In Which Maija Finds Her Calling by Accident, Falls Down the Rabbit Hole of CranioSacral Therapy, and Makes Her Home There
CranioSacral Therapy. Most people haven’t heard of it, and many who have may still not understand what it is, much less why someone would choose such a seemingly obscure field as their life’s work. In this blog, I’ll be exploring some key concepts related to CST, as well as sharing stories, inspiration, and practical tips for how you can get the most out of this amazing work.
Maija Salins, LMT, CST-D, of Wise Bodymind, works with a client in her CranioSacral Therapy practice in metro Atlanta, Georgia.
But where to start? Well, before you take the time to read what I write about CranioSacral Therapy and other topics, and especially if you are considering working with me, it seems like you might want to know a little bit about me as a practitioner. What am I all about? Why is CST so important to me, important enough that I’ve devoted years of my life and not a small chunk of change to studying and practicing it? What can you expect from me when we work together, and what are my intentions for you during the course of treatment?
Let’s start at the beginning, with a confession: I found CranioSacral Therapy by accident. This story almost didn’t happen. As a massage therapist trained in Neuromuscular Therapy and, later, Structural Integration, I liked bodywork with a very firm touch, the firmer the better. I had no idea gentle work could be more powerful, and I wasn’t looking to switch tracks in my professional career. But then, my son’s Occupational Therapist recommended CST to help with the sensory processing issues he was experiencing. And after a fruitless search to try to find a suitable practitioner for him (mostly because I didn’t know where to look), I decided to take a class myself. From the very beginning, even when I wasn’t convinced the work was doing anything (this despite the fact that it relieved pain that had been there so long I had kind of forgotten about it), there was a part of me that knew I had to keep learning more. And since that time, I have come to experience CST as the most transformative of practices, both as a client and as a therapist.
My philosophy, in a nutshell, is this: I practice CranioSacral Therapy because it is the most direct way I’ve found to fully engage with a sense of awe about the mystery of life. By using anatomical structures as a “way in” to connect with another human being on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level, I facilitate a process by which my clients access a profound inner wisdom that offers them the capacity to heal themselves. CST, as I experience it, is a process of self-discovery and integration, which increases the sense of being at home in one’s body and has effects that ripple out into relationships with loved ones, the greater community, and the world, going far beyond pain relief and symptom amelioration and continuing long after our time in the treatment room is over.
I work with clients from all walks of life, but the people who benefit most from my work do share certain qualities in common. We will most likely work well together if:
-You are curious about developing a deeper relationship with your body and the wisdom it contains.
-Your mind and heart are open to new possibilities, and you are willing to step out of your comfort zone to explore them.
-You are looking for a practitioner who will support your long-term growth and healing rather than trying to fix you.
I hold myself to very high standards in my work. If you choose to work with me, you can expect that:
-I will see and hear you, in addition to supporting you with my hands.
-I will respect and honor your autonomy and boundaries.
-I will be honest with you, including honesty about whether or not I believe I can help you or if there might be other resources which might serve you better.
Your process is your own, and you are in charge of it. I am here to support you. In doing so, I hold these intentions for you:
-More freedom, ease, resilience and well-being in your body and mind.
-An establishment and deepening of the relationship you can have with your body’s wisdom, leading to greater health, confidence, hope, and choice.
-A greater sense of being aligned with the part of you that knows what you need, and what the world needs from you.
I hope this gives you a sense about who I am and where I’m coming from. In my next few posts, I’ll be diving in to discuss the CranioSacral Therapy paradigm, which sets it apart from many other forms of bodywork. And I’ll be answering some frequently asked questions about the SomatoEmotional Release process, with the hope of clearing up some confusion and allaying some common concerns. If you have a question to contribute or have another topic you’d like to see covered, please feel free to contact me or ask in the comments. And if you’d like to stay in touch, please consider subscribing to my newsletter, where you’ll be notified when there’s a new blog post, as well as finding out first about upcoming events and offerings.
Thanks so much for your interest, and welcome! I’m glad you’re here and look forward to connecting again soon.