by Colleen M. Quinn

As I was eating breakfast the next day, I noticed that eating had somehow become easier. I was munching on a toasted bagel with peanut butter and reading the paper when I became aware of it. More and more, I felt that the jaw muscles on my right side were, well, working as they should. They didn’t feel sore as they normally did.

"Huh," I thought as I rubbed my cheek.

I was actually surprised that my face felt a bit different. It was as if the muscles along my jaw line had suddenly gotten stronger, making eating more comfortable. I was amazed.

My jawbone always has been asymmetrical. The right side is significantly smaller than the left, and because of the way this affects movement, the muscles are smaller and underdeveloped. For the most part, I’m the only one that notices and it doesn’t affect my quality of life – except when I’m being self critical in the mirror. The only real problem is some discomfort when I eat. Braces helped improve this, so that my teeth came together on that side, but it was still sore at times. A minor complaint, yes, yet has always been bothersome.

Then I met Tanya Pratkelis.

Tanya and I met because she was Whisperingtree.net’s Spotlight Practitioner for the month of February. My job was interviewer. I spoke with and written profiles of practitioners for over a year for Whisperingtree, each interview and person a unique and enjoyable experience. Tanya was no exception.

She told me about her work as a massage therapist and with Craniosacral therapy, or CST, as well as her background with different forms of healing touch. CST is based on the craniosacral system, which is kind of like the circulatory system in that it has its own pulse due to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the body. Practitioners move the bones of the skull and neck with slight pressure, enhancing this flow. My interview with Tanya provides a more in-depth explanation of CST, as well as her background and work.

While Tanya aptly described how CST works and the routine she follows with clients during a session, experiencing it is by far a better way to know what it’s all about. While CST by itself is a specific process, Tanya combines it with acupressure and massage therapy so that her clients may receive the full benefits this therapy offers. After our interview, I tried a session with Tanya and experienced firsthand the truly valuable effects of CST.

She began with acupressure on my upper body. This felt much like a relaxing massage as she worked on my shoulders and back with kneading, pressing motions. However, I felt some slight discomfort when she moved to my neck, throat, and head, focusing on lymph glands as well as muscles. Tanya explained that CST is a type of therapy, not a spa massage, and sometimes feels uncomfortable even though it is beneficial to the body.

The acupressure was preliminary to the actual CST itself, for which I laid fully clothed and face up on a massage table. Cupping my head in her hands, Tanya applied the slightest, barely noticeable pressure to various parts of my head, face, and neck. Reflecting on Tanya’s explanation of how CST works, I was surprised at how lightly pressure is used to move the bones in my head. I thought of the many, many times I’ve knocked my head and hoped that this would reverse any ill effects.

As Tanya worked along my neck and face, she commented that something “felt off” on my ride side. “So, someone else can see that, too!” I thought to myself. I was reassured that I wasn’t crazy after all. Upon further investigation, Tanya found that she’d need to work on the inside of my mouth as well. “Don’t worry, I use gloves!” she laughed when she saw my expression. Using a little more force, she continued CST on the muscles in my mouth. I was reminded of being in a dentist’s chair – it felt as though she was pulling muscles and pressing the roof of my mouth. Even though this was perhaps the most uncomfortable part, it was quickly done and far from painful in any way and quickly over.

The first forty-five minutes, in which Tanya completed the acupressure and CST, went by before I knew it. The following hour consisted of a therapeutic massage. She this helps close the chakras that are affected during CST and also relaxes the body after the process. This massage began with muscle manipulation, which is literally naturally positioning the muscles – putting them where they should be. This was a strange sensation and not at all uncomfortable, simply different as she pulled the muscles along my back and moved them around. She then proceeded with an entirely relaxing and enjoyable massage.

At first I wasn’t sure if it was just because I had spent the last two hours sitting still, or I was already feeling the effects of CST, but I felt completely relaxed and alert on my way home. Seeing and feeling the difference of my jaw muscles the next morning assured me that CST had done its job. As bizarre as it might sound, the simple pleasure of eating comfortably has overjoyed me. For a good week afterwards, the clear-headedness was a constant, too. I found that I could concentrate more at my job, which involves staring at a computer all day and I began sleeping better.

Perhaps the best part of my session with Tanya was that she made me feel completely comfortable with this form of therapeutic healing. Even though I had already interviewed her for the purpose of her profile, she still answered questions I had during the session and was sure to explain the reason for each part of the session. We also chatted quite a bit, except for during the last part of massage, where I dozed off!

Tanya says that the effects of CST aren’t permanent. Over time, bones and muscles move naturally out of place simply through regular wear and tear. She recommends that clients return when they feel they need a tune-up, whether it’s a few weeks or a few months. My jaw muscles have remained as they were the day after Tanya’s work; the chaos of daily life slowly wore at my new-found clarity after about a week. If anything, though, a session is worth it for the benefits of improved concentration and relaxation.

As a first time client in CST, I was amazed by how well it worked. Of course, Tanya fully explained how this therapy works and why it’s effective – it’s simply an experience unto itself in how it benefits the mind and body. I still massage the right side of my mouth out of habit, before I realize that it’s no longer a problem. Tanya’s work has helped others with far more serious and painful physical issues, and I can only imagine the relief that one can find through her work with CST. As for me, I’ll continue to enjoy my meals, pain-free!