Integrating CST with other modalities

[astutewoman]

For those of you who do CST along with other modalities in mixed sessions... how does that look for you? Have you found it's generally better to start with CST, finish with it, sprinkle it in? Or is every session really completely different?

I have a client coming next week for 90 minutes CST + 30 minutes swedish/deep tissue. I'm fine just letting the session guide itself, and it still brought up this question for me to ask you folks.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I "sprinkle" various cst releases throughout the massage depending on what parts of the body the client is complaining about needing to have "fixed" on any particular day. Favorites amoung my clientele are CV4 [stillpoint induction at occiput], pelvic diaphragm release [1 male client calls it "the butt sandwich" and the "ear pull". Of course I also use the rest of the cst kata, but, those are the ones that are most requested and that are most readily [for me] "mixable" with the orthobionomy, swedish, intuitive bodywork blend that I already use.

 

[Janelle]

I find CST to be a beautiful way to create smooth transitions when doing LDT (lymphatic Drainage) work. I also like to use it to start a session as a palpation tool to find what's going on. Ending with a stillpoint is a favorite. And I've seen 3 whiplash clients this past week and the hyoid diaphragm hold has been extremely helpful. I think CST is very easy to integrate to almost any session!

 

[moo goo gai pan]

When I incorporate CST into a session, my intent is twofold: relax the client (mentally, emotionally, and fascially) and to a quick palpation overview (very effective). With palpation, when the client is asked, they sometimes say something like "oh, yeah...last week, I hit my hip on something and it hurt for a while, but I'm fine now...". I also use directed energy quite frequently, generally during the CST portion (usually in the beginning).