptic solution (Listerine or a 1% peroxide solution or salt water) to rinse your mouth with before proceeding.
In Stage 3 or below, you may be unmasked if you feel safe doing so, and I will ask you if you are comfortable with me unmasking. (I’m vaxxed and boosted.)
I run a Winix air filter at all times when I am working. It more than meets the highest CDC and WHO recommendations.
If you have a sore throat, fever, or other symptoms of illness, please reschedule your session.
I’d been having problems falling asleep and staying asleep. After yesterday’s session, I slept much better! ~ LL, November 2021
Facebook post and text from long-time client LM, October 2021After trading biodynamic sessions with AA, October 2021From long-time client LD, October 2021Two texts from MG, October 2021
It’s such a gift 💝 thank you ~ JH, October 2021
“You did such a great job of helping me relieve the issue, I’m so grateful for the change you made in my life. You will always be at the top of my list for referrals for tmj relief and cranial sacral.” ~ BT, July 2021
I invite you to work with me!
MaryAnn Reynolds Austin, Texas maryannreynolds.as.me 512-507-4184 (text or voicemail)
