The Bowen Technique

 

On my journey to ultimate health I have been blessed to have the Bowen Technique placed before my path; offered to me as another way of naturally balancing the body. I am now a Bowen Therapist having completed Modules 1-7. Everyday I see the wonders of this fabulous therapy transform lives. Below, I will share some powerful examples of how it has helped family, friends, clients, and myself, as well as a brief description of Bowen itself.

 

 

History of Bowen Therapy

  “I expect to pass through this world but once: any good thing therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”

 

Tom Bowen, born in 1916 in Brunswick , Australia pioneered a technique of non intrusive, simple and normally gentle moves that alleviated a wide range of health symptoms. In the 1960’s he opened his own clinic. During the 1970’s Tom Bowen was treating 13,000 people a year. Before his death in 1982 he trained a limited number of people in his technique. Ossie and Elaine Rentsch, studied Bowen’s technique and ultimately were authorized by Bowen to document and teach his work. Bowen therapy is now being taught all over the world with astounding results.

 

How Bowen Works

 Bowen therapy is a gentle form of body work in which very subtle moves are performed over the muscles, deep into the body, retrieving cellular memory of a preferred, relaxed, balanced way of well being. These gentle, powerful moves send neurological impulses to the brain, which then is given time to process and feed impulses back to realign the body to its natural state of being. Results can be remarkable, even from the first session; and often only a few sessions are needed to correct the presenting problem.

There are frequent but very essential pauses throughout the session that allows the body time to respond and begin the healing process. Unlike many other hands-on therapies, the Bowen Technique does not use forceful manipulation. The unique skill of the Bowen practitioners can discern stress build-up in the muscles and other soft tissues, enabling them to perform specific Bowen moves to assist recovery.

The technique addresses not only the musculoskeletal framework, but also the fascia, nerves and internal organs. The body’s integrated responses improve circulation and lymphatic drainage, and also aids in the assimilation of nutrients and elimination of toxins.

The Bowen Technique is extremely gentle and is considered appropriate for anyone from pregnant women and newborn babies to the frail and the elderly. It can assist recovery from many conditions of health imbalances, depending upon each individual’s capacity to heal. No adverse side effects have been reported.

 

The Technique should be considered for:

  back pain and sciatica

  digestive and bowel imbalances

  earache, ear infections and migraines

  fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome

  knee, ankle and foot problems

  neck and shoulder problems

  menstrual and hormonal imbalances

  respiratory imbalances and hay fever

  sports injuries

  and many more imbalances of the body

 

During a session:

A person having Bowen therapy for the first time should come to the session feeling relaxed and comfortable. Loose fitting clothing, preferably light cotton shorts and t-shirt should be worn, for the technique can be done through clothing. The person will relax laying down on a massage table having nothing to do but enjoy the session.  The Bowen work will continue to be integrated over the next five days following a session. A follow up session is recommended and important in setting the work into the body.

 

Other therapies:

A Bowen session initiates a cascade of beneficial changes that continue for several days and up to five days. Applying other manipulative therapies during this time can interrupt this process and undermine the overall effectiveness of the Bowen work. It is therefore recommended that the client wait a week before commencing any other manual therapy.

 

Read more information at   www.bowtech.com.

 

 

Bowen Experiences

 

Kidney Stones -

My experience was one of complete satisfaction and happiness. As requested by my instructor Alexia Monroe and as a requirement for Bowen students I submitted my experience to Bowen Hands, the official magazine for Bowen work. My experience reads as follow;

My wonderful Bowen experience.

 

On September 3, 2003 I began my first Bowen courses, 1 and 2. I had just recently read about Bowen and the wonderful therapy it is to the body. Intrigued I set out for an experience that would change my life forever.

 

I have suffered with recurring kidney stones for 5 years, two of those painful experiences ending in the hospital and having surgery with another. My life had been altered during these experiences, the pain alone felt like I was in labor all over again and lasting up to two weeks. So when it came to learning the kidney procedure I was deathly afraid it might awaken the stone I currently had. Two weeks earlier I was in the hospital with a kidney stone that did pass and I felt in no way did I want this monster to surface during my Bowen classes. I could foresee the horrible sickness and pain that I would experience and the days in bed. Not to mention I was not in the comfort of my home but staying in a hotel.

