Tonight, we had the final for the Cranial Sacral class. Part of it was written (I think I got a 91 - at least that's the grade I think I spied next to my name on the grade sheet as I tried to be casual while walking by) and the other part was practical or hands-on. For this portion, we were graded not only for knowing the holds, but what the "characteristics" were for that particular bone and what the "indications" were as well. In addition, our focus and posture were graded.
During the practical, the instructor walked around, checked our "hold" and then asked us what the characteristic and the indication was. During one of them (parietal), I made my statement, and in all sincerity, this is how I remembered it: "Aspiration. And if someone loses their aspiration, they can become depressed." Most people would just say, "Aspiration; depression." The instructor got a kick out of it and made the comment that he deducts points for sarcasm - on the back of the grade sheet. Who? Me? Sarcastic?
Nah....
Anyway, I think I did well on both. Tomorrow night: Anatomy exam that includes: Respiratory System, Lymphatic System, Digestive System, Urinary System, and Reproductive System. Sounds a little overwhelming. Better go study - or at least go to sleep.
Showing posts with label cranial sacral. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cranial sacral. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Day 56 - Reunited
Guess what? We had a combined class again with Anthony leading instruction tonight. The class we have been combined with graduates next week. What are they going to do with us after that when our instructor is sick or something?
Anyway, we had our last class of Cranial Sacral before the final exam next week. We ended up by doing review for the written portion of the final and then practicing the hands-on portion during the bodywork section of the class. I was last on the table and WGH had driven home, so I'm quite relaxed after all the practicing.
One of the classmates was practicing the sacral hold that we learned in the last class, but apparently needed a little refresher on how to "get into position." My understanding is that it looked like circus tricks on the table next to me, with legs flailing in the air and what-not. Unfortunately, I was on the table and my eyes were closed and covered with a towel, so I didn't see any of this.
WGH has been riding with me occasionally to school, getting a chance to chat, which is rather lacking during the week. While I'm in class, he enjoys going to the aeroport, which is just right down the street from school, and watching the people and planes. Both are rather fascinating. Then he picks me up and we get to ride home together and catch up on what happened in class and what sort of antics we have...like circus tricks.
This weekend, I am planning on working on creating my own "spa" music - you know - the stuff that I play while I'm working on a victim...uh...I mean, client. I don't know how far I'll get, but hope to have something soon.
Anyway, we had our last class of Cranial Sacral before the final exam next week. We ended up by doing review for the written portion of the final and then practicing the hands-on portion during the bodywork section of the class. I was last on the table and WGH had driven home, so I'm quite relaxed after all the practicing.
One of the classmates was practicing the sacral hold that we learned in the last class, but apparently needed a little refresher on how to "get into position." My understanding is that it looked like circus tricks on the table next to me, with legs flailing in the air and what-not. Unfortunately, I was on the table and my eyes were closed and covered with a towel, so I didn't see any of this.
WGH has been riding with me occasionally to school, getting a chance to chat, which is rather lacking during the week. While I'm in class, he enjoys going to the aeroport, which is just right down the street from school, and watching the people and planes. Both are rather fascinating. Then he picks me up and we get to ride home together and catch up on what happened in class and what sort of antics we have...like circus tricks.
This weekend, I am planning on working on creating my own "spa" music - you know - the stuff that I play while I'm working on a victim...uh...I mean, client. I don't know how far I'll get, but hope to have something soon.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Day 54 - Getting to Know the Sacrum - and Classmates
In tonight's Cranial Sacral class, went over our study guide, chakras, and then we learned about the sacrum. Let me try to explain what I understood about the chakras. They're like wheels of electro-magnetic energy around the body that have different meanings in different areas of the body. Um...I don't get it, but ok.
As far as the sacrum goes, we learned how to palpate the sacrum, which means while practicing, we got pretty up close and personal with our partner/classmate. For this class, I was quite grateful to be with a classmate with whom I feel very comfortable. Our instructor told us that as bodyworkers, if we are the least bit uncomfortable getting to where we need to go to get done what we need to get done, our client is not going to be comfortable. Being a bodyworker means truly that - working on somebody's body. I figure that the best way to get comfortable with it is just to do it.
I just realized that I am throwing around the "term" sacrum and talking about potentially being somewhat uncomfortable getting to it. The sacrum is the triangular shaped bone at the bottom of the spine, and the tip of it is called the tailbone in layman's terms. Now, we weren't working on the tailbone at the tip or anything, but just working in that area may cause uncomfortability. Like I said, the best thing is to just do it, practice it, get comfortable with it to make it easier for clients to feel comfortable with it.
As far as the sacrum goes, we learned how to palpate the sacrum, which means while practicing, we got pretty up close and personal with our partner/classmate. For this class, I was quite grateful to be with a classmate with whom I feel very comfortable. Our instructor told us that as bodyworkers, if we are the least bit uncomfortable getting to where we need to go to get done what we need to get done, our client is not going to be comfortable. Being a bodyworker means truly that - working on somebody's body. I figure that the best way to get comfortable with it is just to do it.
