Information
Bowen Therapy is often compared to other better known modalities, as a means of explaining the therapy to new clients. Bowen Therapy is very unique and distinguishable from others as it addresses the body from head to toe, stimulating the bodies own healing abilities. It has been known to help when many other therapies have not!
Bowen therapy is a gentle form of bodywork. It can be used on anyone from pregnant women, newborn babies, the frail and the elderly. A series of gentle challenges to specific muscles, tendons, nerves or ligaments are used to reset the body to its natural feeling of health, well-being and balance.The gentle yet powerful Bowen moves send neurological impulses to the brain resulting in immediate responses of muscle relaxation and pain reduction. The challenges deliver signals to the nervous system and the body does the rest, responding in its own time, as it is able, to heal itself. These moves are also intended to trigger the body's Autonomic Nervous System to change from being in a sympathetic state to a parasympathetic state. There are pauses between the moves and the practitioner will leave the room for 2-5 min, sometimes longer, depending on the procedure. The purpose of the pauses is to allow your body to respond and make its own adjustments.
A Bowen treatment will last 45 minutes to 1 hour. Most of the work can be done through light clothing. A client may experience pain relief after just one session. Depending on the issues two or three treatments may be enough to achieve long-lasting relief. The session is very relaxing and may help with issues such as stress, anxiety or poor sleeping patterns, as well as help with pain issues.
The ideal situation is to give the Bowen Technique a try for 3 sessions, once per week, without having any other kind of bodywork in between. It usually results in the relief of many specific injuries and health problems, both acute and chronic. Bowen Therapy should be considered for treating:
- Headaches / Migraines
- Digestive problems
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Bedwetting
- TMJ
- Sciatica
- Infertility
- Vertigo
- Sports / Accident Injuries
- Knee / Foot problems
- Arthritis
- Respiratory issues
- Asthma / Hay fever
- Groin pain, pelvic tilt
- Hormonal irregularities
- Stress, Grief and Anxiety
- Shoulder problems
- Tennis Elbow
- Sinus Issue
MASSAGE
Bowen Therapy is not massage therapy. Bowen moves do not go deeper then on superficially accessible muscles There are neither oils used nor lotions. The moves are very gentle and are not deep tissue manipulation or stimulation. A Bowen move is not a rub but rather a challenge and release.
CHIROPRACTIC
Bowen therapy is not Chiropractic. No manipulation of the skeletal system is made. The body may realign itself during or after a session but this is due to the body’s ability to heal rather then an intentional manipulation by the therapist.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Bowen therapy is not physiotherapy. The Client is asked to lie on a massage table and do nothing but relax. Many people fall asleep during a session and this is seen as a positive outcome as the body has made the transition from being in a sympathetic state to a parasympathetic state. There are no machines used. To promote healing and recovery from injury you may be asked to do some simple exercises during the week between treatments.
TRIGGER POINT THERAPY
Bowen therapy in not trigger point therapy. Bowen moves are usually preformed in the insertion or origin of the muscle and are gentle and brief. Some points are unavoidably similar even though the referral zones are different.
ACUPUNCTURE/ACUPRESSURE
Bowen therapy is not acupuncture or acupressure. No needles are involved in a Bowen treatment. It does target specific points in the body that are similar to acupuncture or acupressure but only fingers and thumbs are used. The challenge or pressure may only last one breath or two.
DIRECTIONAL ENERGY WORK
Bowen therapy is not Directional "Energy Work." Bowen practitioners are taught to focus only on doing a precise movement accurately, trusting the technique and then physically leaving the room to let the body heal itself naturally.
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Bowen therapy is not myofascial release. With each Bowen move, the fascia is gently stimulated; it is not engaged at a deep tissue level. Although it can be seen to be very similar, Bowen Therapy is distinguished by the pauses between series of moves. These pauses allow the body time to respond and it triggers the body’s own healing abilities.
LYMPHATIC MASSAGE
Bowen therapy is not lymphatic massage. Bowen does not use percussion or vigorous stroking of lymphatic massage although it does stimulate lymphatic releases. Sinuses will often drain during the session and excess fluids may be eliminated within the week.
BOWEN AND OTHER THERAPIES
Every Body is different and everybody may respond differently to the various different modalities. Bowen therapy has been effective at alleviating conditions even when the above noted therapies have been unsuccessful. This is because it affects the body differently. Please discuss with your Bowen practitioner if you have, or will be having, other therapies while undergoing Bowen Therapy.
The ideal situation is to give the Bowen Technique a try for 3 sessions, once per week, without having any other kind of bodywork in between.
The following are recommendations on what to do after your Bowen treatment:
- WALK
The day of your session, go out and take a 15 - 20 minute walk. For the rest of the day, do not sit for longer then 20 min. - HELP YOUR BODY DETOXIFY
Drink 8-10 glasses of water to flush the toxins out of your body. - TAKE IT EASY
Avoid heavy lifting or exercise. - AVOID EXTREME HEAT OR COLD
No heating pads, ice packs, hot showers or hot baths. - KEEP YOUR FEET TOGETHER
Put your weight on BOTH FEET when you stand up, get out of bed, a chair or a car. This will help bring balance back into your body.
And last but not least - EAT HEALTHY
Bowen Therapy Treats
- Headaches / Migraines
- Digestive problems
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Bedwetting
- TMJ
- Sciatica
- Infertility
- Vertigo
- Sports / Accident Injuries
- Knee / Foot problems
- Arthritis
- Respiratory issues
- Asthma / Hay fever
- Groin pain, pelvic tilt
- Hormonal irregularities
- Stress, Grief and Anxiety
- Shoulder problems
- Tennis Elbow
- Sinus Issue