Craniosacral therapy is a subtle and profound healing form. In a typical craniosacral session, you will usually lie fully-clothed on a treatment couch. The therapist will make contact by placing their hands usually lightly on your body and tuning in. The first thing you will probably notice is a sense of deep relaxation, which will generally last throughout the session. This release of tension often extends into everyday life.
This is an online workshop starting on 2nd of November 2025
6 to 7 hours of CPD personal development
Starts at 9.30am finishes about 4.30pm
We are humans, before being therapists, and as human, we have our own internal battle, or little conflict for something or another. We also need some inner resources, at times, at home or with our clients, during whatever therapy we do.
I know that I found myself at times, with small internal conflict, and even though I have the answer, sometimes I need the help from the another person perspective. And sometimes, it does not have anything to do with therapy at all.
I am a Nutritionist, Craniosacral Therapist NLP health coach and practitioner, and I love going to the NLP top ups, as a reminder that we all have an inner wisdom within us, we just need a bit of guidance to find it! And we are our best guide, if we listen carefully to our inner Therapist.
Hence, after another long day of practising few simple tools with the NLP group, I decided to pass on some of the wisdom for other therapist, who need at times, reconnect to their inner wisdom, for themselves and for their client.
Specifically, I work with craniosacral therapists, but this particular workshop, can be expanded to other therapists. And as you may know, the more internal peace we have within ourselves, the better listener we will be for our clients, including babies and children if you work with them with craniosacral therapy!
In this workshop, we will use few NLP tools for particular issues, and other NLP tools might be used as well if appropriate.
1st one, will be the internal conflict tool (any internal conflict, small or big). This is an amazing discovery of how the internal conflict can create a little internal war within ourselves, if not addressed. Even for small decision, such as choosing to do something or not do it, or choosing a pair of shoes, over another.
2nd tool, will be looking at goals/dreams that we have, and how our unconscious things we deal with them. Few NLP questioning of tools to trick our mind into our real thoughts and bloackages.
3rd tool will be anchoring good positive feelings and state of mind, that we can recall at any time.
4th is to get motivated for something that we want to do
Grounding meditations and others from mindfulness tool meditation
Clearing our aura and space meditation
Possible other NLP tools will be added to the list
Price for the workshop is 85 pounds, paid at booking via bank transfer. The receipt will be emailed to you after.
Maria Esposito TSB code 308472 account 24603860. Email me if you make this payment to gandgmariaesp@yahoo.c.uk
There are a lot of ways to be presents, through mindfulness meditation, through breathwork, through normal breathing, through exercise of any kind, including walking. All of them, do not align you into who you are and what your purpose in life is. I found that in the past 14 years, thanks to craniosacral therapy/healing, that I have been doing and having it myself, that I found that alignment and healing your inner self, and get back to yourself, is more than just being present.
Being present is the first step of many. I found that with craniosacral therapy/healing, for myself and the many hundreds of people I have had the honour to support through their journey of getting to connect to their inner self and healing themselves through the craniosacral therapy, is doing a lot of hundreds steps!
Being aligned with yourself, is getting rid of other people expectation of yourself, as well as the social expectation and what other people think you need to be and do, and get to your own way of wanted to be and do. This is a journey, starting from getting rid of the past pain, possible trauma, and much more. Understanding who you are and change yourself towards what your potential is! Start your journey now, taking 1 step at the time towards your inner self!
I work with a combination of NLP to find your way of support that you have in you to deal with different emotions and feelings!
Now I am not sure if anyone has heard of the term Dysautonomia. This is not a medical term, but the problems do exist. Now when withing a year a term comes up from two different people, than I think is something. So, I researched it a bit and the following are what I found out. Now, some of the symptoms can be related to many things, so do not take this as the bible, but if you have some of the symptoms, and the doctors cannot find anything at all, it is worth to see a neurologist and see what they say. Also, there might be a solution, of having high B vitamins, and particularly the B1 of the fat-soluble form, which is synthetic but has worked for a colleague. I would also try the high dosage of water soluble one to see if it helps. The Vagal nerve is part of the ANS and it is connected to the major organs, such as the heart, lungs, digestive system and more. The vagal nerve when is working well, allows the person to breathe, properly, the heart rate is at a normal relaxing rate, the digestive system works well and the person can sleep well as well. When the Vagal Nerve which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is in turn part of the ANS, is turned off, due to his counter part the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is the one that makes you run from your danger, or in this case Stress of everyday life, than you might have a constant high heart rate, sleep poorly, have many problems of the digestive system, either constipation as the stools dry up more, or diarrhoea as the body is trying to empty itself before running.
Dysautonomia seems to have connections with the some of the Vagal Nerve malfunctions. It seems that can also occur after a virus, and it seems to be connected to COVID or any other major viruses.
