Bowen Therapy
What is Bowen
Bowen is a soft tissue modality that is more than massage. It has a psychological benefit and a feeling of safety. A Bowen treatment is a series of light cross fibre moves on set points on your body over superficial layers of skin and fascia. Bowen ‘asks’ the body to recognise and make the changes it requires. Between each set of moves, the body rests for a few minutes to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process. It puts your mind and body in a state of relaxation. Bowen works by unlocking the body’s ability to heal itself. There are no adverse side effects with Bowen; it is very gentle and non-invasive, but extremely powerful.
History of Bowen
Bowen is named after Thomas Ambrose Bowen, who was born in 1916 to parents who had emigrated to Australia from Wolverhampton (UK). After leaving school at a young age and working various labour jobs, he eventually trained as a carpenter and worked at Geelong Cement Works. While working there, he began treating people with various ailments despite having no formal training. He eventually operated a full-time clinic where he treated patients at an astonishing rate. Tom Bowen had a unique ability to ‘see’ what was wrong with an individual and only needed to do a few simple moves before seeing the body start to change. He is credited with discovering a way to encourage the body’s own power of healing. To learn more about Tom Bowen’s life and legacy, check out Shirley Strachan’s book “Healing Hands: Unsung Voices Anthology.”
So what is fascia?
Fascia is connective tissue that separates every part of the body with every other part, wrapping around muscles and holding organs in place. Fluid is held between the membranes of fascia and helps the gliding motion of muscles upon each other. This fluid helps smooth out the articulations of joints. It helps reduce pain, increase range of motion, and serves to nourish muscles and nerves.
Who is it good for
Bowen therapy is suitable for everybody of all ages, including newborn babies and the elderly. It is safe and there is no body that cannot be treated. Bowen therapy is not massage or manipulation. Many clients are surprised that such gentle moves can be so astoundingly effective and deliver long-lasting results.