Bowen Technique                                            

Bowen is a gentle, relaxing and highly effective hands-on therapy that can be very beneficial in addressing a wide range of conditions, injuries and health issues. By affecting the nervous system, Bowen helps to re-balance the body, promoting a reduction in stress and pain levels, muscle tension relief, recovery of energy, healing and repair.  As an excellent de-stressor, Bowen can be instrumental in boosting the immune system, addressing many inflammatory conditions and recurring infections.

How does it work?

Thumbs and fingers are used to make light,rolling type movements on precise points on the body with the aim of disturbing the muscles, soft tissue and energy.  Its unique moves send impulses to the brain which encourage the body to switch off the stress response - ‘fight or flight’, and revert to its natural healing state. Bowen therapy can also improve circulation, energy and lymphatic flow.

 During treatment, there are a series of short breaks, which allows the body to respond to the gentle moves; promoting the subtle and fine adjustments needed for re-balancing, tension relief and pain reduction. The Bowen Technique encourages the body to normalise and realign itself.

A treatment will take approximately 45-60 mins; ideally working directly on skin, although most of the work can be performed through light clothing if preferred.

Who can it safely treat?

Bowen is a very gentle therapy. There is no manipulation or adjustment of hard tissue and no force is used or needed. It is therefore suitable for adults and children of all age-groups, including new-born babies and the very elderly.

Due to its gentleness, there is no situation where The Bowen Technique cannot be used safely and to good effect.  Where possible, the majority of work is conducted with a patient lying on a treatment table; however, when required, treatment can be adapted to treat seated, standing or lying on one side to suit individual patient conditions.

What can Bowen treat?

The Bowen Technique does not just focus on the symptoms, but aims to balance the whole person. It affects the body in ways which promote healing, alignment, pain relief and recovery of energy. Practically any problem can potentially be addressed and many people use Bowen as an ongoing means of stress management and health maintenance.

·         Stress & tension based problems

·         Stress management & general relaxation

·         Hayfever & bronchial symptoms           

·         Body balancing and alignment

·         Muscular-skeletal disorders

·         Sports, postural & work injuries

·         Pre & post natal

Many other conditions have responded well to Bowen such as chronic fatigue, MS, ME, fibromyalgia, hayfever, headache, kidney and digestive problems have responded well to The Bowen Technique.

About stress

The nervous system controls most of what goes on in our body. It manages 80-90% of our body’s function including the heart rate, breathing, digestion, hormone release, muscles, the immune system, blood pressure and repair processes.  It splits into two branches:

·         The first speeds things up and produces the ‘fight or flight’ response that is essential for surviving dangerous situations (the sympathetic nervous system)

·         The second slows things down, calms us and gives us rest (the parasympathetic nervous system)

When we are healthy, these two branches are balanced. It is this balance that is vital for the body to stay in good health.

When we are under considerable and constant pressure to meet the demands of daily responsibilities, our body switches to ‘fight or flight’ and prepares us to do battle or to run for our lives. During prolonged periods of stress, ‘fight or flight’ commonly stays switched on and so our body never gets the message to rest. This is when we escalate into fear, anxiety and panic, leading to many anxiety and stress-related conditions. For some, this can have a major impact on long term health.

Bowen therapy and stress

Bowen can help by encouraging the body to switch off ‘fight or flight’ and revert to its natural healing state. This state allows blood pressure, breathing rate and other vital processes to normalise and regenerate. This therapeutically induced ‘alpha state’ not only promotes a feeling of calm and relaxation, but is also crucial in creating new behaviour.

The following statements are typical ofpatients returning for the second or third Bowen treatment.

‘I don’t know what it is, but I just feel better in myself’.

‘I slept like a log after treatment and woke up feeling life was worth living’.

‘All of a sudden, I seem to know what I want/need to do and I’m making big decisions

about things now.’

Bowen therapy - introduced to the UK from Australia in the 1990’s - aims to balance the whole person, not just symptoms. Practically any problem can potentially be addressed, with many clients enjoying relief in as few as 3 treatments.