If the person immune system has been down, due to possible deficiency of B vitamins or other nutrients, than everything else will not work well. If you do not know B vitamins are the water-soluble vitamins that are essential for making the energy in your body to make everything, including compounds and proteins for the immune system, proteins to create enzymes for digestions and repair of the body, organs, muscles and nerves. B vitamins are not the only essential nutrient needed, our body also need minerals fat and amino acid.
Now in a time that is a trend to do some two days fasting, with 12 fasting or more every day.
With a time that our soil has less minerals, our food contains even less of the nutrients that we need, with a time that there is more crap available to buy with the click of the button and so on, well no wonder that our body is shutting down.
I hear teenagers that skip their breakfast as they are too tired to eat in the morning, they skip their lunch, as they do not have time for that at school, and they sometimes skip dinner, as they do not feel well enough to eat. So, sugar for the energy, fizzy drinks, coca cola, red bull, chips for quick fix of the body requesting some food for the organs and the brain.
For some kids and people, they take vitamins and minerals to help them cope, their parents cook well and are conscious of good healthy foods. For many that is not the case, so they are tired at school, they are tired at home, they are tired when they wake up in the morning after a 10-hour sleep!
Coming back to dysautonomia, where part of the ANS shuts down, without having any prior genetic disorder, what are the symptoms?
Just bear in mind that the following symptoms could be caused by other reasons:
Drop in blood pressure, causing dizziness or fainting
Fast or slow heart rate or both at the times in the same day
Heat like you are having a menopausal flush, and then cold all of the sudden without being in menopause or being a woman!
Nausea or gastrointestinal problems
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Urinary dysfunction
Vision problems
General weakness
The breathing problems seems to be on movement, rather than standing still, even when moving in bed when laying down.
How do you get to Dysautonomia without being genetic?
Drinking too much
Undiagnosed celiac disease
Diabetes or pre diabetes
Mast cell activation Disorder (I stand to correct the prior statement, I have now seen 4 people with dysautonomia since the pandemic)
Mitochondrial diseases
Toxicity from chemotherapy or heavy metal poisoning
to name some of the possible lead to dysautonomia.
Well, the conventional scientific method has no cure or treatment for non-genetic dysautonomia, apart for physical exercise recommendation, which at times it is not possible, especially if you cannot breathe when you move even an inch, increase in sodium intake, which might or might not help. Obviously, you do need to see a neurologist in severe cases or symptoms.
The non-conventional way but most natural way is a High dosage of B vitamins with other minerals and vitamins essential to nourish the neurones on your nervous system. Craniosacral therapy to rebalance the vagal nerve if it is the one that is causing the problem. Mindfulness meditation or any kind of meditation and rests with, when possible, a gentle movement of the body, even if it is on the spot.
It is essential and important that you get a diagnosis of dysautonomia, or have checked all the possible genetic problems and causes of your symptoms before you read and more of what you can do with dysautonomia. And a possible collaboration of medical and non-medical or looking for both sides of the health practitioner the medical and non-medical even without holding hands with each other!
This is not a medical diagnoses and any suggestions are only suggestions, anything that you take or do needs to be checked by a professional practitioner for your own issues!
Making a human being, needs to be thought and prepare the vessel, or a woman body, as well as the man sperm, to make sure that the human being that you are making, is healthy, and stays healthy in their adult life.
And it is true that sometimes, the grandmothers health is as important as the parents themselves. That is because the eggs of the women are already there since birth. So the health of the father or the mother, has been determined in some way already by the health of their mothers.
The second stage of your baby health is the parents body health. For the man, if they want a healthy sperm, they need to prepare at least 3 months before to even started to have a baby, as the cycle of the sperm take almost 3 months to complete. So for the sperm to be healthy the man needs to start giving up alcohol, and increase their exercise and healthy eating at least 3 months before.
For the mother, again if they smoke (or both parents smoke, ideally start reducing or giving up, without the vape either, as that is pure nicotine, 6 months or a year before hand).
The mother vitamin A needs to be there stored in the liver. Vitamin A is essential for fertility for both parents, cell division and replication, when there an insemination and then for implantation of the embryo, as well as for the eyes health.
For the vegetarian form, beta-carotene during pregnancy does not convert well to Retinol, so might be important that a supplement of vitamin A, or retinol, before falling pregnant is essential for vegetarian and vegan mothers.
Iron status also needs to be at optimum level for mothers, so that they do not fall too low during pregnancy. Iron is essential for many functions and growth during pregnancy for the mother and the baby.
Vitamin D is also essential to be at optimum level for mothers prior to pregnancy, as well as vitamin E. Vitamin D for calcium uptake for mothers and babies, and vitamin E a anti-oxidant for both.
Vitamin B12, is also essential to be at optimum level prior to pregnancy as essential for many function during pregnancy, especially for vegetarian, vegans and any one that had eating disorders, or disorder eating in the past.
Zinc also essential in many function during pregnancy.