I just realized that I am throwing around the "term" sacrum and talking about potentially being somewhat uncomfortable getting to it. The sacrum is the triangular shaped bone at the bottom of the spine, and the tip of it is called the tailbone in layman's terms. Now, we weren't working on the tailbone at the tip or anything, but just working in that area may cause uncomfortability. Like I said, the best thing is to just do it, practice it, get comfortable with it to make it easier for clients to feel comfortable with it.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Day 51 - Unwinding
We had our regular instructor tonight for Cranial Sacral class. What a treat!
Part of the Cranial Sacral modality is feeling for movement in the head and other parts of the body referred to as "listening stations." These are places where movement happens because of the craniosacral rhythm, and the practioner can feel that rhythm when touching those areas - feet/ankles, thighs, and shoulders - all by touching the "client" with no more than 5 grams of weight - about the weight of a nickel. My partner and I both felt the movement in each other this evening and described it like a VERY subtle circular wave.
When I was the one on the table, my mind wandered back to summer camp one year when I was a "junior counselor." I think I was all of a year older than the campers. I remembered the smells of learning how to make lye soap and do other crafts, canoeing up the Potomac River to Harpers Ferry, and playing silly camp games. Just because that was 28 years ago, well, we won't talk about that. Nice little walk down memory lane. I also felt myself unwinding.
Whether the one on the table or the one doing the "work," doing this modality is very relaxing. I think I shall sleep very well tonight.
Part of the Cranial Sacral modality is feeling for movement in the head and other parts of the body referred to as "listening stations." These are places where movement happens because of the craniosacral rhythm, and the practioner can feel that rhythm when touching those areas - feet/ankles, thighs, and shoulders - all by touching the "client" with no more than 5 grams of weight - about the weight of a nickel. My partner and I both felt the movement in each other this evening and described it like a VERY subtle circular wave.
When I was the one on the table, my mind wandered back to summer camp one year when I was a "junior counselor." I think I was all of a year older than the campers. I remembered the smells of learning how to make lye soap and do other crafts, canoeing up the Potomac River to Harpers Ferry, and playing silly camp games. Just because that was 28 years ago, well, we won't talk about that. Nice little walk down memory lane. I also felt myself unwinding.
Whether the one on the table or the one doing the "work," doing this modality is very relaxing. I think I shall sleep very well tonight.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Day 48 - Combined AGAIN!
I think my classmates and I are starting to get a complex of some sort. We were combined again with another class. Our "regular" instructor was stuck in North Carolina with car problems. I guess if you're going to be stuck with car troubles, NC is ok...particularly if it's anywhere near the Outer Banks. I wouldn't mind getting stuck there for about two weeks.
Anyway, so we were combine with the other class again. It wasn't quite as bad this time, as there were a lot of students not there due to it being a Friday and all.
We studied more about Cranial Sacral, in particular the temporal bones and the mandible. I think I enjoy this modality. It's quite relaxing. Both as the practioner and the person on the table. We also took a "quiz." It didn't count. I think our substitute instructor used it as a practice quiz so that we can use it as a study guide. Sneaky, but I like it. Anything to help me study this stuff.
WGH rode with me to and from class, with the thought that we'd do something after class. We ended up going to Ruby Tuesday for a little light refreshment with one of my classmates. Nice time.
Tomorrow, I hope to have some more folks getting on my table so I can practice.
Anyway, so we were combine with the other class again. It wasn't quite as bad this time, as there were a lot of students not there due to it being a Friday and all.
We studied more about Cranial Sacral, in particular the temporal bones and the mandible. I think I enjoy this modality. It's quite relaxing. Both as the practioner and the person on the table. We also took a "quiz." It didn't count. I think our substitute instructor used it as a practice quiz so that we can use it as a study guide. Sneaky, but I like it. Anything to help me study this stuff.
WGH rode with me to and from class, with the thought that we'd do something after class. We ended up going to Ruby Tuesday for a little light refreshment with one of my classmates. Nice time.
Tomorrow, I hope to have some more folks getting on my table so I can practice.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Update - Sleep - yes
Since last night's post, I slept really stinkin' well. No, I didn't wake up in the middle of the night for any reason.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Day 46 - Waves of Sleep and Stuff
Our regular instructor for Cranial Sacral was taking some time off, so we had Darla, our current Anatomy instructor, fill in for him. I quite enjoyed it, actually. I was also very glad that they didn't combine us with another class. Because Cranial Sacral is a pretty advanced concept/modality, I found it helpful to get another "look" at the basics of it. I think I had understood it with John Mark, but with Darla's help this evening, I really think I "got it."
