Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves Therapy, Delta Wave, and Pulse Massage

I was introduced to Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves Therapy by my former employer. She owns her own business, is an LMT, teacher, and has become a very good friend of mine. She offered her massage therapists CEU’s (continuing education credits), in various types of techniques, as one of the benefits of being employed by her so I took advantage of this opportunity and became certified in Craniosacral Therapy. She recommended, and offered to loan me her copy of, a book called Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves: A Scientific Approach to Craniosacral Therapy by Olaf J. Korpiun, Ph.D which I immediately ordered online. It sounded intriguing so thought I should have my own copy to add to my growing library of reference books. Upon receiving the book, from the moment I opened the cover, I couldn’t put it down until I had read it completely. Needless to say, this scientific approach to Craniosacral Therapy was just what I needed to “connect” to this type of work. I became immersed into what he was talking about and found myself bodysurfing my way through his words.

I was raised in Hawaii and a large part of my life has been centered around, and in, the ocean. I spent a lot of time swimming, snorkeling, and bodysurfing. The words he used to describe this kind of work spoke to me in a way that I could relate to, reminding me of the days when I would move in time with the rhythm of the ocean, the rolling of the waves, and the flow of the currents, as though I was one with the ocean. His depiction and teachings of SELF Waves resonated with me in the same way I connected with the waves of the ocean and realized that we also have wave-like movements that flow within us. This was exciting!

Craniosacral Therapy is considered a type of massage although it’s origin was born out of Osteopathy. In 1970, Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger, while assisting during a neck surgery, observed the rhythmic movement of what would soon be identified as the Craniosacral system from which Craniosacral Therapy was developed. Olaf J. Korpiun, Ph.D., author of Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves Therapy: A Scientific Approach to Craniosacral Therapy, has taken this therapy to a new dimensional level.

Delta Wave and Pulse Massage was created by Licensed Massage Therapist, Spa Owner, and Teacher, Brad Drummer. Some of the strokes he teaches in using these methods of massage are rocking, pulsing, floating, pulling, and light jostling movements, to name a few. Applying these wave-like movements to the body, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated and thereby, creates a deeper relaxation experience. The deeper the body goes into a relaxed state, the delta state, natural healing can then take place more effectively.

By applying light to medium pressure, to specific parts of the body i.e. the head, base of the cranial bone, sacrum, hips, ankles, arms, ribs, etc., a therapist is able to connect with the ‘pulse, rhythm, or flow’ of the wave-like motions of cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and lymph fluid which assists the body in healing. Subtle movements of ‘pushing and pulling’ allow a therapist to aid in an ‘uncurling’ or ‘unwinding’, of tension, tightness, and holding in connective tissue thereby creating ‘space’ for things to start opening up and releasing. When bodies are no longer in a state of tension, tightness, and holding, the different systems in our body i.e., skeletal, vascular, lymphatic, respiratory, nervous, digestive, etc., are able to function more effectively. Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves Therapy, incorporating Delta Waves and Pulse Massage are gentle to the touch but deeply effective to the body.

When bodysurfing, as in life, you have days when your timing is perfect in catching that perfect wave. Other days, maybe you’re a little off on your timing and you catch a few waves but nothing spectacular. Then there are those days when you swim out there and just feel like a rag doll being tossed and turned, pounded and spit out, and it’s just been rough. Through my own experiences, I’ve learned the more I become fluid and one with the movement of the ocean, the easier it is for me to play, move, and appreciate going with the flow of the waves.

Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves Therapy, Delta Wave, and Pulse Massage can make you feel like that. Sometimes one will feel subtle shifts and movements, sometimes they are significant. Sometimes individuals will not really feel much of anything on a physical level but will go into ‘the delta zone’. I’ve even had some clients express their surprise at how deeply they were affected by this type of work because their experience was that of having received a deep tissue massage, without the pain. Everyone’s experience is different, yet all have expressed how effective these therapies are on varying levels.

In the 23 years of practice and experience, 20 years practicing Deep Tissue and Restructuring Body work, Cranio~Sacral~SELF~Waves Therapy, Delta Wave, and Pulse Massage is by far the deepest work that I have ever done. These therapies have a profound affect on our body at the cellular level, the ‘source’ of our being.

“I believe we can effectively access the source of profound healing and balance within our own individual systems allowing us to become more whole in our well-being. This work is a holistic approach to a different kind of massage therapy that can affect us on a much deeper level.” NLB