Other essential vitamins for everyday health and fertility are the water soluble vitamin Bs, all of them, and in particular B3 and B6. Water soluble vitamins like the B vitamins and vitamin C and iodine, do get eliminated everyday, so you need to eat food that has them every day.
Also your thyroid is essential for you to get pregnant, so make sure that your thyroid is in good health. You might need to take kelp or iodine if you are low, to fall pregnant. The thyroid is essential to maintain the metabolism and your energy during pregnancy and after, and it is the one that is quite tired at the end of pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
There are lots more vitamins and minerals, as well as carbohydrates, fat essentials and non essential, and proteins, that are in need to be in a balanced way, before, during and after pregnancy. If you had multiple pregnancy before, than you might need to top up on some of the nutrients before you have your next one!
and ALSO
Connecting to your baby when you are pregnant will make so much difference to that baby landing to the outside world. There are more and more studies now, (if you are want proof), that baby do feel if the mother touches their belly, or talk to the belly, even at an early stage, and if you explain to your baby in your belly, that one day you were upset or stressed or overwhelmed, and that way of being had nothing to do with the baby, that whatever they are feeling or sensing, is something that you as a mother were going through, the baby will come out in this world understanding that what he/she felt was not his/hers and hence they do not hold on to it through their lives!.
Talk and communicate with your baby, before they are born or certainly when they are born. Communications is the way a baby will understand you, and when they cry is the way they communicate with you that something is not right with them.
Most of all when they are born, do cuddle them, hold them, go to them when they cry, kiss them and tell them that they are so precious and important. Sing and laugh with them, from conception to birth and beyond! Enjoy the little ones!
You can book an appointment with me by email me or call me to make sure that you are preparing nutritionally and mentally for your first baby or multiple babies.
Craniosacral therapy is a perfect combination of a healthy body and mind and connecting to your beautiful baby or babies, during pregnancy. North London clinic
Hypoglycemia, is quite common or more common than you think. Some times is due to genetic but most of the time, and especially in the modern diet, is due to what we eat and drink. Especially for young children and teenagers, the modern diet now is full of fizzy drinks, coca cola, red bull (full of caffeine which increases the blood sugar), juices, even the fresh made ones, as there is no fiber, that includes carrots juice.
How would you fill with hypoglycemia, either as an adult or child/teenager?:
Tired
dizziness
lightheaded
irritate
fainting spells
depressed
anxious
craving for sweet or a quick fix
confusion
night sweats
legs weakness
swollen feet (for older adults)
tight chest feeling
hungry all the time
insomnia (especially if eating sugary food before bedtime) (blood sugar goes down quickly and person or child or even babies wake up hungry)
Hypoglycemia can lead to aggressive behaviours and quick change of temper. This can happen shortly after eating sweets or sugary drinks. This is not just when you eat sugary foods or drinks, if you eat white simple carbohydrates such as white pasta and rice/bread, alcohol, lots of caffeine, lots of chocolate, and eat only vegetables as well, without any protein, fat or whole carbohydrate.
The whole carbohydrate, is whole bread, pasta and brown rice, quinoa, barley and whole grains and foods, including potatoes with the skin on.
To have a slow release of sugar, and hence reduce the chance of your child, yourself or your teenager to have bounces of low blood sugar levels, and hence irritability, burst of anger and screaming for no reasons, or sleeping problems, is important that each meal has some carbohydrate, protein and fat.
A lunch or dinner or both, you can have portions of grains, or potatoes or greens for adults that are worried about their weight, with a portion of either fish, or meat, or beans, lentils, chickpeas (cooked with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to soften the shells, so that do not cause much gas).
Fruits are best eaten either with breakfast with porridge of whatever grains is suitable for you, with plain yogurt, a bit of pure honey, some nuts or seeds (if not allergic to).
Snacks in between are apples, pears, with skin on, or mandarins or blueberries with a bit of yogurts, or humus, avocado with rice cakes or whole bread. There are lots of alternative foods out there, but the best way to get all the nutrients you need and more is to get as fresh and without packed food as possible.
To balance blood sugar, you need a good amount of B vitamins, chromium, good fats, fiber and a slow releasing food intake, with avoidance of sugary foods and drinks. As sometimes it is hard to have a good intake of B vitamins, especially now days, where the trend is eat what you want for 5 days and fast for two days in a week. Or avoid food for 16 hours, plus go to sleep and avoid foods for another 12 hours, have a coffee to get you some sugar and wake you up, than have another one later with a sweet pastry or worse. Have red bull (someone in a casual chat while hiking said to me, it is quite good for the heart, it has got taurine!), for the afternoon and evening, well get some chips only and have alcohol for some more energy!
and yes
I would still take and give some multivitamins as well, as if you live in London, is very hard to get a really fresh food that gives you everything, as well as to fight the toxins from the big city, and as vegetables and fruits lose their nutrients by the day, it will be hard for us to get the amount of vitamins and minerals from the food alone. Unless you are lucky enough to live near a farm or have an allotment and a garden, where you can just pick up your vegetables from there before eating it, than forget the vitamins. You must have also a fruit garden and free range animals and chickens for the eggs and …….