When we practice the body work, during certain "holds," I could really feel the rhythm that we discussed! A "hold" in Cranial Sacral is where you hold a particular part of the head or body in a particular way, like both hands on each side of the head for example. The thought is that once we really start feeling the rhythm, we'll be able to manipulate affected parts to promote better flow. That sounds really scary, even to me, but all you need to know is that I felt it. Also, the rhythm did feel a bit like a wave, like had been described in another class session.
When we were finishing up, Darla, who's a bit of a jokester, was telling us that because of the work that was done to us this evening, we would probably sleep really well, but wake up around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and either 1) wet the bed, 2) raid the refridgerator, or 3) wake up our partner for - uh...well...I won't go into that, I'm sure your imagination will work just fine.
That being said, I think I'm gonna head to bed now and see if I can get some good sleep - and see if Darla was just pulling our legs about the other stuff or if she was serious. I'd just be happy with some good sleep.
When we practice the body work, during certain "holds," I could really feel the rhythm that we discussed! A "hold" in Cranial Sacral is where you hold a particular part of the head or body in a particular way, like both hands on each side of the head for example. The thought is that once we really start feeling the rhythm, we'll be able to manipulate affected parts to promote better flow. That sounds really scary, even to me, but all you need to know is that I felt it. Also, the rhythm did feel a bit like a wave, like had been described in another class session.
When we were finishing up, Darla, who's a bit of a jokester, was telling us that because of the work that was done to us this evening, we would probably sleep really well, but wake up around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and either 1) wet the bed, 2) raid the refridgerator, or 3) wake up our partner for - uh...well...I won't go into that, I'm sure your imagination will work just fine.
That being said, I think I'm gonna head to bed now and see if I can get some good sleep - and see if Darla was just pulling our legs about the other stuff or if she was serious. I'd just be happy with some good sleep.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Day 44 - Fluid Movement
I got the treat of having WGH ride with me to and from school this evening. He just wanted to keep me company for the drive and then go hang out in B'more a bit. I think he basically went to the aeroport (BWI) and watched planes and people.
While he was having fun doing that, I was in class, learning more about the Cranial Sacral modality. I get the concept and it's really cool. I think I felt the movement I'm supposed to feel, but it's fleeting. I'm not sure if it's the rhythm of my partner's breathing or if it's the cranio sacral rhythm I'm trying to feel. Of course, while my partner was trying to feel my rhythm, I think I almost snored at her. I may be a little tired, ya think?
WGH has taken off work today and tomorrow to make a long weekend, so I am joining him tomorrow and we are both taking a long weekend, even over the holiday. Besides going to a local area lake and hopefully a pedicure, I plan on getting some people on my table so I can practice. I discovered a really cool website that allows me to have people sign-up on-line for appointments with me! I'm trying to get kinda regular hours going on the weekend, at least until I start in Student Clinic. Hey, if you're one of those people who would like to have me practice on you, here's the link: http://schedule5.createappointments.com/6317/schedule_1.html. I also can take phone calls, but if you're reading this, you're already on-line and you don't have to pick up the phone!
While he was having fun doing that, I was in class, learning more about the Cranial Sacral modality. I get the concept and it's really cool. I think I felt the movement I'm supposed to feel, but it's fleeting. I'm not sure if it's the rhythm of my partner's breathing or if it's the cranio sacral rhythm I'm trying to feel. Of course, while my partner was trying to feel my rhythm, I think I almost snored at her. I may be a little tired, ya think?
WGH has taken off work today and tomorrow to make a long weekend, so I am joining him tomorrow and we are both taking a long weekend, even over the holiday. Besides going to a local area lake and hopefully a pedicure, I plan on getting some people on my table so I can practice. I discovered a really cool website that allows me to have people sign-up on-line for appointments with me! I'm trying to get kinda regular hours going on the weekend, at least until I start in Student Clinic. Hey, if you're one of those people who would like to have me practice on you, here's the link: http://schedule5.createappointments.com/6317/schedule_1.html. I also can take phone calls, but if you're reading this, you're already on-line and you don't have to pick up the phone!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Day 42 - Mas Mater
Tonight was the first night of learning the Cranial Sacral modality which helps with headaches, neck and back pain, and other stuff I don't seem to remember that was on the list. I found it quite fascinating to know that the head expands and contracts in a rhythm and actually makes the whole body move due to its rhythm.
Through the lecture, we got to hear more about the central nervous system and the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. I'm very glad that we had anatomy and learned about the nervous system before having this class.
We partnered up and all we did was just see if we could feel the cranial expansion rhythm. My partner felt mine, and I believe I felt his.
Through the lecture, we got to hear more about the central nervous system and the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. I'm very glad that we had anatomy and learned about the nervous system before having this class.We partnered up and all we did was just see if we could feel the cranial expansion rhythm. My partner felt mine, and I believe I felt his.
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