Are you one of those people who have tried everything to feel well again but nothing seems to help, or do you just want to try a different approach to helping yourself heal and be the best you can be?
What is Bowen Therapy and Who Developed It?
Thomas Ambrose Bowen-1916–1982, an Australian, developed what we know today as Bowen Therapy. In the early 1950s, Tom Bowen had a day job at Geelong Cement Works as a general laborer, but on his time off, he was treating sport and work injuries. Gradually through word of mouth, his popularity for healing pain traveled, and he began to develop a large clientele.
In the late 1950s, Tom Bowen began a full practice. Although the results of his therapy were called miraculous, he worked very hard and studied long hours for his abilities. His favorite source of information was osteopathic books.
Tom believed that any muscular dysfunction within the body played a major role in the whole body to function at an optimum level and just treating the symptoms very rarely addressed the root causes. He treated the whole body by developing a safe and gentle system of unique moves that the body seemed to understand and respond to. Tom Bowen's underlying concept, which resides at the root of his work, was based on the principle that structure governs function.
Bowen preferred to let the bodywork session speak for itself. Nowadays, one theory of how Bowen Therapy works in the body is that a Bowen move is similar to strumming a stringed instrument. On a stringed instrument, a string is held at a specific point to obtain a correct tone. Changing the point where the string is held will change the tone or vibrational frequency. The body, comparing it to a musical instrument, can get stuck in a discomforting tone.
The body is meant to protect itself and heal from any disorder whether it originates from a physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual trauma. However, there are times when the body is unable to complete a healing cycle and becomes stuck, unable to totally heal, and that's when the Bowen Technique can be beneficial.
A Bowen move helps to unlock the fine connections of the brain and the body, reopening communication down to the cellular level. This unlocking retunes the body, turning off the pain cycle it's been locked in and reopening the healthy core memory leading the body to heal itself.
Bowen Therapy can also be likened to a reprogramming of the body's computer system. The Bowen software assists in rewiring and recruiting the body's hard drive so that it doesn't crash as often and has a higher speed of responses to stress, trauma, and injury.
Bowen Therapy complements and works synergistically with other healing methods, but when too many commands are put onto the body's communication center/computer, there may be a shutdown/freeze and very little or no benefit will come about. That is why it is recommended that Bowen Therapy be used in rotation with other healing therapies.
How is the Bowen Therapy Performed?
During a Bowen session, a series of moves are performed on the body. The move is started over a group of muscle or tendon. The move is a light pulling back of the skin till there is no more give and then a firmer rolling motion forward. After each set of moves, a few minutes of pause is needed where the practitioner leaves the treatment room to allow the body to integrate them and start the process to heal. A session generally lasts 1 hour.
Is There Anything Important I Should Do to Make the Treatments More Effective?
A Week Before The Treatment:Avoid having any massage or other kinds of bodywork like chiropractic, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and dental drilling.
Before the Session:
- Please wear loose-fitting clothing such as a t-shirt and a pair of shorts or thin cotton pants. You can change in the room if needed.
- Drink at least 8 ounces of purified water.
- Leave all distractions at home or car i.e. cell phones.
A Day of After the Treatment:
- Refrain from sitting for longer than 30 minutes at one time. Walking around keeps the body from locking in one position. This is important even if you are driving a distance. Stop the car and walk around it a few times.
- You may lie down flat and rest/nap without having to get up and walk. Your body will begin to reset itself as you rest.
- Avoid strenuous exercise. Gentle exercise such as walking, swimming, golfing, or cycling is very good.
- Drink at least half a gallon of water every day; half cup every 30 minutes is advisable to assist the body in removing toxins and waste from the body.
The Following Week:
- No massages, chiropractic, acupuncture, physiotherapy, dental drilling, saunas, hot and cold baths, saunas, heating pads, or ice packs. A brief warm shower is acceptable.
- Homeopathic medicines and flower essences are welcome.
- Keep on drinking at least half a gallon of water every day. Your body may detoxify.
- Walking is very beneficial.
- Don't overwork yourself. You may feel energetic a few days after the treatment, but remember your body needs to rest.
- Do not use magnet therapy of any sort! Magnets interfere with Bowen therapy, and you may not have any positive benefits from treatments if you use magnets.
How Often Is the Treatment Required?
It's highly recommended that the client commits to at least a repatterning schedule of 3 sessions with 3 to 9 being an ordinary treatment protocol, coming in for a treatment every 5 to 10 days with 7 days being optimum. This establishes a pattern of healing in the system.
If this isn't established, the client may not get the desirable results. With chronic conditions, ongoing treatments may be needed to obtain and maintain positive results. Many times, clients will come back periodically every month or so for a session to help keep the body balanced. Clients doing this have noticed a reduction in illnesses and stress.
With Bowen Therapy, the body is always the master healer. At times, the present complaint isn't the first one to be resolved. The healing body may have underlying imbalances that need to be addressed first. In these cases, some clients may experience increases in symptoms. This is a good sign: it means deep level healing is occurring. After this phase is complete, clients experience relief from symptoms and a deeper sense of health.
Who Can Benefit From Bowen Treatments?
Bowen treatments are useful from newborns to the elderly. Chronically ill patients benefit as well as the disabled. Some of the diseases, which have demonstrated improvement from Bowen treatments, are multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. Bowen therapy uplifts the spirit. Clients often state they feel happier.
Well, you may want to try the Bowen Technique, a new concept in body therapy from Australia. This therapy is becoming well known in assisting the body to release blockages, freeing it from the pain cycles it's been stuck in and begin self-healing.
Bowen Therapy is a new, holistic technique in body therapy from Australia. This dynamic therapy stimulates the body to let go of pain cycles (Ischemia) caused by traumas, stresses, and diseases. As these pain cycles are released, the healing abilities of the body are awakened, bringing pain relief and peace of mind. Benefits are usually apparent within 3 to 5 sessions.