My parents moved to the countryside from a town and that was a blessing, as they still grow seasonal vegetables in big vases. I cannot do it in London, I know that some people can, and that is amazing!
Having worked as a therapists from sport massage to Nutritional advice with over reaction of food and craniosacral therapy for the past 30 years, I have found that the majority of the problems stem from either a birth trauma, or even before we were born a trauma that has left an imprint on your parents or grandparents. We all have that, as this depends on where you are from, what history your parents had and what major event has happened in their lifetime, either personal or local or globally.
I know that for many people, COVID 19 has left an imprint, which it means, that might be passed on to the next generation. An imprint is the memory of something, happy or traumatic, that has been stored in the DNA.
We have survived all this years on Earth, as per that imprint. For example if someone in the pre-historic time, when someone witnessed someone being killed by a tiger or killed by another force, than who ever survived got that traumatic imprint and passed it on, to the next generation to watch out for tiger, or snakes, or food that should not have been eaten. Some was passed on verbally or drawing, and others were just imprinted in the next generation in the DNA.
Now, Craniosacral therapy works with body, mind and soul. Any unconscious memory or trauma that has been passed on, can also still affect the person or baby. Usually with babies and mothers is the birth trauma, any other memory will be dealt when the baby is older or ready to deal with it.
With adults, when they start having sessions, the session will bring up what the person is ready to deal with. And with the support of the therapist (Maria Esposito), this will be put to the awareness of the person and dealt with accordingly or let go and transmute into unconditional love.
I always start my sessions with a breathing cycles of unconditional love. Some people during my hiking group, asked, what if I don not what unconditional love is?
Well sometimes that is the case. If you have a pet, or children, you will know what unconditional love is, as they will give that unconditional love no matter how you are with them, till a certain point. Children at some point might also close down if you do not show some love for them or treat them right.
Also with you do not have children or pets, than connect to nature for that. Trees give you oxygen without asking anything from you. The sun shines everyday somewhere in the world, without asking you for anything. The majority will get rain and hence water for you to drink, and to water the food that the farmers grow for you. Unless you are a farmer or you can grow your own food, and in that case, you get the rain unconditionally. The tree will take your toxins from your exhalation of Carbon Dioxide and transmute it, into oxygen for you to breathe. Without them we would not survive more than two minutes!
So you can see how much unconditional love we have around us and how much we are helped without us asking, we take these things for granted.
Whole body fascial unwinding week-end workshops is for craniosacral therapists, osteopaths, physiotherapists and massage therapists. This can be done as a Day of practice with myself now. The day practice is only for people who have done unwinding and to strengthen their skill of unwinding. It will be run in north London and depending on how many people will be attending. This is a day of CPD (6 to 7 hours). Price is 95 pounds paid via bank transfer. Contact me directly for this. The day will be led only by me
The week end with in October is gone, but other opportunities can come.
The day will be only for therapists who already know the unwinding.
Below is the week end of October 2023 plan.
What therapists said about this course
“Thank you for the lovely healing weekend, I feel more confident with unwinding”
” Thank You and Douglas for this amazing week-end, I learned a lot, applied some techniques to my clients this morning”
Demonstration of head unwinding
What fascia unwinding will do for your clients and amazing Fascia unwinding can indeed be approached as an active form of meditation. Meditation is a practice that involves focusing the mind and cultivating a state of present-moment awareness. It can be done in various ways, and fascia unwinding can serve as a unique and engaging form of active meditation.
During a fascia unwinding session, the practitioner or individual actively engages with their body and the sensations that arise.
The gentle movements that their system will do naturally when they are engaged will allow their mind, to stop thinking and the movements will distract them from being in their cycle of thoughts.
Here are some aspects of fascia unwinding that align with the principles of active meditation:
1. Body awareness: Fascia unwinding encourages individuals to tune into their body’s sensations, such as tightness, warmth, or subtle shifts. This heightened body awareness brings attention to the present moment and helps anchor the mind in the physical experience. For the body this can be used for trauma, frozen shoulders, injuries once they are healed, to allow the fascia to let go of holding on, emotional and mental blocks and energetic toxic release. Somato Emotional Release of possible feelings and emotions trapped in an area of the body, joints, from childhood. Amazing on baby’s trauma and on children with anxiety.
2. Focused attention: During fascia unwinding, practitioners often concentrate on specific areas of the body, observing the sensations and changes that occur. This focused attention on the physical sensations can help still the mind and cultivate a state of mindfulness.
click here for a different person of head unwinding
3. Breath awareness: Conscious breathing is a fundamental aspect of many meditation practices. In fascia unwinding, individuals are often encouraged to engage in deep, mindful breathing, which can enhance relaxation, promote body-mind connection, and support the unwinding process.
