The Fluid Body and Craniosacral Therapy

Here's a perceptual shift abut our physical body: Beneath the layers of our skin, human beings are a walking, breathing, beating, vibrating bag of fluids! More than 70% of our body is composed of water. Tissues are 70 - 80% water, blood plasma is more than 90%, bones are almost 25% and fat is 10 - 15% water.

There are two major categories of body fluids - intracellular and extracellular fluids.

Intracellular fluid (also called cytoplasm) is found inside all the cells of our body. Extracellular fluids consists of all other fluids in the body: fluid in spaces between cells and tissues; blood plasma and lymphs; fluids in bones, joints and dense connective tissues; saliva, mucus, sweat and urine.

Plus, here's what's true: we are all born from the merging of two great body of fluids. The embryo is fluid!

Why does Nature designed us this way?

Well, water is an excellent solvent, and the thousands of substances dissolved in it are used in the biochemical reactions that are the very basis of life. Water also distributes nutrients around the body and collects and delivers wastes. Water spreads heat from active areas to cooler areas, and act as shock absorbers to cushion sensitive areas such as the brain (actually, our brain floats in clear cerebrospinal fluid). Fluids also work as lubricants, so that tissues and organs slip past each other with minimal friction.

Then, there's more: Dr. William Sutherland discovered that the movements or currents in the fluids of the body are generated by deeper organized movement in the cytoplasm, and they function as a continuum in the whole body. He said that these movement originate from a force whom he called The Breath of Life; and the principal movement effect found in the fluids was called Primary Respiration. More importantly, Dr. Sutherland also said that not only could the fluids of the body hold trauma, but there are self-correcting forces located in the fluids!

Based on the characteristics of water, and the discoveries of Dr. Sutherland, it makes so much sense why biodynamic craniosacral therapist relates so much to the fluid field instead of focusing on tissue patterns. This is the uniqueness and strength of this model; which is based on the intention of contacting the continuity of all the fluids in the body, thus utilizing that self-correcting force for healing to occur.

And that is why, the fluid body loves and warmly welcomes biodynamic craniosacral therapy into its system. It feels very much like home.