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Franklyn Sills, along with the Karuna teaching staff, has pioneered the theoretical and clinical teaching approaches used in this training. This approach has influenced other trainings around the world. The Craniosacral Therapy Association of the United Kingdom accredits the course and the Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America also recognizes it. Successful completion of the course leads to a professional qualification in Craniosacral Therapy.

Craniosacral Biodynamics is an approach to the teaching and practice of Craniosacral Therapy that acknowledges the deepest foundations of the human system. In this approach we, as human beings, are seen to be an expression of the wholeness of life itself. A universal principle called the Breath Of Life is perceived to be the mediator of the organization and cohesion of the human system. It orders and integrates all cellular and tissue function from the moment of conception until death. In this concept, the Breath of Life generates a biodynamic life force called potency within the fluids of the body. This potency maintains and integrates all life functions within the human system and is its intrinsic Health. Students learn to perceive this intrinsic Health and the subtle rhythmic tide-like motions of primary respiration that it generates. This Health is never lost and the intention of the work is to re-establish the relationship between chaotic and disordered cells and tissues and the potency of the Breath of Life. The emphasis of the work is to sense how the body is expressing this Health, even in the most acute resistances and pathologies. This idea is seen in Chinese Medicine where jing is the “essence” within the body whose role is to maintain order, integration and healing processes. It is also seen in Tibetan Medicine where the “wind of the vital forces” is the unconditioned blueprint energy of the human system. In both of these traditional medical systems this inherent force is said to initially reside within cerebrospinal fluid, just as perceived in a Craniosacral Biodynamic context.

The Karuna Institute is located in the beautiful Dartmoor National Park at Natsworthy Manor near Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Surrounded by the natural beauty of moorland and forest, the Karuna Institute is ideally located for residential trainings and retreats. It is easily accessible from the A38 and by rail from Newton Abbot on the Paddington to Penzance line.

During the course, students are required to produce homework assignments and projects and to undertake practice sessions between seminar meetings. Supervision, feedback and course handouts are provided throughout the course. Students are assessed in an on-going fashion and are required to achieve a professional standard of practice before graduation. Formal tutor assessments occur halfway through the course and towards the end of the course. Written and practical assessments are required for graduation.

The professional training course is open to practitioners of orthodox and complementary medicine and therapy. A grounding in anatomy and physiology is required. Dates and costs are to be found in the current Karuna Institute Programme. If you are interested in the course, please go to the course application form.

The Karuna Institute training programme is recognised by the Craniosacral Therapy Association of the United Kingdom and its graduates are eligible to become members of the Register of Craniosacral Therapists. There are now similar associations in various countries of the world which accept the Karuna qualification. Graduates are eligible to attend advanced post-graduate courses at the Institute and the Institute also offers an Advanced Diploma in Craniosacral Biodynamics.

Intention of the Training

~ To provide a nurturing and safe learning environment in a setting of natural beauty.
~ To nurture and encourage the personal development of both tutor and student alike.
~ To provide an integrated training in Craniosacral Biodynamics firmly rooted in the innovative work of Dr. William Garner Sutherland which includes the insights of later practitioners in the Cranial Field.
~ To provide an integrated training with influences from other relevant fields which include the pioneering work of Dr. William Emerson in prenatal and birth trauma, the work of Dr. Raymond Castellino in healing infant trauma and the work of Dr. Peter Levine in healing shock and traumatisation in the human system. These influences are especially emphasised in the Advanced Courses.
~ To provide an in depth appreciation of the healing principles of the Breath of Life and its unfoldment in the human system.
~ To provide an in depth understanding and appreciation of these principles and to be able to safely apply them within a clinical context.
~ To convey and teach, within this context, clearly defined palpation and therapeutic skills with the ability to apply these skills within a clinical context.
~ To graduate skilled, safe and therapeutically effective Practitioners.

Course Work and Student Evaluation

~ Homework is assigned each training module. This includes both written work and reading. Students are asked to write up a minimum of two practice sessions as part of each assignment. Students are expected to complete all homework on time.
~ There is a written project undertaken in the second year of the training.
~ Students are expected to undertake a minimum of two practice sessions a week outside of class time. These are with practice clients who enter into a non-paying, non-professional relationship with the student. Practice clients must understand that the purpose of sessions are solely to support the student s learning process. If the practice client needs professional help they must be referred to a qualified practitioner. Students will receive supervision feedback in small groups during seminar time.
~ Students are evaluated in an on-going fashion throughout the course. Palpation and clinical skills are tracked by tutors and appropriate feedback and help is offered in an on-going fashion.
~ There are two formal practical assessment/feedback sessions scheduled during course time. These are individual sessions where students practice the work on tutors for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Clinical palpation skills are the focus of the assessment sessions. Students are given tutorial feedback and their skills are assessed. These occur towards the end of each training year.
~ There is a written final exam given at the end of the second year.
~ Students are encouraged to form local study groups which meet between seminar times. Study groups with tutors can also be arranged.
~ Students are required to experience at least ten sessions from a qualified practitioner within the two years of course time.

Teaching Format

~ Small class sizes of up to 20 students are maintained.
~ Learning occurs largely via observation and exploration.
~ At least a five to one student-teacher ratio is maintained in order to provide in depth feedback on palpation and clinical skills during practical sessions.
~ Small and large group feedback occurs after practical sessions.
~ Teaching methods include lectures, the use of visual aids, demonstrations, guided sessions, visualisation work, small group exploration and feedback, supervision feedback; all with an emphasis on student observation and exploration.
~ Tutorial and supervision sessions are included in each training module. Each student is assigned a tutor who may be consulted for personal feedback.
~ Practical clinical applications are emphasised with approximately sixty percent of class time given to hands on practical session work.
~ Course notes are provided for each training module. Notes on clinical applications and diagrams and drawings to support the learning process are provided.
~ Students are encouraged to meet as a peer group each seminar and to elect a student representative. This representative is nominated to give course feedback and suggestions from the peer group to the course co-ordinator. Students are also encouraged to individually give course feedback at any time. Written course feedback forms are part of many homework assignments.

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Two Year Training 2008-2010

First Year Dates (Oct 2008 intake)
Sun 5 Oct ­ Fri 10 Oct 2008
Sun 30 Nov ­ Fri 5 Dec 2008
Sun 1 Feb ­ Fri 6 Feb 2009
Sun 5 Apr ­ Fri 10 Apr 2009
Sun 7 Jun ­ Fri 12 Jun 2009

Second Year Dates (Oct 2008 intake)
Sun 6 Sep - Fri 11 Sep 2009
Sun 1 Nov - Fri 6 Nov 2009
Sun 10 Jan 2010 - Fri 15 Jan 2010
Sun 7 Mar 2010 - Fri 12 Mar 2010
Sun 2 May 2010 - Fri 7 May 2010

Costs: £7,875 (including residential fees) Deposit: £1000 then monthly instalments by standing order or bank transfer of £342.56 a month over 20 months. There is a 5% administration charge when paying by this method.

Non-residential cost : £6,625.  This fee includes lunch, dinner and
refreshments during the seminar breaks.
Deposit : £805

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Tutors: Franklyn Sills and Staff (a 5 to 1 student/tutor ratio is maintained in staffing).

Franklyn Sills is an eminent innovator in the field of Craniosacral Biodynamics. The Karuna Institute foundation training and advanced courses have influenced trainings and practitioners worldwide. Franklyn’s teachings are continually on the cutting edge of work in this field.