4. Non-judgmental observation: In active meditation, the practice involves observing experiences without judgment or attachment. Similarly, during fascia unwinding, individuals are encouraged to observe sensations, emotions, and thoughts that arise without labelling them as good or bad.
This non-judgmental attitude fosters acceptance and cultivates a sense of presence.
click here to see 1st video of shoulder fascial unwinding on a person that worked with the arms a lot as an artist and stressed about study (Maria Esposito video), the unwinding is intense as their nervous system has been like that for many years.
Click here to see the head unwinding sample (Maria Esposito Video)
5. Release of tension: As fascia unwinding helps release physical tension and restrictions in the body, it can also contribute to the release of mental and emotional tension. By actively engaging in the unwinding process, individuals may experience a sense of letting go, relaxation, and a clearer state of mind.
Engaging in fascia unwinding as an active meditation practice can provide numerous benefits. It allows individuals to cultivate a deeper connection with their bodies, release stress and tension, and promote overall well-being.
Overall, fascia unwinding can serve as an engaging and beneficial active meditation practice, providing an avenue for cultivating mindfulness, body awareness, and emotional support.
Douglas Hutchings bio: BSc (Psychology)/ BPHED (Physical Ed & Management)Craniosacral therapist (15 years experience)— CCST (College of craniosacral therapy, London) Bowen technique (13 years experience) Founder of BodyInMind -Holistic therapies, retreats & healing/meditation workshops .Douglas’s background in psychology (BSc) and sports science (BPHED) laid the foundation for continued study in the field of complementary medicine, which truly links science and anatomy with the spirit/soul. The philosophy of BodyInMind integrates hands-on bodywork, energy medicine and deep listening to provide a catalyst for profound transformation of body, mind and soul.The core principal of Douglas”s work is that EVERYTHING is connected. And when we connect the dots and let go of our limiting patterns/beliefs and trauma in the mind and body, we can really see ourselves and the world/universe in a completely different way to bring forth change and unrealized potential! After having a near fatal fall from 40-50ft in 2007, experiencing 24hours in critical condition and Doctor’s frantically trying to bring his body back to life, he passed over ‘to the other side’ and experienced a completely different reality, one where nothing was separate- all was ONE and perfect as it was. He was given the choice to return to his body, to fulfill his purpose helping others realize that we are whole, connected and here to grow/evolve into our true potential of body and mind and spirit. ’
Maria Esposito BSc (Hons) bio: Working from my heart is my main way of working, which opens up the heart of everyone I work with! I work with a sound scientific background with the healing and spiritual intuition within all my sessions, from nutritional NAET working with allergies, over-reaction to food, hay-fever and more, to craniosacral therapy for babies and mothers trauma, colic and more, adult trauma, COVID 19 tiredness and feeling out of space, to empowering my clients with Neuro Linguistic programming, Mindfulness meditation exercises (becoming present in your life at all times)!Mostly I connect with the heart of babies and people, to find the best solution for their problem, if my therapies are not enough then I will suggest what they can try! I know for the scientific background that our brain is capable of healing ourselves, and this is the greatest gift of being human, finding one of the possible solutions for the person coming into my sessions, is part of that!
All practical workshop:
The entire workshop will be a deep and experiential way of healing yourself and your clients with various tools. Note down how you feel at least a day before the workshop starts eg: Physically, mentally, spiritually (if in tune with it), is your life stuck somewhere for work, family or play? note down as much as possible. As this workshop will be an amazing healing time for you as a person and therapists, you will be asked to note down how you feel at the end of it, and two weeks after. You can share with all of us or is for you to notice!
During the week-end workshop we will go through:
Saturday: Meditations throughout the day of various methods including own self fascial unwinding to teach to your clients as well as other resources for yourself and your clients.
– Unwinding of: Arms, legs, hips and feet. All practical experience.
– Discussions, questions and answers will be allowed during the entire week-end of the day and how we are within ourselves
Sunday: Meditations throughout the day
– Unwinding of head and any other unwinding practice from yesterday workshop
– Full body unwinding standing.
– Discussion, questions and answers and end of the two workshops
Video demo links for each unwinding will be sent after you completed the week end for you to re-visit.
CPD certificate will also be emailed to you after you attended the workshop with any invoice for the last minute booking.
These workshops will be an introduction to a deeper level of meditation, unwinding and healing, that can be taken to a next level of healing with Douglas Hutchings new body mind healing certificates of upper levels. This week end is level 1. More information on the week end about reaching other levels.
The end of the workshops is the beginning of your practice, you can try with each client and family/friends. Practice is the key, and meditation to get within your inner stillness is the lock, to add it to your own tool kit as a therapist.
We will be asking people who come by car (parking is free over the week end), to bring their table if they can with pillows and blankets). Thank you very much.
