I compile a seasonal summary of the types of issues that my Craniosacral Biodynamics clients have sought my therapeutic help with. Creating these lists reminds me of the wide range of issues that respond to Biodynamics.
Craniosacral Biodynamics works with the body-mind-energy system’s rhythms, patterns, and physiology from the inside out in these ways:
deepening the parasympathetic relaxed state in which healing occurs
strengthening the coherence of the internal systems (nervous, digestive, etc.), improving regulation
facilitating the system’s ability to heal, thus increasing overall health
The list below is for sessions given between early July and September 15. Some clients had multiple issues, and in some cases, multiple clients experienced the same issue.
Maintaining wellness.
Curious about experiencing Craniosacral Biodynamics Deepen coherence and relaxation Deepen meditative connection Increase sense of well-being Prevent migraines
Recovery.
Recover from 10-year-old head injury Recover from a fall Recover from bump on head
Relief for specific areas of the body.
After-effects of Bell’s palsy Back pain Bruxism (teeth clenching/grinding) Constipation Pain from degenerated disc Diarrhea Discomfort in chest Ear issues Eye issues Feeling of fullness in one ear Headaches Hearing loss Hip pain Intestinal parasites Intracranial pressure Jaw issues Mast cell activation syndrome Menstrual discomfort Neck pain Pain pattern on right side of body Plantar fasciitis Severe neck and jaw pain Sinus congestion
Whole body issues.
Anxiety Brain fog Brain-based pain Depletion Dysregulation Fatigue Fibromyalgia/central sensitization High blood pressure High emotions Inflammation Insomnia Menopause Overwhelm Relationship breakup
Click here to read my previous seasonal summary, for spring 2023.
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.
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)
If you were building a tower, and one of the floors wasn’t level, it would affect the floors above it — unless you somehow compensated.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is kind of like that, only it’s because it has settled unevenly on the ground beneath it. As they built it over the years, it would sink, stabilize, sink more…
The structure of the body is like that too — even when standing on level solid ground.
Because the jaw is near the top of the skeleton, imbalances below can affect the alignment and functionality of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs).
The primary cause of most jaw pain is asymmetrical hypertonicity. Thanks, TMJ Mastery teacher John Corry! That means that some of the muscles that affect the jaw are tighter than others.
I ask about structural anomalies in my TMJ consultations. I’m interested in whether one foot is flatter than the other, whether there’s a leg length discrepancy or a pelvic tilt or curvature of the spine.
I’ve been known to slide my hands under a client’s arches with them standing to see if their arches are symmetrical.
When a client is lying on my massage table, I can check for a leg length discrepancy.
I can also tune into their cranial rhythm and notice whether there’s asymmetry in the flexion and extension motions at the feet, which indicates asymmetry in the pelvis.
I also feel the space beneath the ears between the bones to see whether the skull is sitting symmetrically atop the spine.
When the skull and spine are out of alignment, it can contribute to multiple dysfunctions, with TMJ issues being one of them. (Ask me — I experienced intermittent right jaw clicking and my face drifting slightly to the left in meditation until a chiropractor realigned my AO joint, which also resolved issues that were all on my left side.)
1 shows the line between the mastoid processes. 2 shows the C1 vertebrae. From the sides, feel the convex bony area beneath your ears and come down up to 1/2″ to feel the ends of the C1 vertebrae. Notice if the space is symmetrical.
For more on this, including exercises you can do starting at 5:25, watch this video.
The last part of my evaluation for symmetry is to place the pads of my fingers (or have the client place their fingerpads) over the TMJs right in front of the ears and ask them to open and close repeatedly.
Often one side moves first.
Often one side feels closer to the ear than the other.
Sometimes one side sticks out more than the other.
One side may move with more ease than the other.
Try it on yourself. What do you notice?
None of this is super precise. I’m just getting a basic read on asymmetries in the client’s structure that may affect their TMJs.
Have you noticed that you have a dominant side? A side that feels stronger than the other? Most of your issues occurring on one side only?
Have you had a foot, ankle, leg, or hip injury? Can you still tell a difference between the injured side and the uninjured one? Can you balance as easily on your left foot as your right, or is one side weaker?
How’s your posture? How about your sleep posture?
Also, do you primarily chew on one side of your mouth?
Becoming more symmetrical can be a good long-term self-care project that can pay off with more ease of movement, less discomfort, better balance, injury prevention.
Symmetry is an ideal, like perfection. Most of us are doing the best we can. There’s always going to be some asymmetry in the body (our abdominal organs are asymmetrical), but we can definitely address our most dysfunctional areas.
The functional movement screen is a set of 7 movements you do with a trainer, who scores you and can prescribe workouts that strengthen your weaknesses.
FMS was developed to identify athletes who were prone to injury before they got injured. It can work for ordinary people too.
Practices of non-linear movement can help if done regularly over a long period. These movements work both sides of the body and increase neuroplasticity in the brain. They increase flexibility and balance and fluidity. And they are fun! Examples:
yoga, especially alignment-oriented types like Iyengar and Anusara
qi gong
tai chi
Gyrokinesis
martial arts
dance
The type of bodywork that directly addresses asymmetries is called structural bodywork. There are two main schools of training: Rolfing Structural Integration and Anatomy Trains Structural Integration. Neuromuscular therapy also assesses posture and gait pattern and can address imbalances.
