Parting is such sweet sorrow

The final get together of the 2014 Mastering Cranial through Mentorship has ended.  I feel happy that it was such a great success but sad that I won't be getting together with these great people regularly.  I am hopful that we will still continue to meet throughout the year(s).

As I reflect back over the course I am amazed at what we covered.  The manual is over 260 pages almost equally split between academics (anatomy physiology) and practical (techniques.)  It has been a real joy to watch as each students palpation and understanding blossomed.  The excitement that was shared with me as they "got it" made my heart glow.

Initially we started with more biomechanical and fascial approaches to the cranium.  Using induction tests or motion tests to assess the sutures.   As experience is gained over the months by way of feeling and treating a number of heads, students were able to start seeing a three dimensional hologram in their minds eye.

This can really be shown by the feeling of the back of the head.  When palpating the cranial rhythmical impulse (CRI) initially you might feel a bit of a discrepancy in the symmetry between sides.  You would need to do more assessment to be able to isolate the area involved.  Is there an inferior subluxation of the petrobasilar articulation?  Is it the occipitomastoid suture?  Is it the upper or lower limb of the occipitomastoid suture?  Is it the hingemastoid pivot at the parietal notch?  Or several other possibles?  I was happy to have reported to me that students were able to better isolate the areas prior to any specific tests.  This was only a small example of the great strides they have taken.

The last days consisted of two important things:

1. Reviewing any material that they had questions on. This part is so valuable and something you just don't get in weekend workshops.
2. Having patients come in. Working in pairs through the history, assessment and treatment phases of a session.  This is a great opportunity to put into practice the whole package of the material.  

I had a little fun with one group by saying the person had a cranial base dysfunction which they didn't in fact have.  After I told them what I found they looked at each other quizzically.  They said they found something else.  Upon asking if they where certain, they both retested the head and said yes they are both sure.  I laughed and said "good job!"  This is a very good example of three individuals assessing something and arriving at the same results.  This is the certainty that you want to have when working with a person's head!

A big THANK YOU to the whole group and a WELL DONE!

Cranial Mentorship

I have been sitting in the sun thinking about the current mentorship program that is in progress.  We recently finished a "review" day.  This allowed everyone to bring and ask questions about what we have covered in the first 6 days of classes. 

It started very informal with us discussing techniques and application in different settings.  It has been a wonderful experience so far for me as an instructor to see practitioners think, practice and think again on topics that have been presented.  It leads to a much deeper understanding.  I believe that when you have an opportunity to revisit topics and techniques again and again you start to master the material.

After the discussion period we moved on to do practical review.  It was evident to me the improvement that was being made.  All started to get a much deeper grasp on the methods.  When you distill all techniques down in our profession you come to the realization that the refining of one's palpation skills is the most important element to what we do.  Everything is based on this skill no matter how fine or gross the technique.  With cranial it is even more obvious.  After over 20 years of practice and constant honing of my palpation I am still making improvement to how I palpate and what I am able to feel.

I am looking forward to our next 6 days (spread out through June) before our next review day.  We will be looking at more of the cranium in close detail.  We will continue to look at the fascial systems and joints (we have already learn to treat the facet joints 2 different ways other than Muscle Energy Technique) in both a biomechanical and functional method. 

With the next sessions taking place in June I am wondering about holding class outside.  Maybe that is just the nice spring day talking...

CSF and Sleep

This is a really interesting and thought provoking interview.

http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2421296702

In the first 10 - 30 minutes of sleep a mouse brain increases the exchange rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into and out of the brain having a complete exchange of fluid in the brain.  This is a 10 - 100 fold increase in circulation compared to an awake mouse.  This seems to "sweep" out the brain of metabolic wastes.  This could be helpful in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Just another good reason to be getting a good nights sleep!