Teas and coffees will be provided with some snacks. Bring lunch with you, there is a fridge to store your lunch. There are two coffee bar nearby and a small local shop, so not much to buy around but something.
Price for both is 240.00 paid via bank transfer to Maria Esposito TSB code 308472 account 24603860
Invoice and CPD will be emailed.
Payments via pay-pal is £ 5.00 extra, any request of payment in this way, just email me and I will email you an invoice through pay-pal.
Without movement, there is no growth
Without love, there is no peace
Without awareness, there is no true path
Without light, there is only darkness
Without peace, there is no healing
Without Earth, there is no human
Without soul, there is only physical body and no humanity
Without forgiveness, there is no peace
Without opening our mind, there is no awareness
When we open our eyes, mind, ears and heart and speak our truth to ourselves and others, there is understanding, awareness, forgiveness, peace and an INFINITE AMOUNT OF LOVE. Ariami Marpisa 08/11/2018
New: Support Facebook craniosacral therapy group just copy and paste to see what is about, any craniosacral therapists including students can join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1367031110649058/
I am so thankful that after three years I can still pass my Christmas in Italy with my family. Lots of things have changed, people do different things, some with family and others by themselves travelling a bit more. There is still a lot more fears attached to Covid than in other places, and any new news about it becomes an extra worry. In pharmacies people still wear a mask and you feel like the odd out if you don’t. There was a new strain of flu going around and young and older people felt worse than ever with it. This is due to the immune system not being challenged for 3 years. My parents, even in their old age are always worried about lack of food, so they buy more than they will ever eat in one week, and they love to plant seasonal vegetables, even in big pots. When they were given big pots as a gift, they were so happy that they can manage to plant their seasonal vegetables without much effort, as the planting them on the land would be too much for them.
Green and red salad
They try their best not to take extra medication that they can avoid, even though they might take some that are essential. Both my parents were tested high for cholesterol last year, and of course, they were given by their GP the usual medication to lower it. They both did not react well with it, and I mentioned to try to see if with Benecol, as I knew that it would work, would go down enough for the doctors to be ok with it. I also suggested to take fish oil in capsules for both of them, for two reasons, one for the brain, and the other to reduce tri-glycerides, which again they both had a bit high. They have been taking it since the summer, and I asked if their cholesterol was low. They said they were so happy with it, as the cholesterol got down so much, as well as the tri-glycerides, with the fish oil. To be fair the doctor in Italy did suggest the fish oil for that too, which is good. They have not told the doctor about the Benecol though and the reason for being lower. My mum had a heart operation 6 years ago so she had to have a lower cholesterol.
The main ingredients that is beneficial to reduce cholesterol in Benecol is plant sterol ester, and I would not agree with all the ingredients in Benecol, but for people, like my parents that would rather have a food that keep taking pills, this is the 2nd best option.
Freshly squeezed orange juice
The best one is to take plant sterol and phytosterol in capsule as well as combining the dietary changes. My parents do eat their own seasonal vegetables, and fennel, endive and salads, as well as broccoli, chicory, and broccoletti (found in Italy but not England), are part of their stable diet, as well as beans, lentils and fruits. Green leafy vegetables, sage, nuts contain plant sterols as well as the food above.
We were so fortunate to have my mum make us freshly squeezed orange juice every morning, that is because a couple of kilos of oranges would cost two Euros, compared to 2 pounds for a pack of 5 oranges here. They would also eat good nuts such as pecans and walnuts as snacks, which would help with having higher good fats as well. At their age, they eat less meat and hard cheese, due to my insistence, less frying and more oven baked food, as well as using only olive oil if any food needs to be cooked. Using their own olive oil from their own olive tree only raw with salads and food.
If you do have high cholesterol and high tri-glycerides, you need to consider the entire life style change as well, to make the most of it and get things sorted out for good, and that would include walking 30 minutes, twice a day, to keep your circulation going and keep your heart pumping well.
Some of the plant sterols in supplements might cost as much as the Benecol, so maybe worth getting that instead and you get more for them, like a monthly supply. Fish oil with high EPA and DHA, again get a good brand as that would still be worth it, and even if you eat fish, you might not get enough from a couple of times that you eat it a week. At least you can get the plant sterols and fish oil till your tests come back normal and then keep going with the dietary changes and walking to keep it stable, and maybe just get the Benecol every now and then to keep it down.
Headaches and Migraines are very common from children having migraines to adult. The triggers and cause of migraines are different for everyone. Below are some of the possible triggers:
Fasting
Food
Hormonal – pre and menstrual cycle –
Sleep – oversleep or lack of sleep, change of time of sleep and week end different sleep
Activities
Stress – due to high demand job, conflicts, arguments, family problems, society, aggressiveness
Emotional such as crying and anxiety
Environmental – hay-fever, allergies, pollution, wind, rain, cold weather, hot weather, dust, cigarette in the air, cigarette smoking, air pollution, perfumes, strong perfumes (due to possibly liver detox slow, cleaning products, gasoline,
basil
Certain foods that trigger more than others are:
Chocolate
Sausage
Allergies to foods and drinks
Salami or processed meat
Monosodium glutamate (from soy sauce and Chinese food), as well as some vegetables cubes and olive (check labels for any processed food).
