Bowen Therapy was developed in the 1950’s and 60’s in Australia by Thomas Bowen (1916-1982). Bowen had a particular curiosity for the way in which different postures have a connection with various pathological symptoms.
Over time Thomas Bowen experimented with a range of techniques until he refined it down to just one: delicate but highly efficient movements which we now know today as Bowen Therapy.
In 1973 an Australian Parliamentary Committee officially acknowledged Bowen Therapy as an efficient and significant practice.
Bowen Therapy has since caught the interest of health professionals across the globe. Today it is a popular practice in a variety of countries, especially in the United Kingdom and Australia.
What are
the movements like?
The therapist performs a series of gentle and highly precise movements. This incurs crossing their fingers over different structures of the body. The movements are performed at intervals so that the organism has time to progressively integrate the Bowen encoding transmitted from the therapist’s hands to the patient’s skin.
The objective of an initial session is to return to a general bodily rebalance which is particularly beneficial for the legs, buttocks, back and neck. Further treatment in other areas of the body can be covered in subsequential sessions.
What do
the sessions involve?
On arrival you will fill in a short questionnaire about your medical history and the reason for your visit. This will help the therapist to identify the best procedure. During therapy, the patient lies on a massage table but in some cases, they are sat down or stoop up.
Sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes and contact can be directly on the skin or through light clothing. Ideally sessions have at least a 5-day gap before the next treatment.
At the end of the treatment, the patient will be advised on how to initiate a detoxication process lasting a few days, which will help to reorganize their organism. It is advisable to drink plenty of water and to do gentle exercise only.
It is very common that patients are surprised at the treatment’s simplicity and how it doesn’t seem to make an impact on their physical condition. The desired result is reached some days after the treatment as the body has time to respond to the alterations made.
Reaction
to Bowen Therapy
When treating physical structure and the nervous system, the therapist’s movements are subtle, and the body responds gradually. Everyone reacts differently depending on their specific case and their own physical capacity. For lasting results, patients should attend between five and eight sessions.
Following the treatment, it is possible that patients will experience temporary symptoms such as muscular tension, sensitivity in areas with old injuries, change in bodily temperature, light fatigue, or a light headache.
Fascia
A well-kept secret
Fascia is a connective tissue which penetrates and covers all the body’s organs (muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves, blood cells, organs, and viscera).
The fascia is formed of a system of fibres, made up of small tubes which are hydrated to support the body and give it shape.
Furthermore, the fascia facilitates mobility and damping in specific areas (i.e., spine, hips, knees, and ankles), but also has a structural influence across the body. In this sense, maintaining a healthy fascial tissue is a synonym for physical well-being in general.
Characteristics
and fascia composition
The fascia is comparable to a spider web in the sense that it connects the whole body, from the skin to the bones. The fascia guarantees support, connection, mobility, and generates information.
As well as being an excellent sensorial organ, it forms a watery medium, rich in collagen and proteoglycans, which contribute to the organism’s hydration and nutrition.
One of its most significant characteristics is its capacity to modify its consistency and elasticity when experiencing changes in tension and temperature. Because the fascia is an intrinsic bodily structure, it intervenes directly with multiple physiological processes, maintaining a direct relationship with painful areas, inflammation, and the autonomous nervous system.
