CRANIOSACRAL & MASSAGE

• Deep listening to the body: gentle touch that listens to the body speak its own language 
• Unwinding fascia: releasing restrictions in the continuous sheath of connective tissue that connects and divides every structure in the body from muscles and bones to organs and cells
• Connecting with any structure in the body through the web of fascia: muscles, ligaments, bones, nerves, organs, fluids, lobes of the brain, etc.
• Releasing restrictions for the body’s fluid tides to circulate and replenish
• Releasing restrictions for the cerebral spinal fluid to bathe the nervous system, supporting healthy nervous system regulation
• Connecting with the body’s inherent health and treatment plan
• Listening for areas of the body storing past injuries: physical, emotional, spiritual, generational
• Supporting the release of past and present injuries when it’s ready to be released
• Cascading effects: releasing one area of the body sends cascades of unwinding through the whole system
• Working with the body as a systemic whole 
• Working with the understanding that physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and generational material are interwoven in the body

adhd  ~  anxiety  ~  back pain/back injuries  ~  concussion recovery  ~  depression  ~  digestive issues  ~  eds/connective tissue disorders  ~  fatigue  ~  grief  ~  headaches  ~  high-sensitivity  ~  hypermobility  ~  hypertonicity  ~  injury recovery  ~  joint pain  ~  life transitions  ~  menstrual cycles  ~  neurodivergence  ~  panic disorder  ~  sleep issues  ~  somato-emotional experience  ~  stress and burnout  ~  surgery recovery ~  tmj/jaw tension  ~  trauma/complex ptsd

Subtle Bodywork works from the inside out. The subtle techniques are based on listening to the body through touch. Listening for the sources of restriction in the body, and listening for the pathway of unwinding to release restrictions at the pace of the unique individual. 

Tactile Massage works from the outside in. In massage, the contact, weight, and movement sends input to the body to soften, release, and relax. 

This is a helpful way to generally think about these different approaches, but it should also be said that the opposite is present for subtle and tactile bodywork. Tactile massage requires listening and receptivity and subtle bodywork has an impact on the client’s system because of the presence and intention from the practitioner. 

Our bodies benefit from a mixture of working from the inside out and outside in. There are inherent healing pathways within our individual bodies, yet often the best way to access them is through the support of another person.

Depending on the person or day, our bodies need different pathways to a state of relaxation and unwinding.

• Craniosacral Therapy*
• Acupressure

• Shiatsu
• Swedish Massage
• Lymph Drainage

*Craniosacral is the primary treatment modality that Soleil uses, all other modalities are partial treatments that may be included alongside craniosacral therapy.

60 min sessions are typically fully clothed and can include:

• Craniosacral Therapy
• Shiatsu compressions & rocking (clothes-on massage)
• Acupressure 

90 min sessions that use direct skin contact can include:

• Craniosacral Therapy
• Relaxation Massage (Swedish)
• Lymph Drainage 

90 min sessions that are fully clothed can include:

• Craniosacral Therapy
• Shiatsu 
• Passive Sequencing/Joint Mobilization  
• Acupressure 

Beyond Craniosacral Therapy, Soleil works in conversation with each client to create a session that benefits their concerns and is enjoyable to receive. They can combine multiple modalities to create an optimal session for the client's needs and preferences.

Shiatsu uses compression, rocking, and joint mobilization to release stuck places and increase energy flow.

Relaxation Massage (Swedish) uses oil in direct contact with the skin. Flowing, gliding strokes with moderate pressure relax the nervous system, increase circulation, and reduce muscle tension. 

Lymph Drainage uses gentle, direct skin contact without oil to increase lymph circulation and is recommended for acute injury and inflammation.

Acupressure uses light contact to work with the body's meridians to increase energy flow.

Passive Sequencing is a combination of joint mobilization and unwinding. The client is passive while the practitioner moves their limbs and torso to allow release. 

Soleil is trained in trauma focused techniques developed by somatic psychotherapists for bodywork and massage. Bodywork is an important tool for healing from trauma, though touch sometimes requires time and trust. Soleil is dedicated to dialogue with clients who have experienced trauma to create a path for receiving bodywork safely and comfortably.

Soleil is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive healing environment for clients to receive care. 

According to a study published in European Journal of Integrative Medicine in 2015, 

"the establishment of a trusting therapeutic relationship enables CST to take clients into altered perceptual states; these in turn facilitate a new level of awareness regarding the interrelatedness of body, mind and spirit, together with an enhanced capacity to care for self and manage health problems." 

Soleil's practice orients towards ongoing care, acknowledging that the depth of the healing work is effected by emotional safety and an established therapeutic relationship.

Our bodies need touch in order to survive and thrive. Touch deprivation can cause higher anxiety, loneliness, and in extreme cases body systems may lose function. Since the pandemic, many people have received far less touch on a regular basis. It is also common to have trouble justifying receiving bodywork unless you are experiencing an acute problem. 

The need to receive touch is enough of a reason for bodywork to be beneficial. Safe and supportive touch is healing, human, and vital to wellbeing.