- Is Bowen Therapy another name for massage?
No. Bowen Therapy is a unique therapy developed by Thomas Bowen
(1916-1982). He developed his method of treatment over a period
of 30 years, practicing it from his home town in Geelong, Victoria.
Bowen therapy was first taught in 1987, and is now taught and
practiced in over 30 countries.
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- What is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is a soft tissue therapy consisting of a series
of gentle moves made with the therapists' thumbs and fingers
to groups of muscles, tendons or nerve sheaths. The moves trigger
a response within the body that sends our natural self-healing
ability into action, i.e. by sending signals to the affected
areas within the body triggering a response to relax, re-align,
release or heal.
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- How long does a treatment take?
Each session is approximately one hour, sometimes more, sometimes
less.
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- How many treatments will I need?
At RELIEF we request that you initially have 3 sessions spaced
a week apart. Thereafter, we recommend further treatments based
on how your body is responding.
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- What do I wear to a session?
Try to wear light clothing to a session so you don't have to
remove any clothing. Slippery clothing made of silk, satin or
lycra, garments made out of thick material such as denim, corduroy,
leather, and pants with external pockets impede the effectiveness
of the treatment.
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- How do I prepare for a Bowen treatment?
There's no preparation other than perhaps wearing light clothing.
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- How quickly will I feel relief from my symptoms?
This depends on your ailment and your own body's healing process.
Bowen Therapy continues to process in the body for 5-10 days
after the treatment, so for some people relief is immediate,
while for others, the process can take days to register any
improvement.
A series of treatments may be necessary to improve more difficult
or long-term conditions.
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- How safe is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is extremely safe. Gentle moves are made on muscles,
tendons or nerve sheaths - there is no manipulation of bones
or massaging of muscles. Therefore Bowen therapy is appropriate
to use on anyone including throughout pregnancy, on new born
babies, the frail and the elderly.
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- Can I still have a Massage, see a Chiropractor or Physiotherapist
while I'm being treated with Bowen Therapy?
At Relief, we request that you leave a 5-day gap either side
of a Bowen treatment to allow the Bowen to do its work. This
is for the sake of your body. Mixing up treatments can confuse
and overload the body.
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- Is there a specific time when I shouldn't have Bowen Therapy?
Essentially Bowen can be done on anyone at any time. However
we wouldn't recommend a bowen treatment when you're undergoing
other bodywork i.e. physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy,
massage, etc.
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- Can I claim my Bowen treatment?
There are several major health funds that cover complementary
therapies. See our Links and
Health Funds page for a list of health funds that currently
cover Bowen Therapy. As there are varying levels and packages
of health cover offered by the funds, you should check with
your own fund to determine if you are covered, and how much
can be claimed.
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- What Bowen is and is not
BOWEN IS HOLISTIC - Bowen is not limited to the presenting
physical symptoms but extends to the emotional, cognitive and
spiritual aspects of the individual concerned. The recognition
of the body as a complex unit dependent on the balance of all
these aspects is integral to the success of Bowen Therapy.
Hence, it is important to understand what Bowen is not
-
Bowen is not massage - Rubbing or even prolonged touching
around a recently performed Bowen move may interfere with its
effectiveness.
Bowen is not acupressure - Some of the areas will coincide
with acupressure points as the latter are so numerous.
Bowen is not chiropractic - There is NO adjustment of
bony structure. Most therapists and many clients observe vertebral
movement but this is evidence of the body re-aligning itself.
Bowen is not physiotherapy or neuromuscular re-education
- Physiotherapy addresses the patient with a variety of
exercises and therapies that target specific problems. It is
believed that it is the techniques that produce the results.
In contrast, Bowen is a series of moves that are believed to
stimulate the body to solve its own problems.
Bowen is not trigger-point therapy - Some points are
unavoidably similar but most trigger points are found in the
center of muscles whereas Bowen moves are done largely where
there are two muscles or muscle groups' overlap.
Bowen is not directional energy work - Energy work may
be intrusive and may focus excessively on accomplishing the
desired result, which may or may not coincide with the patient's
needs. In contrast, Bowen therapists are encouraged to focus
only on doing a precise movement accurately and then physically
leave the room.
Bowen is not fascia release - With each Bowen move the
fascia is minutely disturbed; it is not forcefully separated.
After a series of Bowen sessions, adhesions may loosen and scar
tissue may soften as Bowen stimulates the natural healing process.
Bowen is not lymphatic massage - Bowen does stimulate
lymphatic releases. Sinuses may drain during the session and
breast lumps have been reported to reduce within 2 weeks. Bowen
does not however use vigorous stroking or lymphatic massage.
Bowen is not an emotional release discipline - The intent
of a Bowen session is not to effect emotional releases but many
report that the most striking result of the work is a lightening
of their spirits and subtle but pervasive refocusing of troublesome
emotional patterns. Many other types of therapists consciously
focus on this interface between the physical and the emotional,
trying to touch on what is hidden behind a protective wall of
tense musculature. In comparison, Bowen confirms that the best
access is gained by the least threatening approach.
This information is provided by Bowtech (The Bowen Therapy
Academy of Australia)
