What is Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) is a gentle and non-invasive hands - on therapy that supports the health and healing of the whole person; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Sessions take place with the client resting in a supine position, fully clothed, on a massage table. The biodynamic practitioner employs a light touch informed and centered by a deep perceptual stillness.
Learn more about the benefits of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy here: https://bcta.memberclicks.net/what-is-biodynamic-craniosacral-therapy-
The History of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy derives from Osteopathy, a practice of manual medicine that was developed at the end of the 19th century by A.T. Still.
The fundamentals of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can be traced back to the later work and insights of the osteopath Dr. William Garner Sutherland. At the turn of the 20th century, Sutherland intuited that the bones of the skull were designed to accommodate a form of respiratory motion. In time, Sutherland realized that this vital rhythmic motion was not isolated to the bones of the skull but permeated the entire organism. Sutherland further realized that the fluids of the body, especially the cerebrospinal fluid, acted as the primary interface between the action of the vital rhythmic forces and the body’s ability to respond to those forces as an expression of health. During the 1940’s Sutherland discovered that that these vital rhythmic forces were being generated and orchestrated by a higher Intelligence. He referred to this higher Intelligence as the Breath of Life. Sutherland’s pioneering work was continued by a number of his osteopathic students based mainly in New England.
James Jealous, a young visionary osteopath connected to this group, developed Sutherland’s ideas further by incorporating the science of biodynamic embryology into the work. Dr. Jealous, then founded Biodynamic Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (BOCF.)
Inspired by these ideas, Franklyn Sills, a former osteopathic student, introduced the emerging biodynamic paradigm into the field of craniosacral therapy. Founded in the early 1990’s, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is now practiced by many thousands of practitioners worldwide. The work continues to evolve.
Michael Dunning RCST®
Michael was called to study craniosacral work in the midst of a long - term and serious health crisis that led him to an ancient female yew tree in Scotland. Michael spent over 9 years healing and learning from the tree. During that time, the ancient yew directed Michael to craniosacral therapy which he began studying during the early 1990’s with Donald Howitt D.O. After graduating, Michael established a craniosacral practice in Edinburgh and in rural East Lothian where he worked with adults of all ages, children, newborns and even horses!
During the later 1990’s, Michael became interested in the emerging paradigm of biodynamic craniosacral therapy. The fundamental principles of the biodynamic work seemed to more accurately reflect his experiences of healing and learning beneath the ancient yew tree in Scotland. By the early 2000’s Michael had emigrated to the USA and was practicing the biodynamic craniosacral work exclusively.
Today, Michael runs a busy biodynamic craniosacral practice in Hadley Massachusetts, USA on the banks of the majestic Connecticut River.
Please email Michael for bookings and questions: [email protected]
Teaching
Michael began giving public talks about craniosacral therapy in 1997 and has been teaching biodynamic craniosacral therapy in the USA since 2005. In 2011, he taught his first professional two - year foundation training in biodynamic craniosacral therapy. That training took place at the Cranwell Resort in the Berkshires, MA, USA. In 2015, Michael taught a second professional two - year foundation training in Northampton, MA. Michael will be offering a third professional two - year biodynamic craniosacral training in western MA, beginning spring 2025. Michael is a BCTA/NA Approved Teacher.
(2025 training dates yet to be announced. Please contact Michael here if you would like to be placed on our waiting list.)
Mentoring
Michael offers individual mentoring sessions to teachers, practitioners and students of biodynamic craniosacral work. Mentoring covers all aspects of the biodynamic work with an emphasis on perceptual skills and biodynamic embryology. Michael also offers a unique perspective on human embryology and physiology inspired by his healing experiences with the ancient yew trees in Scotland and informed by the western esoteric tradition. Mentoring sessions are offered on zoom, by phone or in person.
Please contact Michael here if you would like to plan a mentoring session.
Conferences & Events
In September 2023, Michael was invited to present at the Biodynamic Craniosacral Association of North America’s annual Breath of Life Conference in Colorado. Michael’s presentation, Primary Respiration & the Mystery of the Horizon can be viewed through the BCTA/NA website: https://www.craniosacraltherapy.org/annual-conference
Michael will be offering a two-part online workshop for the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America’s Professional Enrichment webinar series in June 2024. Sign up here for Michael’s two -part workshop, Esoteric Explorations of the Heart, the Brain Ventricles & the CSF in Biodynamic Perception and Practice, parts 1 & 2
Podcasts
Michael is featured on several episodes of the Craniosacral Podcast. Episodes listed below.
Writing
Michael’s 500 - page book about biodynamic craniosacral therapy is currently at the editing phase. The book describes Michael’s unique vision of the biodynamic craniosacral work and is filled with esoteric embryology and insights gained from his life’s work with the ancient yew trees.
