Bowen Therapy
6
Bowen
Technique was
developed by Australian bodywork
therapist Tom Bowen. It integrates
structural and soft tissue changes by
stimulating the central, peripheral
autonomic nervous systems, restoring the
structural integrity of the body. It
allows the body to reintegrate on many
levels so that a process of healing can
take place.
Conditions that have been reported to
respond to Bowen Technique
Acute and chronic pain this includes
back, neck, shoulder, legs ~ ankle and
foot problems ~ facial pain ~ headaches
~ migraines ~ sinusitis ~ digestive
problems ~ menstrual problems ~
infertility ~ breast problems ~ prostate
problems ~ groin strain ~ frozen
shoulder ~ tennis elbow ~ shorter leg
discrepancies and pelvic problems ~ TMJ
(jaw problems) ~ ankle and foot
problems ~ knee and hamstrings ~ groin
pain ~ and respiratory disorders ~
sciatica, stress, insomnia, general body
balance.
Sharon has been a
Bowen Technique Therapist for 14 years and has
completed advanced training including
Max Walkers Bowen Extensions.
Brief History
Tom Bowen developed this remarkable
technique in the ‘50s. Through
observation he noticed that unusual
relationships existed between certain
health complaints and particular
patterns of muscular dysfunction his
patients presented. After intense
research he developed his own unique
system whereby myofascial ‘moves’
brought about long term corrections to
muscular dysfunction and other health
complaints. He referred to this as ‘soft
tissue’ therapy.
Tom Bowen treated
approximately 13,000 people per year,
with amazing success. He also had great
success treating animals especially race
horses and greyhounds.
Philosophy and Application
Bowen Technique works by releasing the
neuromuscular imbalances throughout the
body. If these imbalances are released,
the body can regulate itself and in the
process pain and symptoms disappear and
energy levels are restored to normal.
Tom
Bowen found that if all muscular
imbalances could be released, then the
body would regulate itself, and in this
process pain and symptoms would vanish
and energy levels would increase. By
stimulating the body in a very specific
way its innate intelligence could begin
a process of ‘unraveling’ which could
take from 5 to 7 days as the body lets
go of its holding patterns. I find that
this varies but on average usually takes
2 – 4 days.
What can be felt?
During a treatment some people feel body
ache’s move from one place to another.
They may have emotional release or
sweating, but always report a deep sense
of relaxation and change taking place.
The
Bowen treatment may take up to 1hr and
involves a series of light cross
fibre moves with thumbs and
fingers across muscle’s, tendons and
ligaments. Between these specific moves,
2 minute breaks are taken whereby the
therapist leaves the room. This
allows the body to respond to the work
that has been done. By leaving these
spaces the body can let go of blockages
and re-align itself. During the
treatment people may feel ‘surges’ of
energy, tingling or twitching as the
body lets go of tension. After the
treatment most people say they feel
light and deeply relaxed.
