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 The Bowen Technique
The Bowen technique is a subtle soft tissue remedial therapy. It involves the therapist using fingers or thumbs to move over muscle, ligament, tendon and fascia in various parts of the body, creating a gentle vibratory type cue to which the body can respond.
The work is very relaxing and gentle involving no hard or prolonged pressure. Typically (although not always) the client will lie on a therapy table or bed, whilst the therapist carries out the work.
Although each session will vary according to the skill and experience of the therapist, as well as the presenting problems of the client, an initial treatment will address the whole body.
A feature of the work is that between sets of moves the therapist will leave the room and allow the client to rest. This is a key element of Bowen and is a unique aspect of the technique as well as being one of the most important. The break allows the body the opportunity to create a decision about what action needs to be taken in response to the moves given.During this process other information can be gathered by the body, and quite often areas not being directly treated can respond to the treatment.
A session will last generally around 45 minutes to one hour although this varies according to the way that individual therapists work. Treatments are typically scheduled for between five and seven days apart, and an initial set of three treatments is recommended in order to establish whether the client is likely to respond to treatment.
Reactions to treatment are not uncommon and include tiredness, increase in original symptoms, stiffness, headaches, flu like symptoms, increased dream activity. Aftercare advice emphasises the importance of movement, the drinking of water and the return for treatments. It is vital that a client does not cease the treatment in response to a strong reaction. The moves are so subtle that if a strong reaction is experienced it demonstrates how profound the work can be and further treatments are essential if the full effect is going to be felt.
Most people will have responses within three to four sessions, when even long standing chronic pain can be relieved. Other conditions might need to be treated more often, but in either case it is recommended that clients return for regular treatments every six to eight weeks to maintain optimum health
The Bowen Technique may very well be one of the single most important tools we have to facilitate healing of the whole body. With the release of toxins and old patterning, the moves begin to accomplish holistic balance almost immediately. Since the Bowen Technique addresses the body as a whole unit rather than just the presenting symptom, it embraces the physical, chemical, emotional and mental aspects of each person receiving a treatment.
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