Bowen Technique
The Bowen Technique was developed in Australia by the late Tom Bowen (1916-1982), who successfully treated thousands of patients each year. His work led to the creation of the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia, and his technique is now practised all over the world.
What is The Bowen Technique?
This remarkable treatment enables the vicious circle of pain, poor posture, and more pain, to be broken. The Bowen Technique involves the therapist performing gentle, but very precise, 'rolling' moves over specific muscles, ligaments and associated tissues. This movement is used to release tension and energetic blocks held in the muscles, so allowing the body to rebalance itself naturally and to maximise the potential for healing. These moves send profound messages deep into the body, helping to restore normal function and a sense of well-being. In short, the body is 're-tuned' rather like a musical instrument or car engine that has been under-performing or malfunctioning.
The moves are made on the skin or over light clothing, so undressing is not always necessary. Either way, privacy and dignity is always maintained.
There are frequent but essential pauses or waits during the therapy session, when the practitioner will leave the room for a few minutes to allow the body time to assimilate the moves that have been made, before proceeding further. This is an important element of The Bowen Technique, and clients frequently report an experience of deep relaxation during these short breaks, sometimes for the first time in years.
What does Bowen Technique help?
Most musculo-skeletal problems including:
- Back pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Sciatica
- Tennis Elbow
- Knee problems
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- Pelvic imbalance
- Sports injuries
- Fibromyalgia
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Other conditions including:
- Allergies and Respiratory problems
- Migraines
- Reproductive and Urinary difficulties
- Menstrual problems
- Chronic fatigue
- Stress related conditions
Who can benefit from the treatment?
Due to the gentle and holistic nature of the therapy, The Bowen Technique is safe to perform on all age groups including children and the elderly.
What can I expect on a first visit?
The practitioner will take a detailed history of both the current complaint and any past medical problems, including any treatments (e.g. physiotherapy, massage, complementary therapies) that may have been previously undertaken. The practitioner will then determine which 'Bowen Moves' are most appropriate for the condition. The first session usually takes one hour, sometimes longer, depending upon the complexity of the history.
How many sessions will I need?
This really depends on how long the problem has existed and the individual’s rate of response. Once the symptoms have subsided, it is not necessary to continue with treatment. However, for chronic problems it is often helpful to have “maintenance” sessions.