Our body isn’t perfectly symmetrical, and it’s not meant to be.
The brain, breathing, circulation, and even muscle tone all follow a natural left–right rhythm that keeps us balanced and adaptive.
When that rhythm is disrupted by stress, posture imbalance, or chronic tension, the body can get “stuck,” showing up as jaw tightness, headaches, dizziness, anxiety, poor sleep, or even swallowing and balance issues.
The Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) Perspective
Cranial Resolution, a tertiary course from the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), explores how restoring subtle motion between the cranium and upper cervical spine can help rebalance the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
By restoring rhythmic cranial motion, we can:
- Improve autonomic switching (fight or flight ↔ rest and digest)
- Enhance thalamic & brainstem signaling
- Regulate blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow
- Support natural recovery and calm
The Nasal Cycle: Nature’s Built-in Rhythm
This nasal cycle mirrors oscillation in your brain hemispheres, helping maintain alertness, rest, and internal regulation.
Palatine Neutrality: Why Jaw Balance Matters
Your palate connects the jaw, throat, and cranial base.
Balanced chewing, tongue position, and muscle rhythm restore nasal airflow and pressure balance within the head and neck.
Who Can Benefit from Cranial Resolution?
Autonomic Nervous System Symptoms
- Chronic headaches or migraines
- Sleep difficulties or anxiety
- Autonomic imbalance (heart, gut, fatigue)
- Over-breathing or body tightness under stress
⇒ Restoring cranial rhythm helps the body re-learn calm and adaptability.
Neurological & Balance Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) / Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) / Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
- Dystonia / Tourette Syndrome / Stiff Person Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injury / Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy / Chronic Stress Imbalance
⇒ Integrate signals between the thalamus, midbrain & brainstem, supporting better control of postural tone, coordination & breathing rhythm.
Musculoskeletal & Functional Issues
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction (TMD)
- Chronic neck or shoulder stiffness
- Restricted breathing or chest expansion
- Postural compensation, forward head posture
⇒ Cranial correction helps balance head–neck pressure, breathing flow, and tension release.
When neural rhythms fall out of sync and posture compensates, the body starts showing symptoms — both physical and emotional.
Cranial Resolution isn’t about “adjusting bones.”
It’s about restoring the natural rhythm between the brain and body, so your breath, movement, and mind can work in harmony again.
Speaker: Jennifer Smart, PT, DPT, PRC
Hosted by FuncPhysio Physical Therapy (New York, NY)
Oct 11-12, 2025
