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what
is Bowen Technique?
what
can it treat?
why
choose the Bowen Technique?
what can I expect during my first session?
what will I
feel during my treatment?
how
will I feel afterwards?
is it compatible with other treatments I’m
having?
how frequent should sessions be?
what
is the Bowen Technique?
Bowen
is named after Tom Bowen, an Australian who pioneered
the technique before it spread worldwide after his death
in the 1980s. It consists of a series of gentle, rolling
moves over muscle and soft tissue to trigger a healing
reaction. It is particularly effective for stress and
muscular-skeletal problems, but also has a profound
effect on a whole range of organic conditions such as
MS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, asthma, or migraine.
why
choose the Bowen Technique?
My clients
have included babies & children, pregnant mothers,
athletes, dancers, musicians, truck drivers,
gardeners - people from all walks
of life, at all stages of life, all of whom have found Bowen useful in
alleviating their symptoms. Furthermore, Bowen is
usually very effective in just a few sessions, making it
is a cost-effective solution to many ailments.
Anyone who is using
subjecting their body to strain will find the Bowen
Technique can increase flexibility, reduce
muscle pain, alleviate fatigue and improve performance.
As a
result, increasing numbers of health and sports
professionals are turning to the Bowen Technique to
treat persistent injuries, chronic conditions, and acute
or chronic pain.
what
can it treat?
Many
acute and chronic conditions respond favourably to Bowen
Technique, including:
- sports
injuries
- tension/anxiety/insomnia
- back
pain/sciatica
- neck/shoulder
problems (including whiplash)
- frozen
shoulder/tennis elbow
- carpal
tunnel syndrome/rsi
- plantar
fasciitis/bunions/hammer toes
- respiratory
conditions/asthma
- hay
fever/sinusitis
- migraines/headaches
- fatigue/me/depression
- digestive
system problems/ibs
- pmt/menopausal
symptoms
- eczema/skin
problems
- bedwetting
Case
studies/testimonials for some of these conditions can be
read on this site here. It
is important to remember that Bowen is not
a substitute for medical care, and you should not
hesitate to consult your GP or other medical
professional if you believe you have a condition that requires
medical treatment.
what can I expect during my
first session?
Your initial consultation will include a review of your
medical history and lifestyle,
followed by a Bowen session to assess pain
patterns, restricted movement and other presenting
conditions. Because Bowen can be done through clothes
without losing any of its effectiveness, I recommend
wearing a light shirt/trousers, or bring pyjamas to
wear.
The
first session will last about an hour, thereafter,
depending on the presenting condition(s), 25-45
minutes.
what will I
feel during my treatment?
Bowen is very gentle,
which makes it ideal for people who have experienced
pain or discomfort during physiotherapy, massage or
bodywork. You will
either sit in a chair or lie comfortably on a massage
table, and the moves will be made in tune with your exhalation.
The "move" itself generally uses very little
pressure - it
is the location, sequence, and rests between the moves
that make Bowen so effective, not the amount of pressure
we use.
how
will I feel afterwards?
For most people, there is nothing more
than a little tiredness or stiffness which will pass in
about 24-48 hours. Despite
its gentleness, possible reactions to Bowen can also include headaches or cold-like
symptoms. It is important to remember that
after many therapies, the healing process is
'kick-started' and this can take many forms. Any
reaction is an indication that the treatment is
prompting healing, and this is an excellent sign.
There
are three things recommended to help you through this
healing process - water, walking, and waiting. In practice
this means drinking at least 2 litres of water a day,
keeping active, and giving the treatment a week or so to
take effect.
is it compatible with other treatments I’m
having?
It
is preferable to not to have any other form of bodywork
(reflexology, Reiki, Swedish massage etc.) for a week
before or a week after a Bowen session. This is to allow
the Bowen work to take its effect. However, Bowen is not
a substitute for medical care, and you should not
hesitate to consult your GP or other medical
professional if you believe you have a condition that requires
medical treatment.
how frequent should sessions be?
Because
Bowen is so often successful for my clients, the average
number of sessions is around three or four. In most
cases, a second
session, 5-10 days after your first, is recommended,
thereafter it will depend on your condition and how it
has responded. A good number of people (particularly
those with chronic conditions and re-injuries) find great
benefit from regular 'top-up' treatments, once a month
or so, to keep them injury-free, supple and
relaxed.
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