The Bowen Technique
Mr. Tom Bowen of Geelong, Australia, developed this technique from the 1950’s until his passing in 1982. His success in alleviating pain and reversing long-standing conditions was spread solely by word of mouth, yet resulted in his treating an average of 13,000 people per year, who traveled from all over Australia to see him.
Though he produced no materials, a number of handpicked, healthcare professionals were allowed to observe him at work. Some of them stayed for years and developed a deep understanding of his approach. After his death, it was they who named the work after him, and who continued to spread its success through their clinics.
Until 1989, Bowen’s method was known only in Australia. Then it gradually spread to other countries, through various teaching curriculums that the practitioners produced. Due to its remarkable success rate, it continues to spread, and is now taught in dozens of countries.
The Bowen Technique involves performing fascial releases. The practitioner stimulates a proprioceptive response by gently stretching the fascia of skin, muscles, and tendons, then rolling the tissues in a specific method of release. The goal of the movement is to elicit a neural response through the central nervous system. Each gentle stretch-and release movement sends a message throughout the fascia, globally.
An essential aspect of the work is the insertion of pauses between movements, which allow the body time to respond to the sensory input. The gentle, slow nature of Bowen therapy elicits a parasympathetic response, in which the whole system begins to relax. As the body drops into the rest and repair mode from the inputs, the brain sends motor nerve outputs during the pauses. As pressure is released in muscles, pressure is freed from bones, so the whole system reorganizes.
Respecting this nervous system loop is at the core of the Bowen method. Given time, rebalancing occurs with results that last. This work also addresses internal organ conditions such as asthma, migraine, digestive issues, kidney stagnation, infertility, incontinence and baby’s colic. To learn more about how Bowen therapy can help your family, please visit my website at www.bowenworks.com.
A therapeutic prelude to Float therapy. The float session would enhance the body’s re-organization and re-integration of the alignment messages from the Bowen.
An addition to a light- to moderate-pressure massage. We need to avoid combining deep tissue work with Bowen, as the subtle fascial messages of Bowen will be overridden and rendered ineffective. But there are ways we can enhance the massage with the application of Bowen therapy to the most problematic areas.
Variety to the regular massage client, who could receive the full benefits of Bowen by focusing on massage one week, and Bowen another.
An excellent stand-alone session, especially powerful in the treatment of a recent injury, or in a series of sessions for chronic conditions. Ideally, we ask for three sessions, one week apart, to lay the foundation for the body’s re-organization. Then, it can be received, as needed, for maintenance.