Basic Approaches to

Balancing the
Craniosacral System
Part Two

Janet Evergreen, MA, NCTMB Approved Provider

The Sanctuary
115 RiverBluff Circle, Charlottesville, VA
janetevergreen@cs.com
(434) 293.2737

Appreciative Interview Guide (adapted for class use)

1. Story-telling: Tell me a story about a time when you felt the most
present, alive, nurtured, protected and embodying life. Recall this time
when you felt the most alive, most involved, or most excited. What
made you feel alive, balanced, or empowered? Who was involved?
Describe the event in detail.
1. Values: What are the things you value deeply, specifically the things
you value about yourself, your life, and this class.
(1)

YOURSELF: what do you value most about yourself-as a

human being, a friend, a parent, a citizen and so on?

(2)

YOUR LIFE: When you are feeling best about your life what
do you value about it?

(3)

YOUR MOTIVATION FOR BEING IN THIS CLASS

(When talking with a client, adapt this question to ask about
their goals. For example ask about family, work or health)
What is it about this class that you value? How has class
supported your being more present in your life?
What is it that, if it did not exist, would make this class
totally different than it currently is?

3. Three Wishes: If you had three wishes what would they be?
4. Write an affirmation, a provocative proposition you wish to
embody and celebrate.
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Affirmations as
Good Provocative Propositions
Using Positive Images

1. Is it provocative: Does it stretch, challenge, or interrupt the

status quo?
2. Is it grounded: Are there examples that illustrate the ideal as
a real possibility
3. Is it desired: If it could be fully actualized, do you want it as
a preferred future?
4. Is it stated in affirmative and bold terms?
5. Does it provide guidance for your future as a whole?
6. Does it expand the zone of possible change and
developmental skills?
7. Is it a high involvement process?
8. Is it used to stimulate intergenerational learning and growth?
9. Is there balance of Continuity, Novelty, Transition?

Examples of Appreciative Inquiry

Provocative Statements

I am living completely and fully

in my body, sniffing my
truth moment-to-moment
In my body
I am stepping gratefully
toward being
Wide Awake
In relationship I move
deeply resourced and clear
Naked, natural, alive, joyful
I embrace potency
I am a woman
I am strong
I speak my truth
I am connected, loved and at Peace.
I always return to my stillpoint, anchored by the master gland,
allowing love - that keystone within me - to join me with all of you
to create a stillpoint of healing in this world.

I happily and joyfully live and die moment by moment.

In my body, with freedom, I journey safely through each step of

life, with utter joy.

Sutherlands Cranial Base Dysfunctions

These are dysfunctions (Sutherland called them lesions) between the sphenoid and the occiput.
These bones move on each other at the sphenobasilar junction.
The basic cranial rhythm with its flexion/extension cycles continues although it is distorted by
the dysfunctions.

Possible Dysfunctions:
1. Flexion- Extension
2. Torsion left or right
3. Side-Bending left or right
4. Lateral Strain left or right
5. Vertical Strain superior or inferior
6. Compression
These dysfunctions can be detected during the sphenoid compression/decompression technique
from CST I.

How to Test for Dysfunction

Stabilize the occiput and move the sphenoid on it. (for flexion/ extension: dont stabilize
occiput)
Test each range of motion: does the sphenoid move equally far in each direction and does
the movement in each direction take the same amount of time?

Naming the Dysfunction

Examples:
If in torsion it moves further to the left than to the right it is a left torsion dysfunction.
If in side-bending the motion to the right side takes longer than the motion to the left, it is
a right side-bending dysfunction.

How to Normalize the Dysfunction

Stabilize the occiput, move the sphenoid in the direction of the dysfunction up to its
greatest range of motion (taking out the slack) and wait for release.
Release occurs when a sense of relaxation or widening is felt and the difference in time or
distance between the directions (e.g. left and right torsion motion) becomes more equal.

Clinical Significance:
Flexion/Extension, Torsion and Side-Bending are caused by factors external to the dura mater
and involve opposite motions of the occiput and sphenoid. Symptoms include sinus problems,
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head aches etc. They are clinically less severe than lateral or vertical strain and compression,
which are all caused by factors in the cranial dura mater and involve same-direction motions of
the occiput and sphenoid. Symptoms can include severe pain, emotional disorders, learning
problems etc.

