About Carol Gray

The Carol Gray Center for CST Studies^®

I am the founder and director of the Carol Gray Center for CST Studies^®. I teach high-quality, small group classes that are appropriate for bodyworkers, birth attendants and other health professionals. I am approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education approved provider.

MamaSpace Yoga^®

MamaSpace Yoga^® is all about Making Room for Babies^® in pregnant bodies. MamaSpace Yoga is online! Join us any time – any place! When babies have room to move they assume more ideal positions for birth. This unique prenatal yoga style enhances and supports the bodywork I’ve developed for pregnant people. The concept of maternal mobility making space for babies receives little attention in our culture, but is vitally important to fetal development and birth outcomes. In addition to prenatal yoga we offer a variety of classes and workshops. You also have the option of Private Yoga Instruction.

Free Clinics

My students, my colleagues and I offer free CST treatments for infants plus pregnant and postpartum people in Portland Oregon once a month.

Midwifery

I have dedicated my professional life to supporting expectant and new families by promoting gentle aware birth. I attended births for over 35 years – at first as a doula and from 2000 to 2012 as a midwife. I have since retired from attending births in order to focus on practicing and teaching CST and prenatal yoga. My many years as a birth worker have forever changed me and my worldview. Those experiences remain an integral part of who I am as a therapist and teacher.

Public Speaking

In recent years I presented at:

• International Consortium of Ankylofrenula Professionals
• International Lactation Consultant Association
• Midwifery Today
• Gold Lactation Online Conference
• Gold Midwifery Online Conference
• Western States Chiropractic College
• Oregon Washington Lactation Association
• Midwives Alliance of  North America
• Interface
• Infant & Maternal CST Conference
• American Massage Therapy Association – Montana Chapter
• American Massage Therapy Association – Oregon Chapter
• Northwest Cranial Association
• Portland Community College
• Mount Hood Community College
• Birthingway College of Midwifery
• National University of Naturopathic Medicine
• Portland Doula Association

Professional Licenses and Training:

I attended births for more than 35 years. I began my professional bodywork and doula career in 1990. I was a certified Birthing From Within mentor from 2001 to 2008. I was  an unlicensed Oregon homebirth midwife from 2000 to 2012. I have been licensed to practice massage in both Oregon (#3150) and Washington (#MA 00004670) since 1990. I am an experienced certified yoga teacher (ERYT 200) and a certified prenatal yoga teacher (RPYT). I am a former Birthing From Within Mentor Advisor and a former Birthing From Within Doula Trainer. I completed doula training at the Seattle Midwifery School with Penny Simkin.

I have studied bodywork modalities with various people including Meier Schneider, Rich Phaigh, Rosita Arvigo, Lindy Ferrigno, Suzanne Scurlock Durana, Anat Baniel, Fritz Smith, Frank Lowen, Jeffrey Burch, Alain Gehin, DO, Claudia Cohn, DO, Tami Kent, MSPT, Liz Koch, Katy Bowman, Michelle Emanuel, Leslie Stager, Etienne Peirsman, Gail Tully, Alison Hazelbaker, PhD, Ellen Mossman, Jennifer Merciér, Teresa Robertson, Maxine Haller and many more.

I completed much of my CranioSacral Therapy training, including advanced, obstetric and pediatric specialty work, with the Upledger Institute. I studied directly with Dr. John Upledger, the founder of this work. I was a teaching assistant for the Upledger Institute for all levels of CranioSacral Therapy training including advanced, pediatrics and cadaver dissection.

I frequently attend an annual week-long private invitation-only conference for (mostly biodynamic) CST teachers called Interface. All participants present original work they’re developing at this gathering. The purpose of Interface is collaboration and cross-pollination.

I completed Bodywork for the Childbearing Year and Bodywork for the Childbearing Year Postgraduate Training with Kate Jordan and Carole Osborne-Sheets. I  also trained directly with Pam England, author of Birthing From Within. No list of influences would be complete without mentioning Karen Strange and her fabulous neonatal resuscitation classes taught from an infant consciousness point of view.

I completed prenatal yoga teacher training with Marisa Toriggino at Yoga Garden San Francisco. I  have also studied yoga with Doug Keller, Leslie Howard, Leslie Kaminoff, Shiva Rea, Tiffany Cruikshank, Julie Gudmestad and many others. I regularly attend continuing education training for midwives, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, yoga teachers and bodyworkers. I am committed to lifelong learning.

Certifications and Affiliations

I am approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider. I am a Certified Pregnancy Massage Therapist. I hold E-RYT 200, YACP and RPYT certifications from Yoga Alliance. I am a member of  The American Massage Therapy Association, Oregon Midwifery Council, International Consortium of Ankylofrenula Professionals and Yoga Alliance. I am a current board member and vice-chair of the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists. I am a past examiner and Rules Committee member for the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists and a past American Massage Therapy Association – Oregon board officer.

Carol’s Upledger Institute Credentials

The Upledger Institute removed practitioner directory listings for people (including Carol Gray, Don Ash, Roy Desjarlais, Hugh Milne, Jeffrey Burch and Etienne Peirsman) who teach CST independently.

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