What Is Bowen Therapy?

In the 1950s, the late Thomas Bowen of Australia developed a holistic and strategic approach to healing that helps the body heal itself. Today, this technique is referred to as Bowen Therapy and has since spread around the world, with more than 25,000 practitioners having received training.

This gentle hands-on therapy is non-invasive and works through precise sets of light maneuvers over soft tissue, working through the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system (ANS) to trigger the body's natural ability to rebalance and heal itself. The ANS controls over 80% of bodily functions. In today's world this system is highly over-stimulated resulting in "fight, flight or freeze mode". Bowen Therapy seems to trigger the shift to "rest, relax and repair mode".

There is a general consensus among doctors, researchers and specialists that unresolved stress and trauma leads to the "fight, flight, freeze" response which triggers high levels of cortisol. Over time, "the FFF response creates profound changes in our autoimmune responses that [can] create disease-like states." (Health Learning, Dr. John Coleman)

The practitioner uses gentle and purposeful moves through light clothing on specific parts of the body. These gentle moves stimulate the autonomic nervous system with the aim of allowing the body to reach a parasympathetic state. While in that relaxed state the body has the ability to boost and rebalance it`s systems.

Bowen Therapy can address and help people of all ages cope with a wide range of health issues, including but not limited to:

• allergies
• headaches
• side effects of cancer treatment,
• insomnia
• back and muscle pain
• sciatica
• fibromyalgia
• multiple sclerosis (ms)
• Parkinson's
• mood disorders
• grief
• post traumatic stress syndrome (ptsd)
• sports injuries and
• much more

There are many benefits to Bowen Therapy, including:

• balancing the body
• relaxation and calmness
• improved posture
• decreased inflammation
• reduced pain and symptoms
• improved digestion and elimination
• increased circulation and
• many more

Bowen Therapy Services Offered

The initial Bowen session requires approximately 1h15. During this time, the client's health history and current information about health concerns are gathered. Some Bowen Therapy will also take place.

Subsequent sessions can require anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. These are scheduled as determined by the client's response to the therapy. The optimal time between sessions is typically from 5 to 10 days.

Clients should refrain from receiving other therapies (massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc.) four days prior to the Bowen Therapy as well as five days after. This ensures that there is no interference with the Bowen treatment.

It is best for clients to come dressed in light and loose fitting clothing so that the practitioner can locate, through touch, various landmarks on the body.

Following a session, it is necessary for clients to drink plenty of water throughout that day and not sit for more than 30 minutes at a time without some light exercise, such as walking. They should also avoid other body therapies and exposure to temperature extremes, such as saunas or hot showers.