Flexion- Extension
There is a dysfunction if the sphenobasilar complex moves further into or remains longer in one
of the two directions. Any dysfunction is a compensation and has a reason for being there that
may or may not need to be negotiated to rebalance.
Insert Picture of Motion
Axis of motion: Transverse
Sphenoid and occiput move in: opposite directions
Origin of this dysfunction: External to Dura Mater

Possible Symptoms Clients may be experiencing:

Flexion - Headache, Sinusitis, low back pain chronic, recurring but rarely disabling
Extension - Migrain type headaches, sinus problems, can be severe for a short period. Typically
goes with obsessive- compulsive personality type, may be into solitary, non-team activities (like
marathon running)

Torsion
There is a dysfunction if the sphenobasilar complex moves further into or remains longer in one
of the two directions (left or right).
Insert Picture of Motion
Axis of motion: Longitudinal
Sphenoid and occiput move in: opposite directions
Origin of this dysfunction: External to Dura Mater

Possible Symptoms Clients may be experiencing:

Head or neck pain, sinusitis, temporal bone dysfunctions, scoliosis, eye motion problems, sacrum
mimics occiput

Side-Bending
There is a dysfunction if the sphenobasilar complex moves further into or remains longer in one
of the two directions (left or right). Named for the side where wing is anterior
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Insert Picture of Motion

Axis of motion: vertical
Sphenoid and occiput move in: opposite directions
Origin of this dysfunction: External to Dura Mater

Possible Symptoms Clients may be experiencing:

Headaches, endocrine (hormonal) disorders, allergies, TMJ problems

Lateral Strain
There is a dysfunction if the sphenobasilar complex moves further into or remains longer in one
of the two directions (left or right)
Insert Picture of Motion
Axis of motion: vertical
Sphenoid and occiput move in: same direction
Origin of this dysfunction: in the intracranial dura mater

Possible Symptoms Clients may be experiencing:

Pain syndromes, personality disorders, endocrine disorders, various learning disabilities,
eye/motor coordination problems, reading problems

Vertical Strain
There is a dysfunction if the sphenobasilar complex moves further into or remains longer in one
of the two directions.
Insert Picture of Motion
Axis of motion: Transverse
Sphenoid and occiput move in: same direction
Origin of this dysfunction: in the intracranial dura mater

Possible Symptoms Clients may be experiencing:

Same as lateral strain but more severe: pain syndromes, personality disorders, endocrine
disorders, learning and reading problems, eye/motor coordination problems

Compression
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There is a dysfunction if the sphenobasilar junction remains in a compressed state.

Insert Picture of Motion
There is no axis of rotation.
Origin of this dysfunction: Intracranial dura mater, sutures, occipital condyles, L5/S1

Possible Symptoms Clients may be experiencing:

This is the most severe dysfunction. It can manifest in any or all of the problems listed above,
and in severe emotional problems, depression, childhood autism.

Protocol for Hard Palate Evaluation and Treatment

1. Preparation
Be sure that all diaphragms, the occipital cranial base, the intra-cranial membranes, the
dural tube and the TMJs have been released and balanced. (see Janets 12-step protocol)

2. Maxillary-Palatine Complex
Check for
a. Flexion Extension should be balanced and in synchrony with the sphenoid
b. Torsion left or right. Follow direction of ease into torsion and wait for release.
c. Shear left or right. Follow direction of ease into shear and wait for release.
d. Impaction/Compression. Follow into compression and encourage decompression.
During b, c, and d support the sphenoid so that you do not introduce any dysfunction into
the cranial base via the sphenoid-hard palate relationship.

3. Vomer
Finger in center of hard palate. Feel for Vomer through the hard palate.
Check for
a. Flexion Extension (with sphenoid synchrony)
b. Torsion direction of ease: left or right
c. Shear direction of ease: left or right
d. Impaction/Compression

4. Palatines
Mobilize cephalad and laterally (this is in the original protocol though not in this class).
5. Zygomata
Mobilize individually. Finger between lip and gums, hook under, pull gently anterior.
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6. Rebalance Hard Palate (as needed, see step 2)

7. Temporal bones
Decompression. Especially through ear pull. Also balance at the mastoid processes and
through rocking (finger in ear).
8. Mandible - Rebalance and move it anteriorly (TMJ Technique)
9. Nasal Bones (this is in the original protocol though not in this class).
10. Rebalance Spheno-occipital cranial base

Cranial Evaluation for Newborns

As you start working with Newborns, remember:
The importance of respect and contact.
The sense of listening with your whole field.
Trusting the stillpoints in relationship to open-ended questions.
When you work with newborns their parent(s) will most likely be very close-by,
maybe even in physical contact with the little one. They might be anxious, or in
any case they will be intensely involved with their attention and interest. Thus you
are working with both infant and parent(s) at the same time. The best way to get a
feel for this is to observe Janet or other experienced practitioners work with
newborns and parents.
As you evaluate each of the following areas, treat where indicated:
1. Diaphragms
2. Dural Tube (Rock, Glide)
3. Cranial Base
4. Vomer Flexion/Extension and Sucking Reflex
5. Vault Hold
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For step 4, see Protocol for Hard Palate. For all other steps, see 12-Step Protocol (taught
in Part I).

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