With the assurance from my instructor, Alexia Monroe, that all would be okay, I proceeded to receive the kidney procedure. After the procedure I immediately felt the sensation that my right kidney, which had the stone, was spiraling and then felt a sensation that warm finger tips were gentle massaging the kidney area of my back. After 15 minutes I felt fine and continued with my day. Later the next morning my body immediately awoke at 2:30 in the morning with the feeling that the stone was leaving my right kidney, moving right down the ureter to the bladder, so I got up out of bed to use the rest room. I then felt the stone move to the urethra where it stayed upon passing the next day. All of this happening with no severe pain, instead just a little discomfort. I was amazed - I am still just amazed! I thought that was the end of the story until September 11th, I passed another kidney stone, on the fifth day after my Bowen kidney procedure. Again absolutely no pain, no vomiting, no fever, and no trip to the hospital. What is even more amazing, this is the biggest stone to date that I have ever passed. It measures in inches, 3/16 of an inch long and 1/8 of an inch wide. I have the proof! I know this sounds unbelievable, but it’s my miracle. I am forever grateful to Tom Bowen for bringing this blessed therapy to the light of the world.  

 

Lucy Cruze, The Woodlands, TX USA

 

 

P.S.   (added October 20, 2003)

Since my wonderful personal experience with Bowen that helped me to pass a large kidney stone with no pain, I have had wonderful results with a client that as well has had a long history of kidney stones. On my clients second follow up visit I did the BRM-Lower Back Procedure and the BRM- Upper Back Procedure followed by the Kidney Procedure. She said she could feel a warm tingling sensation but otherwise felt good. On the fifth day after her Bowen treatment she passed a kidney stone with no pain just a little dull ache at her lower back area. She was thrilled! She now wants to learn the wonderful blessing of Bowen.

 

Asthma -

Case of RiAnne Smith 10 years old treated by Lucy Cruze

The problem is asthma, seemed to be seasonal for a few years but has gotten worse in the last couple of years.

We were treating RiAnne with the normal medical treatments of breathing machine nebulizing medicine (up to 5 times a day), cough syrup, cough pills and an inhaler. We were told that the lungs were not producing enough steroids and this caused extra mucus in the lungs which was causing her to cough and wheeze. Some nights even after all of the medicine she still could not stop coughing. We had to have her bed in the bath room and turn on the shower with hot water to get the bathroom steamed up before she could stop coughing. We always felt uneasy about giving RiAnne so many medicines and especially steroids.

After the first 3 treatment with Lucy RiAnne was much more relaxed and she was able to sleep out of the bath room. We still had a vaporizer going by her bed. She has always been a good water drinker and drinks about 2 quarts of water a day.

She has had about 10 treatments now and is off all meds including breathing treatments. She is sleeping through the night and coughs much less. Lately she has been aware of sore chest muscles and lungs from all of the coughing. After the treatments from Lucy she comes home relaxed and in less pain.

We have high hopes of RiAnne not having to worry about asthma in the future and feel that she is progressing toward that goal. Thanks to our friend Lucy Cruze for learning the Bowen technique.

Sincerely,

Kay, Belinda and RiAnne Smith


Good Health

      Bowen therapy has been a great source of healing to me. Immediately after and days following the treatment I felt relaxed and energized. For many months I would get a lot of tingling and numbness in my limbs at night and during the day. Once I started with the Bowen, these sensations gradually became less and less frequent and now gone. In fact, I could actually feel my body working out these areas of tension and pinched nerves following a Bowen appointment. Trying to get my overactive thyroid in balance has been another area I've recently sought out Bowen therapy for which has proved beneficial. I can truly feel a difference and have a lot less symptoms that I used to with this condition. Bowen therapy has been an amazing tool for healing my body and bringing it back into balance.

Melody Nelson