The Biodynamic Approach to Osteopathy has its roots in the later work of William Garner Sutherland. During the early decades of his research, Sutherland focused primarily on the biomechanical principles of the cranial mechanism. From the 1940s onwards, however, his attention gradually shifted from the mechanics of the cranial mechanism towards the living forces that organise and sustain life. Rather than asking how the body moves, he became increasingly interested in what moves the body.
He described an organising principle that expresses itself through subtle rhythms, motion and vitality—a dynamic expression of Life itself. This understanding later became known as the Biodynamic Approach, a term introduced and further developed by James Jealous, DO.
Within this approach, the emphasis is not only on treatment techniques, but above all on cultivating the practitioner’s perceptual skills. The osteopath learns to recognise the body’s inherent ordering principle and to create the conditions in which the expression of Health can unfold naturally. Treatment becomes less about correcting dysfunction and more about supporting the forces that organise, maintain and restore health.
Starting this year, we are launching a continuing programme in Biodynamic Osteopathy, taught by internationally respected faculty members. The curriculum is organised into consecutive Steps, allowing both newcomers and experienced practitioners to enter the programme at the appropriate level. The Steps have been developed by an international group of teachers dedicated to preserving and carrying forward the teachings of James Jealous.
Step 1
Designed for osteopaths with no previous training in the biodynamic aspects of osteopathy. This course provides a solid foundation and introduces the essential principles, perceptual skills and clinical application of the Biodynamic Approach.
Step 7
Intended for experienced osteopaths who have already completed several biodynamic trainings and wish to deepen their clinical understanding, perceptual abilities and practice.
Further information about the content and objectives of the individual Steps can be found on the PRO website.
This year’s programme will be taught by Elizabeth Caron, an internationally respected teacher of Biodynamic Osteopathy.
The Biodynamic Programme will become a permanent part of our postgraduate educational curriculum. Each year a new course will be offered, with internationally recognised teachers contributing their own experience and perspective. While this year’s programme will be led by Elizabeth Caron, future editions may be presented by Stephen Kisiel or other distinguished teachers from the international biodynamic community.
This annual programme offers osteopaths the opportunity to engage in a continuous learning journey, fostering greater clinical depth, refined perception and professional development while remaining grounded in the core principles of Biodynamic Osteopathy.
We warmly welcome all osteopaths who wish to deepen their palpatory skills, expand their clinical awareness and explore the living dynamics that underlie health, healing and human development.
Step One
Exploring Phase I in the biodynamic series principles
Part of the Osteopathic Foundations course series: tissue, fluid, and potency
Elizabeth Caron, D.O.
The main principles from phase I in the biodynamic series are motion present, stillness, and neutral. We sense the lesion, find an aspect of it that is healthy, i.e. motion present, then synchronize with it. When we synchronize with a phenomenon, it can be augmented, then transmutates and is disengaged. This is one of the basic principles that was taught to the students at Kirksville, the first Osteopathic College in the United States. Dr. James Jealous was one of those students. They also taught that when there is an Osteopathic lesion, the whole fractionates into predictable patterns. One of these is tissue, fluid, and potency. If this basic lesional patterning is understood, this leads us into a better understanding of fluid dynamics taught by Dr. Sutherland, the founder of Cranial Osteopathy. “The fluid in the fluid” is what Dr. Sutherland often described as a way to address Osteopathic lesions during a treatment.
First though, one must come out of denial that we are in control of a treatment. There is an indwelling therapeutic process which is an aspect of the Health. Motion present is part of this. In Step One we will study how the body lesions and it’s patterning then recognizing it as an expression of the Health. A lesion is not to be destroyed, rather understood. By stepping out of denial, we recognize that a lesion is a normal response to a stressor. The lesion is not a separate thing to manage or ignore. We can understood it and see how the Tide penetrates it. The essence of biodynamics is that there is an outside presence, the Tide, that is the primary “doer” in a treatment. Our job is to listen.
In this course we will practice, “Thinking, feeling, and seeing with intelligent fingers,” as Dr. Sutherland described; listening and not controlling. Understanding what tissue, fluid, and potency feel like, and exploring this through motion present. The system as a whole will naturally go towards neutral, a state in which the will of the patient gives way to the will of primary respiration; then, the stillness becomes apparent.
This is a series of courses equivalent to the biodynamic phase series. Exploring the principles of Osteopathy and brining in new embryologic research supporting Dr. Blechschmidt’s and Dr. Jealous’ theories. Dr. Caron is on the biodynamic faculty chosen by Dr. Jealous and personally reviewed a new curriculum with him using these principles.
Skill level equivalent to Phase I
Course perquisites:
Either a graduate or student in an accredited Osteopathic college, medical, or dental college.
It is recommended that you take a basic cranial course and/or a Biobasic course.
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