What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy is a delicate, non-invasive, hands-on therapy ,
whereby the CST practitioner accesses the rhythm in the clients body
to identify and treat dysfunction.
This rhythm, or pulse, which is perceived by the CST practitioner is
postulated to come from the movement of the cranial bones in response
to the fluctuations in the cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions the
brain and spinal cord. There is a subtle movement of the whole body
in response to these fluid pressure changes around the central
nervous system.


CST can assist in the unwinding of the tissues of the body that may
have become 'concentrated areas of distortion', by daily stresses,
previous injuries, trauma, joint pain or neurological dysfunction.
Treatment is aimed at the restoration of full cranial motion and the
release of abnormal myofascial restrictions and tensions in the body,
providing a freer optimal function of the brain, spinal cord,
nerves, organs and tissues of the body.

Craniosacral Therapy is becoming an effective healing tool,
proving beneficial for the treatment of trauma, learning disabilities, gross
and fine motor problems, TMJ syndrome, stress disorders and other pain and
neurological conditions. Professional athletes, dancers and lay people
are experiencing the benefits.

Craniosacral Therapy is also known as Cranial Therapy, Cranial
Osteopathy, and Biodynamic Cranio Sacral Therapy.

Hope Terry - Background

Craniosacral Practitioner Hope Terry was originally trained by Robert
Harris, one of Toronto's foremost Cranial Therapists. Robert Harris
and his partner Alix McLaughlin are co-directors of The Cranial
Therapy Centre in Toronto. Both were registered professional massage
therapists and were drawn to CST by experiencing the benefits firsts
hand. They proceeded to train in CST and then teach at the Upledger
Institute. Now Robert Harris teaches at his Cranial Therapy Centre
in Toronto, throughout Canada as well as acting as mentor for
experienced Cranial Sacral Therapists.

Hope Terry's background in the performing arts gives her insight into
the physical and soulful components of the body and its relationship
to the self. Besides being a professional craniosacral practitioner
she is also a current student of the Barbara Brennan School of
Healing in Miami, Florida.

Being the Artistic Director of The Moving Company Performance
Projects allows her the freedom to break preconceived molds and
originate new processes for creating work. Established in 2005, The
Moving Company creates art that unites a variety of theatre
disciplines, supporting and inspiring innovative approaches to
teaching and performance. The Moving Company Performance Projects
strong outreach mandate is realised through The Explorers Project.
These movement classes for people who are blind have garnered support
from the CNIB, the Ontario Arts Council, private foundations and many
volunteers. The guiding vision of the company supports the
possibility that art can unveil our humanity in all of its facets,
revealing our potential: intellectually, physically, emotionally and
spiritually. Given this holistic possibility, art can bring fullness
to our lives.

With over 15 years of professional performance experience along with
6 years professional training, Ms. Terry's skills have evolved
through her experience in many disciplines. She has performed in
over over 68 theatres internationally- over 100 shows with
Dancemakers alone, one of Canada's finest modern dance companies,
with whom she danced with for seven years. Her exploratory nature has
naturally steered her career towards multidisciplinary theatre and
innovative teaching.

Her professional creations have been presented at The Canada Dance
Festival, the Dancing on the Edge Festival, the Dancing off the Edge
Festival, co -produced by lbs/sq2 via Danceworks, the Volcano
Theatre, and commissioned by Dancemakers. Site-specific works
include a commission from The Edward Day Gallery and the Volcano
Theatre at the the Gladstone Hotel, Toronto. Although Ms. Terry
continues to reinvent herself, her past work could be defined as:
modern dance, dance-theatre, clown with dance, clown with Butoh,
multidisciplinary theatre, physical theatre, and interdisciplinary.
She has received support from all of the government arts agencies as
well as corporate donations and foundation grants.

Her significant training in various disciplines has given Ms. Terry
the understanding and freedom to work and perform deeply. When
teaching she may draw knowledge from one discipline to enrich the
process for another. She has devised and taught dance for
professional dancers at Dancemakers, Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers,
Lola Dance, CADA dance classes in Vancouver, and the Teachers
Collective in Toronto. She has taught Voice for Dancers at Winnipeg
Contemporary Dancers, Simon Fraser University, and Introduction to
Theatre to independent dancers within the Toronto community. While on
tour with Dancemakers she often led Creative Dance/Improvisation
workshops in communities ranging from correctional institutes for
girls, aboriginal high schools to high schools of the performing-
arts within Canada and the United States.

An interesting article about Craniosacral Therapy:
http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/the_gentle_power_of_craniosacral_therapy