Bowenwork
“Manual Therapy that Restores the Body’s Own Healing Mechanism”
History
Bowenwork is a dynamic manual therapy technique that was developed by its founder Tom Bowen from Geelong, Australia in the early 1950s. it utilizes graded inputs to the body stimulating the body to heal itself, often profoundly. It does so holistically by using the body’s innate healing mechanisms. Bowen moves are done over muscles, ligaments, tendons or nerves which deliver signals to the nervous system, and the body does the rest, responding in its own time, as it is able. Bowenwork is appropriate for individuals of all ages and in all degrees of health.
Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916-1982) was originally a carpenter by trade and he had a keen interest in sports and athletics. He was a keen observer who noticed that athletes that got injured were not getting long term relief from the modalities that were being used at the time. He became interested in ways to alleviate people’s suffering and began to notice that certain moves on the body had particular effects. He started to train under Ernie Saunders, an osteopath, and also took information from the field of acupuncture to devise his own treatment technique that was quick, effective and provided long term relief.
Initially he practiced out of his home but soon the lines outside his house grew so long that he realized he could no longer continue to work and practice his healing technique from home, and thus he started a full time “bowenwork” practice. His practice grew very fast through word of mouth and at one point it was documented by the government of Victoria, Australia that he was seeing as many as 13000 patients a year. Tom Bowen was known to be a generous and charitable man who frequently provided free clinics for people with disabilities and pensioners. He often referred to his training in this therapeutic technique as “A Gift from God”.
Mr. Bowen’s treatment program was so effective that people came to him to learn his technique. During his lifetime, it is said that he trained and mentored six students. Each of those have since branched out and developed manual therapy techniques that have roots in Mr. Bowen’s work. One of those people was Ossie Rentsch, who worked closely with Mr. Bowen and promised him that his name would continue to be associated with his work. Ossie and his wife Elaine Rentsch have developed what is now known as Bowenwork, or the Bowen Technique (sometimes referred to as Bowtech), and they continue to teach and promote Bowenwork throughout the world. There are now several instructors in the United States, and although it’s still a fledgling therapy technique, Bowenwork as a treatment modality is quickly gaining popularity and is being used quite effectively around the world.
“…Bowenwork may potentially contribute to the global initiatives for healthier people” Hansen C. & Taylor-Piliae R. E. Bowenwork systematic review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2011;11:1001-1006
What is Bowenwork
Bowenwork is a manual therapy technique that uses a gentle series of hand movements over specific points on the body to stimulate nerve pathways. The moves are done in a particular sequence in order to initiate a change in the myofascial tension in the body. These gentle moves done over key points of the body send vibrational signals throughout the body causing a system-wide change. A treatment consists of combinations of moves over specific areas depending on the person’s symptoms and postural analysis.
Between specific sets of moves there are wait periods, generally two to five minutes long, which allow the body time to respond to the stimuli, following which the next series of moves are done. The aim of the technique is to send the body into a deeper state of relaxation in order to allow the body’s innate healing mechanisms to get activated and start the healing process. Because of the direct application of stimuli over muscles, ligaments and tendons, there is an effect on the resting length of the myofascial system, but in addition to that, a neuromuscular change is also elicited. The sympathetic nervous system, which is often overactive, tends to calm down and the parasympathetic nervous system can then start to take charge and elicit a calming effect on the body.
Some general concepts of Bowenwork are:
- Clothing can stay on.
- There are no manipulations or adjustments.
- The experience of Bowenwork is gentle, subtle and relaxing. This is what makes Bowenwork so unique.
- A Bowenwork session will last about 45-60 mins during which the client is left resting for short breaks to allow the body to assimilate the information.
- Relief is regularly felt immediately, most cases respond within 48 hours.
- Chronic conditions may take longer to resolve. Treatment plans are decided on physical assessment.
What Conditions Are Addressed?
Conditions that can be helped with Bowenwork are:
Muscular Skeletal Pain
Respiratory Problems
Digestive Disorders
Also
Some Additional Benefits of Bowenwork
Bowenwork has been reported to affect a number of incidental factors:
- Quality of Sleep
- Mood Elevation
- Ability to Concentrate and Focus
- General Relaxation
- Positive Outlook on Life