Cheese, some hard cheese and fermented cheese more than others
Dairy milk
Aspartame in certain foods including some chew gums, fizzy drinks and processed drinks
Alcohol
Red wine, depending on the amount of sulphur and additive that they have, women more susceptible for the red wine.
Coffee is a catch 22, as caffeine helps reduce the headaches and some migraines and for some people the withdraw of coffee can trigger a migraines or headaches
Citric fruits
Ice creams
Nuts
cinque terre. peace
What worked in the research studies is a combination of Magnesium citrate (as most absorbed) at about 350 mg for an adult to 600mg a day, combined with a good multivitamins and minerals during the day and CoQ10.
Magnesium is found in drinking bottled water, all green leafy vegetables, bananas, nuts and seeds. For some people though food intake of magnesium is not enough, depends on their triggers, stress level and the way their own bodies deals with magnesium.
I would suggest a good multivitamin from any of the good brand and the CoQ10 from my experience is G&G brand, you just need one capsule a day. Magnesium citrate or a mix of magnesium from BioCare powder as you can increase or decrease your magnesium intake according to your needs and at the start of your headache/migraines and during, as well as investigating the trigger of your headache and eliminating it. If you are taking any prescribed medications do consult your doctor before taking any magnesium, especially if you have had a heart surgery or any heart problems.
As a therapist I would treat any possible food trigger with the method NAET and combine the treatment or even by itself with CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY, MINDFULNESS MEDITATION and HEART RESILIENT meditation, as well as Neuro-Linguistic Programming tools for old emotional and learning or positive resources, to reduce the stress level and the muscle tension, as well as allowing the system to flow nicely.
This is combined with nutrients and supplements if that is essential as well.
Reference:
Fukuil et al. (2008). Migraines triggers factors. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2008;66(3-A):494-499
Gaul et al. (2015). Improvement of migraine symptoms with a proprietary supplement containing riboflavin, magnesium and Q10: a randomized,
placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-center trial. The Journal of Headache and Pain (2015) 16:32.
Izabela Domitrz and Joanna Cegielska (2022). Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine—From Theory to Practice. Nutrients. Nutrients, 14, 1089. https:/doi.org/10.3390/nu14051089.
(taken from) The Fulcrum, Issue 82 January 2021click here for original article
I find that the more I follow my intuition and connect to the heart, serving everything that makes my client whole and integrated, the faster they heal and in so doing transform their lives and mine.
Having held CST workshops on how to deepen one’s practice for the past five years, I was recently invited to write about the journey that led to teaching. Hesitant at first about how to put my thoughts and experiences in words, I was reminded that there seems to be a hunger to understand ‘grounding’ more deeply and learn to apply it to our daily lives, and a desire to develop a more intuitive, heart-centred connection with ourselves, our work and our clients. In recalling my own efforts to learn these things, and the wonderful transformation when I was finally able to apply them to myself and my practice, I’d like to share my journey.
A massage course led to further qualifications in sports massage, reflexology, nutritional therapy, muscle testing and Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET). I found that I loved helping others to resolve their problems and pain and have been a holistic therapist for more than 28 years.
Informed by anatomy, physiology, nutrition and Eastern approaches, I spent many years helping clients and yet I still felt a need to meet them more holistically. My first experience of CST was when cranial-osteopathy was recommended for my son’s recurring colds and coughs. The process that led to the release of his birth trauma made me so curious that I eventually enrolled to study CST at the College of Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CCST).
My scientific and therapeutic training was comfortable with the physical focus of cranial-osteopathy but I found myself unsure about the whole-system approach that was taught at CCST. Nevertheless, during treatments and practical sessions, I felt much-needed changes occurring within me and experienced profound results. Whatever it was, it was working. Still, it was challenging; I was very good at the physical and scientific aspects of CST but not as good at grounding and working off-body. I became increasingly conscious of being ungrounded, of not being fully present in my body, especially in the mornings and evenings, which led to exhaustion. Not able to ground well, I did not pass my practical exam. It was the first time that I had not succeeded in something that I had put effort into and it was difficult to accept. So, as a positive and stubborn person, I set out to understand everything I could about grounding.
‘Just Ground’
A healer brought a fresh perspective on grounding that helped me understand the concept of being fully present and embodied, and why I was ungrounded in the first place. At the same time, Octavia Kelly, a CST colleague, brought her experience and insight to my training. I am very thankful to both and for my failure to pass the practical part of my final training assessment, as my journey would have been completely different otherwise. I would not have understood the concept of grounding as deeply as I do now and how essential self-healing is to our work.
