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  • About Craniosacral Therapy

    Unwind and release in deeply restorative nervous system regulating sessions. Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a soothing, light-touch method of bodywork that stems from the manual healing work of osteopathy. Using subtle and attuned touch, CST supports the body's entire fascial structure to release stress, recover from strain and injury, and restore balance holistically.

     

    CST often feels magically relaxing because it works directly with your nervous system, providing touch that is safe alongside co-regulation. Physical touch is a powerful form of communication with the nervous system that settles the body and can be a corrective experience, restoring the nervous system's capacity to regulate.

     

    While resting face up, gentle holds are offered at major junctions of the body from feet to the hips, respiratory diaphragm, chest, neck and head. It is quiet, nurturing, and deeply relaxing. It supports nervous system through nurturing touch and co-regulation.

     

    Regular sessions support the greatest outcome with a weekly, biweekly, or monthly rhythm, especially during periods of healing and transition.

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    My specialties include:

    • Chronic and acute pain and tension relief
    • Neck, back and shoulder issues
    • Nervous system TLC
    • Stress and anxiety relief without having to process mentally/verbally (holding safe, grounded space for emotions)
    • Injury, accident, trauma, and surgery recovery (release protective holding to help restore full, pain-free range of motion)

     

    My practice is polyvagal and trauma-informed, and draws on the mind-body work of current pain neuroscientists (Lorimer Moseley, David Butler, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Alan Gordon & others).

    I love working with highly sensitive people and those on a healing journey.

     

    Sessions are scheduled with plenty of buffer to avoid creating feelings of rush, both for clients and myself, and to give me plenty of time to center and refresh.

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    Hi, I'm Alex (aka Alexa, she/her)

    My own healing journey with chronic pain, tension, anxiety, and heightened sensitivity brought me to mind-bodywork at a young age, and I've been doing personal growth work, mentorship, and bodywork for over 15 years. I know first-hand what a difference the right care and approach can make.

     

    My mission is to help people experience the goodness and okayness that already lives inside of their bodies, when we can slow down enough to feel it, and heal from nervous sytem hyperdrive. My greatest joy is helping others with chronic pain and symptoms to heal.

     

    Our nervous system state is like the lens that colors all the rest of our experience, and sets the dial on how much capacity we have to deal with challenge and stress. When someone zooms around you in traffic, do you get fired up and curse them, do your eyes widen and your breath catches in your chest, or do you let them blow by with a deep breath and keep singing?

     

    Most of us are not taught how to relax, how to regulate our nervous systems, how to find contentment and joy in life. Self-awareness, rest, and response-ability are not valued in our culture—fear, dopamine-drip media, bigger-faster-better-stronger, and consumerism rooted in "not enoughness" are upheld instead. Our lives are highly-stimulated, with not a lot of down-time.

     

    I discovered craniosacral therapy out of my own need and deep cravings for gentleness, quitetude and nervous system healing, though I didn't know how to define that at the time. I just knew it felt like important medicine.

     

    I started my bodywork practice in 2019, resourced from 15+ years of trainings, personal and professional work. I am a Certified Massage Therapist, CACMT #81617, focusing the core of my studies in Craniosacral Therapy and trauma-informed techniques. View my educational background here. I have a long history practicing meditation/mindfulness, ritual, consciousness and parts work, embodiment and nervous system regulation.

     

    I welcome all human beings, of all shapes, colors, and identities.

     

     

    Learn more:

  • About the Nervous System & Chronic Pain

     

    My practice is mind-body, informed by current clinical pain neuroscience, psychology, and polyvagal theory, as well as Pain Reprocessing Therapy.

     

    Some key foundational principles:

    • Your nervous system sets the "mood lighting and music" for your body, mind, and life—how you breathe, how you move, whether you perceive the world as safe or threatening, your resilience to stress, or your tendency to take it all on.
    • Pain protects us and promotes healing (ouch, that hurts, give me a break!)
    • Persistent pain overprotects us and prevents recovery (our nervous system learns to be internally hypervigilant, increasing pain-sensing and seeking, and lowering the threshold for feeling pain). Pain is often fed or becomes a cycle reinforced by mental/emotional stress, anxiety, pressure, intensity, frustration, and/or avoidance—all which also communicate "something is wrong" to the nervous system.
    • Thus, many factors influence pain: stress, diet and nutrition, relaxation, activity levels, sleep, relationships, finances, etc.
    • There are many ways to reduce pain and slowly recover and retrain the pain system back to normal, protective settings.

     

    Craniosacral therapy is one effective modality for reducing pain and retraining the pain system back to healthy levels by offering a corrective experience, restoring the nervous system's capacity to regulate. Our bodies know how to relax and heal, we just need to give them the right support, inputs, and environment. Pain is part of life, persistent pain does not have to be.

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    Living Stillness Retreat

    Thurs. November 14 (5pm) - Sun. November 17, 2024 (2pm) : 3 nights

     

    Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, CA (Santa Cruz mountain area)

    • Sitting & walking meditation
    • Yoga & gentle movement
    • Journaling, group reflection, dharma talks, Q/A
    • Delicious vegetarian meals
    • Sauna
    • Hiking trails in a tranquil, redwood forest
    • Option for Craniosacral Therapy w/Alex!

    Open to new and experienced practitioners of meditation and mindfulness. Includes both free and structured time. Private and shared rooms available.

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