Ursula Popp, Therapist and Educator

Natural Health Resources Center
Classmates experience a profound sense of community as they learn and grow together. Photo by Ursula. Cranial bones provide students an opportunity to easily practice and visualize their techniques.

Core Series

I chose this program because I felt it was a good balance of biomechanical and biodynamic cranial work. What I got out of it was life changing and deeper than I could ever have imagined. ~ Tina Dos Santos, Core Series 2011/12

The Core Series is the cornerstone of Cranio-sacral work. It is a year-long program that includes 4, four-day workshops and 5 integration days. Student practitioners learn the bio-mechanic, bio-dynamic and bio-energetic approaches to the work and develop in-depth facility with cranial techniques based in functional anatomy and physiology. Learning a wide variety of ways to work with the fluids as expressed in the cranial rhythm, mid- and long-tides are an integral part of this program.

Training in stillness and presence are provided so practitioners develop the ability to listen for and follow the inherent treatment plan within each client. The Core Series program also provides the participant with a community of like-minded practitioners – an invaluable asset as they integrate this elegant and effective body of work into their private practices.

Not only will the practitioner acquire excellent ways to address clients' issues, but they will find a deep inner calling for purpose and reframe their own life and practice in alignment with this calling.

Core I: Transverse Structures, Pelvis and Mandible, and Cranial Wave

In addition to her talents as a master teacher of Cranio-sacral work, Ursula offers her exquisite quality of attention and her many years of spiritual practice to open new pathways for the learner. This training is inspiring to the hands, the heart, and the soul. ~ Jaune Evans

In this class you will learn to work with the transverse structures of the body, to ease and promote the longitudinal flow of the CSF. You will be introduced to techniques with the sacrum and all its muscle and bone connections and learn to address the many discomforts in relation to the mandible. An in-depth introduction to meditation will help you to develop the ability to be present and to skillfully listen with your hands.

Core II: Pelvis, Air Sinuses, Unwinding, and Mid-Tide

In this class you will deepen your understanding and skills working with the pelvis and sacrum. The techniques you will learn in relation to the air sinuses will provide you with ways of helping your clients with many complaints around their head. Your abilities as a healer will improve through understanding the Chakra system. The introduction to the mid-tide will provide you with entirely new ways to address your client’s issues.

Core III: Sphenoid, Cranial Vault, Facial Bones, and the Long Tide

Much of this class is dedicated to working with the sphenoid and other bones of the head, increasing your ability to work with complex complaints from your clients. You will expand your intuition through exercises with psychometry. The long tide will move your understanding of individual problems far beyond the personal to the level of interconnectedness of all.

Core IV: Cranial Sutures, Ventricles, Membranes, and All Tides

This class is offered as a residential to promote community and the opportunity to develop a deep sense of embodying this wonderful work.

In the fourth class in the Core Series, you will learn even more technical skills. It focuses on understanding cranial work on the deepest level through following an inherent treatment plan intrinsic to each person you touch as you move fluently between all three levels of the tide. You will learn several meditations that you can do with your clients to help access their deepest inner knowing, their soul. A protocol working with acupuncture points known as “Window of the Sky” will provide you with a powerful tool to work with emotional and spiritual issues your clients might have.

Integration Days

The four workshops of the Core Series are packed with material. This material needs to be integrated between the classes in order for the student to absorb and learn new material. Integration Days (IDs) occur monthly (often on Mondays) between workshops to give the student an opportunity to seek supervision on issues related to the application of their learning, client sessions, as well as review and deepen their technical ability and understanding of the material. IDs also allow for the community of students to deepen their connection and set up exchanges or study groups with one another. To embody Cranio-sacral therapy, one needs to be exposed to its philosophy and application on a consistent basis over a period of time. One needs the encouragement and support for some time to integrate it into the solitude of one’s practice.

IDs are an integral part of the Core Series. Students need to attend all 5 dates available. Missed Integration Days are required to be made up as tutorials.

All Integration Days meet from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM.

Client Records

Students are required to submit 75 client records between Core classes. For more information about client records, see the NHRC Student Handbook.

Class Details

  • Tuition: please see the Schedule of Fees.
  • Pre-requisite: Introductory Cranio-sacral Workshop.
  • CEUs: 142 for the Core Series/28 per class plus Integration Days. All classes are NCBTMB approved.
  • Dates & Location—Seattle, Washington. See the Class Schedule for a list of upcoming workshops.
  • Order of classes: These courses must be taken sequentially. Students NOT enrolled in the Certification Program MAY take this Series.

Student Handbook

For additional information about the Core Series and the Certification Program, please download and read the NHRC Student Handbook. For calendar, tuition, & payment information, please see the Student Handbook Addendum.

Registration

The Therapeutic Training Center is now sponsoring Ursula's Classes. To register, please contact them at:

If you have any questions about the course or program content, please contact Ursula at ursula@ursulapopp.com.