I realised that the more grounded I was, the more I felt calm, focused, alive and less tired throughout the day.
Developing Intuition and Heart-Connection
My interest in intuition and heart connection first began when I started to practise CST in combination with the NAET method of treating allergies. Many clients began sharing what they saw and felt during treatments, which was often beyond my wildest expectations of what was possible or logical. My natural curiosity led me to explore this. Hence, when I tuned into and followed a client’s whole system during a treatment, I often saw images, for example, a femur or tibia or fibula in an incorrect position, and sometimes I would feel pain in my own leg, knowing that it was not mine. This would lead me to ask if there was a problem with the limb that presented to me, and I found that the answer was always ‘yes’ when I worked this way. So, I started to mention more of what I felt or saw during treatments and the answers often confirmed where a problem that affected their body and sometimes their mind had started. If my hands felt something hot or cold, or if my clients spoke of seeing images and/or colours, I would follow and see where it led.
I began to attend healing classes to become more grounded. The technique that helped me become more embodied and less stuck in my head (with my logical, scientific mind) was to visualise that my legs and feet were weighed down by anchors. Thai Chi and Qi Gong classes, where grounding and body awareness were practised in every class, and swimming and Pilates classes, also helped me to become more embodied. After a few months, I was grounding well enough to pass my practical exam, and a door opened to a new experience of life, professionally and personally.
I realised that the more grounded I was, the more I felt calm, focused, alive and less tired throughout the day. I could see clearly what I wanted to do in my life, and I experienced inner peace for the first time. Reaching a steady state of inner peace is not an easy thing to achieve; it takes time, especially when life challenges you. Still, the more whole and grounded I became, the lighter I felt, and when life ungrounded me I recovered my grounding and balance more quickly.
‘Just ground’ became my personal mantra and after a few years of experiencing the benefits of this amazing change and self-transformation, I wanted to share this simple way of being. This led to developing my CST workshop ‘Grounding and Healing Tools’ and, judging from its popularity, it seemed to fill a gap for many therapists.
This workshop is a reminder of how far I have come on my own journey in grounding and in my own life, and it is a privilege to pass on what I have learnt to others who are ready to understand the concept more fully and embrace their potential. Through teaching grounding techniques I hope to remind, reconnect and deepen practitioners’ understanding of why grounding is so powerful, transformative and important for ourselves as individuals and therapists, and for our clients.
I have also found healing tools useful in my practice. Healing, defined as ‘the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again’, resonates with me and I feel that my work is part of a healing process. The danger is that we can become vulnerable to our clients’ issues, and if not careful, can internalise them. As part of my toolkit, healing techniques help to protect me from holding on to my clients’ emotions and feelings. I find that I feel much more exhausted if I do not combine CST with these tools, and my hope in sharing them is to help others stay protected, resourced and energised in their work.
I found that the more I followed my intuitive sense without fear or judgement, the more accurate my treatments became.
Fascinated by this process, I started consciously to develop my ‘right brain’ – thought to be the most creative and intuitive part of our body. Inspired by John Upledger’s experiences in the ‘Inner Physician’ and ‘Somato-Emotional Release’, I found that the more I followed my intuitive sense without fear or judgement, the more accurate my treatments became. I then read ‘The Biology of Transcendence’ by Joseph Chilton Pearce in which he describes the heart as the fifth or highest brain. As a result of this study, I now practise CST with intuition and heart-connection.
Developing heart-connection transformed my practice. The first time I understood this profound power I was treating a client who shared something I was simply not able to understand. Beyond my comprehension, the only way I could follow and support my client was to let go of judgment, fear and worry and connect to unconditional love for them and their journey. I focused on just being there, trusting and allowing the whole system to do what it needed to do, following where it led. This, of course, is the principle of CST – observe, listen, allow whatever needs to unfold and integrate. Yet, in my experience, we all come to a profound recognition of this truth in different ways.
As I deepened my intuitive perception, following where the client’s system led, it felt natural to share with colleagues, to help them strengthen the intuition that many already experience. I felt that some just needed guidance or reassurance that whatever they were experiencing needed to be followed and taken into consideration for the benefit of their client’s whole system, health and deep healing. The workshop ‘Integration of the Self, Strengthening Your Inner Intuition,’ grew out of this desire to help therapists grow further in their knowledge and awareness to push beyond their comfort zone while remaining sensitive to their boundaries.
Thanks to my inner curiosity, my therapy practice has evolved far beyond my expectations. As I have sought ways to deepen my connection to clients, I have come to realise the power of working from our hearts is essential to serving them in the best way possible. Focused by grounding and guided by intuition, the unconditional love and peace that is inherently present when we are led from the heart enable us to grow both personally and professionally. It is this truth that I wish to share with others.
Craniosacral Healing /Nutrition NAET/Mindfulness living/ NlP health coach /mind body and soul 