The Deal

• C$68.50 for one cranial-sacral or bowen therapy session (C$120 value)

Cranial-Sacral Therapy: Helping the Whole Body Breathe

One of the many healing massage styles on the menu is cranial-sacral therapy. To see if it might be for you, read on.

Like Hamlet before him, Dr. William Sutherland had a human skull to thank for one of his life’s central epiphanies. The osteopathic physician formulated his breath of life theory as he considered the remains of the skull in question. He postulated that the body is composed of three subtle rhythms produced by living tissue as it “breathes.” These rhythms—the cranial, the mid-tide, and the long tide—combine to form a blueprint of the body’s health. Dr. Sutherland’s breath of life theory would go on to inform the techniques of cranial-sacral therapy, which uses light touches to the head and spinal column to identify and manipulate this collective blueprint in hopes of preventing disease and stimulating self-healing.

By tapping into the “breath of life,” cranial-sacral therapists aim to rebalance the rhythms negatively affected by toxins and traumas. Practitioners believe that their gentle, targeted approach can repair these afflictions and promote long-lasting health. Like other holistic remedies, cranial-sacral therapy focuses on restoring well-being throughout the whole body. It may be used to heal ailments that range from migraines and headaches to chronic fatigue and stress-related disorders.