BOWEN THERAPY - THE UNIQUE BODYWORK
Is this for me?
Bowen Therapy is a holistic relaxing remedial hands-on therapy with gentle pressure on certain points of the body using Bowen moves. The therapist works mostly on muscles tendons ligaments fascia joints or nerves which send messages to the brain through the many receptors of the organism to correct itself. The moves are best performed on bare skin, however, most can be performed through thin, loose and not slippery clothing, especially if the client is not comfortable with the idea of working on bare skin. During the treatment, no lubricant is used as with massage. After performing a series of unique Bowen moves, the therapist leaves the room for a few minutes to let the body integrate the impulses sent. In the course of this comfortable and relaxing health therapy the nervous system changes from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic function causing most clients to fall into a deep state of relaxation, even sleep.
The balance and energy effects of this therapy are most evident after 3 consecutive treatments, with 1-week rest between them, however, the pain-relieving effects may be noticeable after the first treatment. Most commonly, 2-5 treatments are adequate or satisfactory, especially in acute cases. With long term conditions or repetitive strain injuries, the body system may need systematic regular correction to counteract repetitive harmful activities.
Bowen Therapy reaches, realigns and rebalances many body functions, such as pain, energy, structure and countless other functions.
Bowen Therapy is appropriate for everyone, from newborn babies to the elderly with acute and chronic conditions and there are barely any contra-indications from applying this gentle realigning, healing method.
Bowen Therapy consists of an inconspicuous series of small moves, which have extremely powerful effects despite their minimal impression. The organism integrates the self-healing stimuli during the short rests in the course of treatment and in the consequent days, thus the healing happens on its own.
Fascia – Our new organ and natural communication system
“The soul of man with all the streams of pure living water seems to dwell in the fascia of his body” /A. T. Still/
Fascia surrounds organs and other structures in the body such as muscles. It allows free movement and ‘glide’ between these structures as we move around. Fascia is built up from collagen fibres which are small tubes filled with very fine collagen fluid. The most important attributes of the fascia are that it determines our posture and transmits and amplifies impulses via its essential liquid crystalline which is found in nature.
If it is hard to imagine, the video – Strolling under the skin – thanks to Dr Jean Claude Guimberteau, MD – shows how fascia looks and acts in a living organism.
‘The Bowen move’ is the official name of the unique therapeutic touch that is used in Bowen Therapy. A gentle and purposeful move consists of several sequences performed on sections of the body which merge. These moves are performed with differing intensity and length, combining respiration, resulting in deep relaxation in the human body. The impulses sent to the nervous system via the Bowen moves helps in self-re-optimisation.
After listening to the client’s complaint and taking an extended medical history in the viewpoint of Bowen therapy, a Bowen session is composed of a series of moves interspersed with several rests. The rests are as important as the moves themselves because these are the crucial integrating times for the human system that require relaxation and quietness.
Because of the subtlety of Bowen Therapy and the body’s continuing response to it, it is important not to receive any other manipulative therapy for some days before and after the treatment.
There are some further simple guidelines to help the received treatment integrate completely thus allowing healing to take place.
Conditions and situations that can be addressed or supported with the Bowen Technique
- Pain (acute, chronic) and muscle tension
- Injuries, sport injuries, whiplash, strains, sprains, muscle tear, concussion
- After accidents (car, motorbike, bike) and falls
- Before and after surgeries, replacements for quicker recovery
- Pain, function, structural or energy problems
- All sorts of musculoskeletal problems and disorders
- Work or sport related Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Frozen shoulders, Tennis- or Golf elbow
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Mouse Finger
- Tendonitis, Tendovaginitis
- Sciatica, Plantar Fasciitis, heel spurs
- Postural problems, Scoliosis, misalignments
- Joint problems, arthritis, bursitis
- Before or after dental work, temporomandibular joint problems and jaw disorders
- Before or during orthodontic work
- Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue
- Lymphatic cleaning, drainage, maintenance
- Respiratory conditions, Asthma
- Help during pregnancy (muscle stiffness, sciatica, helping babies to rotate into proper position spontaneously by releasing muscle tension in respiratory and abdominal area, to start birth or assist labour – if midwife practices the Bowen Technique)
- To settle babies after birth, help after birth trauma (jaw problems, bruising)
- Newborn baby problems (e.g. colic, feeding and sleep-related conditions)
- Digestive and bowel issues
- Gynaecological conditions, Menstrual problems, Pre Menstrual Syndrome
- Headaches, migraines
- Hormonal imbalances
- Anxiety, Depression
- Sleeping problems, Lack of energy
- General body maintenance
- Stress-related conditions, PTSD
- Blood pressure (high or low)
- Maintenance to keep a good range of motion and flexibility while aging
- Improving or accelerate recovery after a workout
- Maintenance at regular physical work, sport or activity
- Improving performance (dance, horse riding, martial arts, gym work)
- To elevate mood, vitality, and longevity
Your Practitioner, Zsuzsanna Glasz in Everton Hills is listed on the website of the Bowen Association Australia website.
A brief history of Bowen Therapy
I expect to pass through this world but once,
any good thing therefore that I do,
or any kindness that I can show
to any fellow-creature, let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again.Wilfred Whitten – John O’London
Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916-1982) began developing his technique in the 1950s in Geelong, Australia. He became interested in ways to alleviate human suffering and began to notice that certain moves on the body had particular effects. Tom Bowen developed his technique without having previous formal training in any modality or discipline. In fact, he frequently stated that his work was ‘a gift from God’. He continued to develop and refine the technique throughout his lifetime with the help of his friend and secretary, Rene Horwood.
Mr. Bowen was extremely busy in his Geelong clinic, performing about 13,000 treatments a year. This was verified by the 1975 Victorian government inquiry into alternative health care professionals. Considering treatments were seven days apart and most people needed only one to three treatments, and an amazing number of clients passed through the clinic and benefited from his gift. Mr. Bowen also held free clinics for children, people with disabilities, and community service workers.
In 1974, while attending a national health conference In Adelaide, Australia, Oswald Rentsch met Mr. Bowen for the first time.
For the next two and a half years Ossie studied Mr. Bowen’s technique, ultimately being authorized by him to document the work. Mr. Bowen had no notes, charts or manuals, but with the help of Rene Horwood Ossie produced a true representation of Mr. Bowen’s original technique.
Honoring Mr. Bowen’s request to teach the work after his death, Ossie and Elaine named it The Bowen Technique and held their first seminar in Perth, Australia in 1986. Dedicated to preserving the technique and ensuring it was taught in its original form, they founded the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia in 1987. Since then, Ossie and Elaine have introduced Bowtech to many countries of the world.
Because this technique is so effective, it has been widely embraced by a broad spectrum of people, and health professionals are impressed by the effectiveness of the Bowen technique and the diversity of problems addressed by it.
(Source: Bowtech The Original Bowen Technique – www.bowtech.com)