Bowen Technique involves a gentle yet dynamic system of muscle and connective tissue moves, which balance the body and stimulate energy flow.
The practice restores the body’s innate capacity for self-healing. The gentle rolling moves affect the autonomic nervous system, helping create homeostasis at the cellular level. Moves are mostly performed on the tendons. These structures contain a reflex that, when excited, signal the brain to return the muscle to its normal state. Bowen is like playing a string instrument. When we strum a guitar, the vibration created translates into the music we hear. The Bowen moves are similar, sending a subtle vibration through the entire body to bring about homeostasis.
Bowen Technique is unique. The less work done, the more impressive the results. A typical session lasts around 30 minutes. Moves are performed, and the therapist allows the patient to rest for one to two minutes. The therapist returns, applies additional moves, and pauses again. These moves are gentle yet powerful, and it’s necessary for the brain to rest and process before continuing.
During a session, the patient will feel remarkably relaxed. The autonomic nervous system has two components, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The former takes care of the flight or fight response when adrenaline is secreted. Our patients are in this state of stress when we first see them. During and after the session, the parasympathetic system takes over and allows for digestion, relaxation, and sleep to occur. This is the body’s healing state.
The results are often permanent, reprogramming the body to its original blueprint. As few as three to six sessions are usually needed to achieve optimal well-being. Tom Bowen, who developed the practice in Australia, had remarkable success, with most of his patients requiring one to three sessions. Near the end of his life, he saw in excess of 13,000 patients annually.
The technique provides immediate results. People find relief from back pain, pelvis and coccyx problems, sciatica, TMJ syndrome, knee pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, headaches, hay fever, and much more.
Ted, a vital 85 year-old, came to see me for his painful right sacroiliac joint. During WWII, his plane crashed and the shock was absorbed here. He was amazed to find that after a few sessions the pain vanished. He suffered for over 60 years and saw many therapists, but Bowen was the only technique that relieved him permanently. He continues to come to me monthly as the treatments are helping with hearing loss.
I enjoy giving talks on Bowen, describing the technique and then doing a hands-on demonstration. One woman showed me her frozen and painful left shoulder, and her range of motion was no more than a few degrees abduction. The joint was swollen. I did the shoulder procedure, and waited for two minutes. I then asked her to raise her arm. She did, with full range of motion and no pain.
At another talk, a woman approached who had not been able to open her jaw completely. I applied the upper respiratory and temporomandibular joint procedure. Immediately after, she could open her jaw fully. I ran into her three years later, and she confirmed that the problem never returned.
The Bowen Technique continues to amaze me. I feel blessed to be involved with such a gentle yet powerful healing modality.
For additional information please visit www.doveclinic.ca
