Module 5

3 Principles & Embryology

Reading	Sills: Foundations of Biodynamics, Vol 2 — Chapter 8, Vertebral Dynamics
Drawings	- The spine, from the following views: - Side view – whole spine - Cross section of a cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae
Anatomy Study	The Spine
Practices
Writings	- How do you notice Sun & Moon relational dynamics in your life and your various relational roles? - Do you find Yang or Yin roles easier to inhabit? - Which of the central challenges of Yang & Yin resonate most personally and why?
Questions	Write a summary of weeks 1, 2, 3 of embryological development, including any of these options: - Your own version from your notes and handouts from class - Your own experience, what you understand of it or how you see it in your own life or in cranial work.
Projects
TA Check In	- Write up 4 practice sessions or call and discuss with your homework TA. - Report includes what you noticed initially, what you did in the session, any results or outcomes observed or reported, and questions that arose for you. - Make arrangements to contact your TA twice between now and the next module. - Please don’t wait until the week before the module.

Sections in Bold Green are required for BCST practitioner certification and to be able to register with BCTA/NA.

Two Chair: Giver / Receiver

Bodywork:

Rocking at the Shoulders – listen for the downward wave
- Keep alternating rocking and listening until the client feels themselves come all the way down into the feet
Firmly Squeezing the feet – listen for the downward wave and then a rising up to the top

Yang Session

Two Chair: Tyrant (Yang ++) / Wimp (Yang --)

Bodywork:

Path of Fire
- Squeeze the first knuckle of the Air toe deeply and then softly lighten the touch and listen, feeling for pulses to balance
Tummy Rock
Rock the belly with the left hand, gentle touch on the forehead with the right hand. Alternate rocking and listening

Yin Session

Two Chair: Doormat (++) / Critic (Yin --)

Bodywork:

Hallucis Tendon – Twang the hallucis tendon behind the inner malleoli on the ankle and then listen for pulses on both sides
5-pointed Star (front)
- Rocking and Deep contact cross body on shoulder and hip – transition to listening
- Rocking & Deep contact at the diaphragm and clavicles
- End with sattvic touch at the umbilicus (right hand, middle finger) and throat (left hand, ring finger)
6-pointed Star (front)
- Sattvic contact at the pubis (right hand, middle finger) and the third eye (left hand, ring finger)

Side-lying Session

5-pointed star (back)
- Rocking contact at the hip, light contact on the opposite shoulder – then listen with both hands
- Deep contact at the trapezius muscles/shoulders, light contact on opposing hip – then listen with both hands
Parasympathetic Balance – Hold firmly at the neck and at one sitz bone, as the system softens, lighten to a listening touch
Sacrum / Occiput – Hold gently with a listening touch – drift back in time to earliest stillness. Let your hands balance top and bottom.
6-pointed Star (back)
- Sattvic contact at the coccyx (right hand, middle finger) and the foramen magnum (left hand, ring finger)

Side-lying Session

Repeat whatever is needed from Day 3 session (5-pointed star, Parasympathetic Balance)
Sacrum / Occiput – Hold gently with a listening touch – drift back in time to earliest stillness. Let your hands balance top and bottom.
Curling/Uncurling – Without moving your hands, listen for curling & uncurling. Offer resistance or ask the system to pause at either the fullness of a curl or an uncurl.
Connecting Stalk – Hold the sacrum (side-lying or prone) and connect to the layers of the field, with your hands acting as a connecting stalk for the system to the field.
Integration – Hold the feet