What is Bowen Therapy and how does it work

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Bowen is a soft tissue release technique which works on the body's fascia. Fascia is a connective tissue which surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fibre and muscle. When it is under stress, it tightens, causing tension and stress within the body. Healthy fascia is smooth and flexible and is designed to stretch as we move. However, it can become tight, thickened and sticky through factors such as lifestyle with limited movement, repetitive movements in one part of the body or trauma such as surgery or injury. This can lead to many uncomfortable and painful symptoms and can also prolong the recovery of injury.  

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Bowen therapy can offer tremendous benefits and provide relief from many types of injuries and other health problems, both acute and chronic. The practitioners moves deliver signals to the nervous system at specific locations and the body responds by making the necessary changes.

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The ANS (autonomic nervous system) is part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood pleasure, respiration, digestion and hormone secretion. There are two sub-divisions to this system, the sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic division initiates the fight-or-flight response and the parasympathetic initiates the rest-and-digest response, both are equally important, however, the ANS is very susceptible to external stressors and with most of us living in a constant  state of over-stimulation and stress, we can spend too much time in a sympathetic state. This state will release a hormone called epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), which is necessary for the 'flight or fight' situation, but too much adrenaline over time can damage the blood vessels, increase blood pressure and cause risks to heart health. It can also result in anxiety, weight gain, headaches and insomnia. The sympathetic state also inhibits the activity of the stomach, intestines and gallbladder. The body is most effective in healing itself when in the parasympathetic state which may explain why those in a constant sympathetic state struggle to heal effectively from illness, injury or surgery. The Bowen technique brings a patient into the parasympathetic state and regular treatments can promote healing and create balance by reducing stress and  increasing relaxation. 

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When faced with a new or recent injury, Bowen may be effective when applied to that particular area of trauma as the patient will have had little time to compensate for, and accommodate to, the injury. However where a condition has developed gradually over many months or years, the patterns of dysfunctional muscle and posture have become entrenched over time and adjusted to the individuals need for comfort and balance. In these cases Bowen would need to be applied holistically to address the whole body to facilitate optimal alignment and recovery. 

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Providing the patient follows their practitioners aftercare advice, Bowen therapy can create long lasting results as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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What to expect during and after a treatment

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Your initial appointment will include a full consultation where you will be asked for your medical history and a brief description of your presenting symptoms. 

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Your treatment and consultation will take around one hour and 15 minutes with each consecutive session lasting around one hour. Bowen can be done through thin loose fabric or directly onto to skin.

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While laying on a treatment couch you will receive a series of Bowen moves over set areas of the body followed by short breaks of around two to four minutes, during which time your therapist will wait quietly away from your direct space or outside the room if possible. The breaks are an essential part of the Bowen technique as they give the body time to process and respond to those set of moves before moving onto the next. The reason for the therapist leaving the room is so that the client can relax and go within rather than focusing on what is happening around them. 

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It is very common to experience increased or new symptoms, or new areas of pain or discomfort after a Bowen treatment but this is a good sign that the body is responding and making necessary change. The length of time this will continue will all depend on how much work the body needs to do to realign and rebalance itself but normally won't last longer than a few days before a client begins to feel the full benefits of their treatment. Heling is a process that takes time so it's important not to be discouraged by any short term discomforts as these lead to long term benefits.

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A typical course of treatments involves three session at weekly intervals but this will all depend on the individuals presenting conditions and lifestyle. Some clients have noticed dramatic changes and relief from symptoms after just a couple of treatments and others have needed several in order to combat the symptoms of a chronic condition. After a course of treatments it is beneficial to have follow up treatments every two to four months as maintenance and to help reduce the risk of any reoccurring injury.   

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