So, I recently finished a four-day workshop on craniosacral (CST) “massage” for babies, newborn to 2-years old, and it has been one of the most delicious experiences (and physically painful too) of my life!

I went into this workshop with two expectations:

1- I was going to get to massage babies and

2- that no instructor of CST could compare to Hugh Milne

And, as is so often the case with expectations, both were a negative!

We did not massage babies and the instructor Benjamin Shield….  Let me explain.

The pediatric CST involved descriptions of the techniques which we apply on adults and how those techniques differ for a baby due to their size, to how a baby’s body receives touch and, especially, due to their anatomical differences (mainly the fact that many bones are not yet fused).  The instructor, Benjamin Shield, has a background in dentistry and over 25 years of bodywork, his aproach to the work felt genuine and heartfelt and extremely grounded in a profound knowledge of anatomy.

There would be demos each day as parents came in to the classroom with their child.  The situation would always be unique and it was always a blessing to see Ben give his full attention and respect to the child, honoring them and their parents.

Before and after the demos we would talk a little about the situation the child was presenting and Ben would give several possible outlooks on it; each outlook was grounded in a deep anatomical and emotional base.

I highly recommend this class/workshop to everyone.

In it we watched a movie called “What babies want” website which, also, I highly recommend.