Bowen Therapy

There are several theories about how Bowen may influence relaxation and body awareness, but the precise mechanisms are not fully understood.The technique involves subtle moves over soft tissue, separated by pauses, creating a quiet and restful experience that many people find calming.People respond differently, and individual experiences and outcomes will vary.

Bowen is generally considered a gentle and low-impact complementary therapy when provided by a trained practitioner.As with many forms of bodywork, individual experiences vary. Some people feel relaxed after a session, while others may notice temporary tenderness, fatigue or increased body awareness for a short time.If you are pregnant, have recently had surgery, have a significant medical condition or have concerns about whether Bowen is appropriate for you, please discuss this with your healthcare provider before booking.

80 minutes for your first session.Follow-up sessions vary from 60 to 80 minutes.

I recommend a series of three weekly sessions for situations that are not chronic or longstanding.Each session is a treatment of its own. The first session balances your body. Follow-up sessions will be tailored to your areas of concern.Often people will come for regular appointments at 4-6 weekly intervals, or when they feel like they need a Bowen session.

A Bowen session consists of a sequence of subtle rolling movements applied over muscles and connective tissue.Unlike massage, there is no prolonged pressure or manipulation. Clients remain fully clothed, in light loose-fitting clothing, and lie comfortably on a massage table while the practitioner performs the movements with regular pauses throughout the session.Many people describe the experience as relaxing.

The practitioner leaves the room, as there are frequent pauses during the Bowen session (usually lasting 2 minutes). This is a traditional part of Bowen practice.These pauses provide an opportunity for quiet rest between sets of movements and allow clients time to notice any changes in comfort or relaxation before the session continues.

People experience Bowen differently. Some clients report feeling relaxed or refreshed, while others notice temporary tiredness or mild muscle discomfort for a short period.Remaining well hydrated and engaging in regular gentle movement like walking is beneficial and encouraged.If you have ongoing concerns or unexpected symptoms, please email me. You may also need to consult your registered health professional.

Many practitioners recommend light activity only on the day of your Bowen session, and to also avoid strenuous exercise activity that day. Pay attention to how your body feels prior to returning to strenuous exercise.

It is best to avoid other forms of body work eg, chiropractic, physiotherapy, reflexology, reiki, and any other complementary treatments. This is to allow your body to integrate the work you had at your Bowen Therapy treatment.It will also allow space for any other treatment to do the same, in isolation. Therefore we do not recommend any other form of bodywork from 5 days before or after a treatment with Bowen Therapy.This recommendation is based on the Bowen Technique protocols rather than established clinical evidence.

Drink plenty of water, take some gentle movement/exercise, and avoid any other form of bodywork treatment. Avoid using self-massage. Do not shock the body with extremes of hot or cold, so no heat pack, spa, or ice pack (except if needed for first aid).Your practitioner will explain this further on the day of your treatment.

The Bowen Technique was developed by Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916–1982) in Geelong, Australia. He began developing his technique in the 1950s motivated by finding ways to alleviate human suffering. Noticing that certain “moves” on the body had certain effects he progressed his technique without ever having formal medical training. Tom continued to refine his technique throughout his life and was aided, and his work documented, by his secretary Rene Horwood. He frequently stated his work was “a gift from God”.After meeting Tom at a national health conference in Adelaide in 1974 Oswald (Ossie) Rentsch (a formally trained osteopath and naturopath) studied Bowen’s technique. Later, with his wife Elaine, they began utilising Tom Bowen’s methods.In 1975 the Victorian government published the Committee of Inquiry into Osteopathy, Chiropractic and Naturopathy Report - the “Ward Report” - which recorded that Tom Bowen was seeing some 13,000 people a year and achieving a success rate in excess of 80% in his practice. Following the Ward Report, the Australian government’s Webb Committee of Inquiry into Chiropractic, Osteopathy and Naturopathy, published in 1977 acknowledged Tom as a respondent to their national practitioner surveys and cited his clinic as the largest manipulative therapy practice in all of Australia.Honouring Tom’s request to teach the technique after his death, Ossie and Elaine founded the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia in 1987, and named Tom’s technique Bowtech® - The Bowen Technique.Today Bowen is practised in many countries as a complementary bodywork modality. From its Australian origins Tom’s innovative and unique technique has now been adopted worldwide with practitioners in countries including New Zealand, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and parts of the European Union, Asia and the South Pacific. The list is still growing.

There are a few situations where Bowen is not recommended, this is why you must disclose honestly to your Practitioner your medical history when asked. Certain Bowen procedures cannot be used for example, if you have had chest implants, are pregnant etc.