What is The Bowen Technique?
Bowen Therapy is different. A unique and powerful remedial
therapy involving a series of gentle but precise movements
applied to specific muscles, tendons and connective tissue
(the soft tissue that holds us all together). No heavy massage
or manipulation is applied.
This truly remarkable therapy was pioneered
by Tom Bowen (1916 – 1982) who devoted his life to developing and
refining the technique in Geelong, Ausralia. By the early
1970’s he was successfully treating around 13,000 people
a year, and practitioners trained by him introduced the technique
into Europe in the early 1990’s. The main concept and
principle behind the success of his work is that the
body is able to heal itself – if it is given the right
kind of assistance!
 The gentle touch of Bowen therapy affects
the muscles and other soft tissues of the body on a deep
level. The carefully
applied moves promote a response within the tissues, prompting
the body to initiate its own self-healing mechanism; redress
physical imbalances and promote healing of injuries and/or
dysfunction in the muscles and tissues. This response ‘wakes
up’ dysfunctional tissue and reminds the body of how
it used to be. Bowen treats the whole body, although there
are additional moves designed to address particular areas
of concern.
Every person is different and because Bowen treats the whole
body, every person will respond in a different way. For some,
a response will be felt during the first treatment. For many,
a response may not be felt for a few days. It would not be
unusual for a patient to leave a Bowen session feeling that
nothing much had really been done!
An unusual but very important aspect
of the treatment is the short gaps between moves, when
the practitioner will
leave the room for a minute or two. This gives the body – and
the brain - time and space to assimilate and respond to the
new ‘messages’ they are receiving. Unlike with
most other physical therapies, change is not forced upon
the body; it is the patient’s own body which initiates
the healing process, not the therapist. This is what makes
Bowen unique.
The body is an immensely sensitive
vessel. It will detect and respond to the lightest touch.
Because the treatment
is so gentle and the gaps are incorporated, the body does
not consider trying to ‘defend itself’ against
heavy massage or manipulation. Instead, the body is given
a chance to ‘investigate’ these specific moves
before it responds to the gentle nature of ‘Bowen Language’.
The body loves Bowen.
Healing through Bowen then is a process. Three to five treatments
at weekly intervals are often sufficient to achieve lasting
relief from even long-standing painful conditions. Everybody
is different; your body will prioritise and heal what it
knows to be most important; healing can be subtle and your
body will heal in is own time and at is own pace, which it
was designed to do.
Above all, Bowen therapy is renowned for its gentleness
and safety and can be used with confidence on children and
older people alike.
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Natures Hand all rights reserved
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