Our Brain Loves Stillness

Our brain loves stillness. Ask any mother with a newborn baby. When the mother is calm and relaxed, chances are the baby would be calm and relaxed too.

But it's not just mothers (or fathers) who noticed this. Neuroscientists noticed this too. In fact, special MRI studies performed on seasoned meditators found that the orbitofrontal cortex (or the prefrontal cortex) of these meditators are activated during deep, still meditative states.

And why is this important? Because it is this part of the brain that regulates and stabilizes moods and emotions, and help us recover from disruptive and distressed states. This is the part of the brain that tells the hypothalamus: "Relax...it's ok, danger is over. Time to stop all those fight/flight and freeze alerts". Our hypothalamus dutifully follows the instructions of the orbitofrontal cortex (prefrontal cortex).

In order words, by dropping into stillness, we build and strengthen the neuronal connections to the limbic system (which contain the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, hippocampus, and amygdala) for self-regulation! This also means that all those fight/flight and freeze mode that is running so automatically below our conscious awareness get to be short-circuited! A good way to get our normal, fully functioning and regulated self back together again.

Thus, our brain loves stillness, and responds beautifully and therapeutically to stillness.

Now here's the wonderful news: Biodynamic craniosacral therapy induces stillness in the body and in the brain. And that is why, I always tell my clients, cranio sessions help "rewire" their brain such that their emotional brain gets regulated. This is so helpful for those with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.

There's more: since numerous research have shown than unregulated, destructive emotions to be one of the major causes of many physical ailments, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, with its ability to induce stillness, can be a huge contribution in helping people to regain not just good physical health, but good mental and emotional health again.

And that is a most precious gift that biodynamic craniosacral therapists can offer to the world.