The Core Series serves as the cornerstone of Craniosacral work. It provides instruction and practice of the most important tools—stillness and presence, as well as the hands-on techniques, anatomy and physiology related to this work. Students learn to perceive the cranial wave, mid-tide, and long tide within the fluid body. Then students learn to access them to address systemic as well as localized concerns. Students practice activities to develop their communication skills, awareness, and ability to perceive the client’s overall energy and health.

Students complete the Core Series as a cohort, developing bonds that allow them to explore this work deeply and safely. Students receive a certificate of completion upon satisfying the requirements of the program.

Core 1: Transverse Structures, Pelvis and Mandible, and Cranial Wave

In this class, you learn to work with the transverse structures of the body, to ease and promote the longitudinal flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. You are introduced to techniques for the pelvic ring (including sacrum, sacroiliac joints and pelvic floor), the respiratory diaphragm, and the thoracic inlet. You also learn to address many discomforts in relation to the mandible, beginning the use of intraoral methods. An in-depth introduction to stillness, body usage and receptive touch helps you develop the ability to be present and skillfully listen with your hands.

Core 2: Synovial Joints, Air Sinuses, Unwinding, and Mid-Tide

Here you deepen your skills with the synovial joints of the lower body. You learn specific techniques for the air sinuses allowing you to help clients with acute and chronic conditions. Your abilities as a healer improve through understanding the autonomic nervous system and its role in health. Perceiving and working with the full-body mid-tide pattern, as well as accessing unwinding as an avenue for change, provide you with entirely new ways to address your client’s concerns.

Core 3: Sphenoid, Cranial Vault, Facial Bones, and the Long Tide

Much of this class is dedicated to working with the sphenoid, the cranial base and small bones of the face. This increases your ability to work with complex patterns, locally and systemically. You also learn to engage the Long Tide—a universal expression of vitality and healing. Through the Long Tide, you can orient your understanding of individual problems far beyond the personal to the level of interconnectedness with all life. We visit nature to help us perceive the Long Tide as a resource and guide for the other rhythms in the body.

Core 4: Inherent Treatment Plan, Treatment Strategies, Cranial Sutures and Membranes

In the culminating class of the Core Series, you learn how to move beyond protocols and to hone individualized sessions that match the client's expression of inner healing. Our final additions to the landscape of the craniosacral system are the cranial membranes and bony sutures. We orient to essential principles of craniosacral work by attending the moment-to-moment unfolding within each person: the inherent treatment plan. You learn to move fluently between all three levels of the fluid body—balancing receptive listening with active interventions. You learn how to track the arc of a single session or group of sessions to identify opportunities for change. We take time together to bring the Core Series to a conclusion—honoring what we've shared and how much we've learned.

Integration Days

The four workshops of the Core Series are packed with material. This material needs to be integrated between the classes in order for the student to fully absorb, clarify and synthesize that material. Integration Days (IDs) occur between Core workshops, providing an opportunity to review principles and anatomy, to hone your technical skills and to seek supervision related to questions or concerns that arise during practice. IDs also allow for the class community to deepen their connection, set up exchanges or study groups with one another, and simply check-in about how the course is going.

As with any holistic approach, we need exposure to the work over a period of time, and to be encouraged and supported by colleagues and teachers. With this consistent exposure, we are able to clarify and integrate what we learn in class into the solitude of our practice.

Note: IDs are generally scheduled on Mondays (ID 1) and Thursdays (IDs 2-4). The office will do its best to accommodate students from out of town with regard to scheduling.

Additional Requirements of the Core Series

• Practice sessions: Students are required to submit a total of 45 client records (90 hours) documenting their practice of course material. Fifteen records are due at the start of Core 2-4 (3 batches of 15 = 45 total). A record form, with explanation and examples, is given out at Core 1. These records are reviewed by Lauren, who makes notes and suggestions for further learning. Client records are a key tool for refining the technical and interpersonal skills of craniosacral therapy.

• Student exchanges: 2 two-way exchanges with fellow students between each class (6 total; 9 practice hours) These exchanges can be counted toward your 45 practice session, or not. If they are counted toward the practice sessions, a client record form is required.

• Reading between classes: Class handouts are considered the primary text for the Core Series. Additionally, a selection of reading is drawn from two texts:

• The Heart of Listening, Vol. 2, by Hugh Milne, DO

• Wisdom in the Body, by Michael Kern (if possible, purchase the revised 3rd volume)

A specific reading list is handed out at Core 1. The reading is recommended for students who are enrolled for the Core Series only, and required of those going on for certification.