Bowen Technique

It’s simplicity and effectiveness makes Bowen suitable for all ages including babies and the very elderly and it can be used throughout pregnancy.

Increasing numbers of health and sports professionals are turning to Bowen Technique to treat muscular, skeletal or nerve imbalance, injury, chronic conditions or acute or chronic pain.

Athletes and dancers use Bowen Technique because it can increase flexibility and reduce muscle pain and fatigue.

The Bowen Technique is being used at high level sports clubs in this country including Rugby and Premiership Football Clubs. Many of the problems associated with pregnancy can be treated with the Bowen Technique both before and after childbirth. These include severe backache, headaches, nausea, tiredness and decreased energy levels, sciatica, leg ache and heartburn.

Many of these symptoms are caused by the rapidly increasing stress on both the spine and the pelvis which occurs during pregnancy and which intensifies as the birth approaches. Knock-on effects of pain and discomfort are often also felt in the muscles and ligaments which support the spine and the pelvis.

The advantage of the Bowen Technique over most other alternative therapies is that pregnant women can be treated in the sitting position or lying on their side. It is also completely non-invasive. Most of the symptoms associated with pregnancy can be easily relieved and the treatment itself is extremely relaxing.

Mother & Baby

The long-term effects of the changes in the body both on a hormonal and musculoskeletal level can last many months after childbirth with often painful symptoms. These can be exacerbated by the process of caring for the baby and the pressures of adapting to a completely new routine. Both the relaxing and therapeutic effects of the Bowen Technique are particularly useful during this period and can be performed within hours of birth.

Within days, babies can also benefit from the Bowen Technique which has been shown to be effective in treating colic, blue babies, hyperactivity and spinal misalignment caused by labour.

Infertility
Trials in the UK, Australia and New Zealand using the Bowen Technique on infertile couples for whom no other obvious reason for being unable to conceive has been found, have met with remarkable success. The series of moves used in the Bowen Technique on specific muscles at precise points on the body re-opens the natural flow of energy between these points. This helps the body communicate better with itself and bring into balance the other tissues, muscles and organs that make up the body’s internal system.

The process sends impulses to the brain to trigger the body’s own healing mechanism which, in turn, rebalances body energy. Its calming effect on the autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious bodily functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestion, also relieves stress at a deep level.

When the body becomes locked into the sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the ‘fight and flight’ response, the body’s natural healing systems are compromised. By bringing it back into balance, the body’s natural healing processes can begin again.

In contrast to many other hands-on therapies, Bowen does not attempt to realign the body by force. Instead, it prompts the body via the autonomic nervous system to recognise the changes necessary to bring it back to homoeostasis (physiological equilibrium). This also has a beneficial effect on the entire body, rather than just a specific symptom. The aim is to bring the body back into balance so that it can function at its optimum capacity.

The treatment takes place as you lie on a therapy table. Sometimes a chair is used for additional moves. Treatments generally address the whole body as well as any presenting problems and the first treatment includes taking a full case history of past and present illnesses including accidents and injuries.

A body awareness programme is undertaken where the therapist will make observations about the client’s body looking for poor body posture and alignment, possibly asking the client to walk up an down and make other movements.

The therapist starts the treatment by making a series of gentle rolling moves over soft tissue around the spine. In between these series of moves the client is left resting, for a few minutes, with the therapist outside the room. This allows the body to absorb the gentle moves that have been performed, giving the body time to make the subtle and fine adjustments which promote the healing process.

Commonly, you may notice a variety of sensations such as tingling, or increased heat or energy moving through the body. Most find the treatment deeply relaxing, which promotes faster healing in the body. After a Bowen Technique treatment you may be feeling very relaxed often drowsy.

You are welcome to sit and relax in the clinic for as long as you like and we would be happy to offer you a complementary drink. You will certainly be asked to drink some water immediately after the treatment.

A first treatment including full consultation lasts 60 mins, with subsequent treatments 45 minutes. Initially the treatments are scheduled between 5 and 7 days apart and a set of 2 or 3 is recommended.

In some cases relief from the presenting symptoms can be experienced after the first visit. Many people state that over the following 3-5 days they experience reactions as the body accepts the therapy and realigns itself. Acute conditions can respond immediately; chronic conditions may take longer.

The Bowen Technique is often referred to as a ‘fascial release technique’. This means that it works by stimulating the body’s fascia. The fascia is made up of the connective tissue which surrounds the muscles, organs and bones, which in turn facilitates movement and flexibility.

Trauma, tension, scar tissue and dehydration can all inhibit free movement between the various parts of the body, and this can cause pain and discomfort. It is important to remember that it is the fascia, along with our muscles, tendons and ligaments, that holds our skeleton in place and not the other way around. Essentially, we are able to remain upright not because of our unstable skeleton, but because of the complex combination of soft tissue acting on the skeleton.

The fascia helps support the spine and therefore has a direct effect on our posture. By stimulating the fascia to let go of abnormal tension, the muscles and fascia can work together more effectively, encouraging the spine to adopt a better position, improving posture and eliminating pain.

It is interesting to observe that at the end of a Bowen session, many clients comment on how much taller they feel. This is as a direct result of the Bowen moves, which have released tensions in the body.

Water
Please ensure that you drink at least 5 glasses of still water each day. Water is essential following a Bowen Technique treatment. After your treatment the body starts to increase blood supply to nerve endings which in turn affects the movement of lymph around the body. The effective functioning of these systems is entirely reliant on water and on average the recommendation is that everyone should drink at least two litres of water per day.

Moving
In the days immediately following a Bowen Technique treatment, try not to sit still for more than 30 minutes at a time. A little walk around the room to have a stretch is all that is required to keep things moving.

Responses
Responses to Bowen treatment may include hot and cold flushes, headaches, emotional release, thirst, tiredness and body aches and pains. These are all positive signs that the healing process is working. These responses usually clear after a few days.

Exercise
Continue with any comfortable and gentle exercise regime that you already have, unless otherwise advised.

Medication
Do not alter any medication or diet that has been prescribed for you.

Heat/Cold
Do not use ice packs or heat pads during a course of Bowen treatment.

Other Therapies
During the course of treatment with the Bowen Technique, do not receive another physical therapy such as reflexology, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture etc. for seven days before your Bowen Technique treatment, or within seven days of finishing Bowen Technique treatments. This is to ensure that the body is not overloaded with information or given differing therapeutic information to deal with at the same time.

Questions
If you have any questions or wish to discuss anything, before or after your treatment, Sarah is happy for you to email her at any time.

The therapist starts the treatment by making a series of gentle rolling moves over soft tissue around the spine. In between these series of moves the client is left resting, for a few minutes, with the therapist outside the room. This allows the body to absorb the gentle moves that have been performed, giving the body time to make the subtle and fine adjustments which promote the healing process.

The responses of the brain are central to understanding how the Bowen Technique works. The basic function of the brain is to receive information from our sensory organs and interpret this information. Well over half a million signals travel between the brain and the body every second. Whenever our senses are triggered, the brain reacts and creates an appropriate response.

In the case of the unfamiliar moves made during a Bowen Technique treatment, the brain is unable to do this instantly and needs more information to form a response. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, is when the brain makes new neural connections in response to new stimuli. Which is why the therapist leaves the room to allow the body to rest as the brain decides how to react. The response is nearly always rapid and deep relaxation as the brain sends out a healing response.