About Bowen Therapy
What Is The Bowen Technique?
The Original Bowen Technique is an extremely effective form of body therapy that stimulates a powerful healing process within the body on all levels.
Bowen consists of rolling movements over the fascia, specific muscles, tendons and ligaments which are specifically designed to reprogram, realign and rebalance the musculo-skeletal and nervous system. The cellular memory allows the whole body to correct and heal itself. The Bowen Technique also addresses internal organs and is extremely safe and appropriate for anyone.
Where Did Bowen Originate?
Thomas A Bowen (1916 - 1982) developed this technique in the 1950's in Geelong, Victoria.
After serving in WWII, Bowen became interested in ways to alleviate human suffering. He began to notice that when he made certain moves on the body, it had particular effects.
This technique is unique in that it was developed without any previous training. In fact he frequently stated his work was a gift from God.
Tom devoted his life to children and they referred to him as 'Uncle Tom', he never charged in memory of his disabled grand daughter who died at a young age. He ran a fortnightly clinic for years, treated disabled people free of charge and he would regularly pay house calls to people who were unable to attend his clinic, even in the middle of the night. On Sundays he would visit Geelong Prison to treat prisoners and was many times called upon by the Geelong police to assist them, even being awarded a medal from the Victorian Police Board.
Tom also worked with many of the sports clubs in and around Geelong, often driving all over Geelong and the surrounding district on a Saturday afternoon, attending to injured footballers.
In 1975 the Australian Government inquiry into alternative health practice stated Bowen yielding reported results of 80 to 85% success rate, often with only 2 sessions. He regularly treated over 13,000 patients per year he worked tirelessly night and day and in dedication, Geelong erected a sculpture to commemorate his amazing work.
Tom Bowen was a humble man who, in his lifetime and beyond, made an incredible impact on humanity around the world after he developed this unique therapeutic system now practised in more than 40 countries with over 28,000 practitioner.
Over a period of years he developed the system to the professional modality as it is practised today!
"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness 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"
Etienne Grellet 1773-1855 (Tom's Motto)
Who Can Benefit From A Bowen Treatment?
Most people can benefit, including pregnant women, newborn babies, the frail and elderly. Bowen Therapy is often requested to help relieve the pain and discomfort of various physical conditions. In these days of stressful living, preventative treatments such as Bowen are like super for your health. Any investment made now will pay dividends in the future.
What Can You Expect From A Bowen Treatment?
We discuss your health issues and then I will assess your posture and check for any restrictions in your range of movement while formulating at a treatment plan. I will then ask you to lie on the massage table so that I can apply the specific Bowen moves required for your particular condition.
During the treatment there are pauses to allow your body to relax so that the treatment can take affect. Also so that your body receives clear messages. Moves are generally applied directly onto skin, but may be done through light clothing and no oils or lotions are used. Treatments usually take an hour but can take less time, depending on individual needs.
Celebrities who use Bowen
Bear Grylls
“It (Bowen) has helped keep my body together despite the continual bashing it takes,” he explains: “It’s a vital support in putting right a whole range of new aches and pains, making sure that old injuries don’t cause me problems, and helping me fight stress and fatigue.” – Bear Grylls (ITV’s Mission Survive and Channel 4’s The Island)
To the outside world, the adventurer Bear Grylls epitomises supreme fitness. The man who catapults himself into alien, life-threatening environments, surviving on his wits alone, practically bursts with good health - or so it seems to the viewer watching him. Bear also suffers from chronic back problems.
Twelve years ago, aged 21, he broke his back when training with the SAS after his parachute failed to inflate at 16,000 feet.
"I should have cut the main parachute and gone to the reserve but thought there was time to resolve the problem." He landed on his parachute pack, which was like an iron bar, and fractured three vertebrae.
It was extraordinary that he was alive, let alone not paralysed - but incredibly the spinal cord, which channels messages between the brain and all parts of the body, had not been severed.
Bear was treated at Headley Court, the defence forces' rehabilitation centre in Surrey.
"The doctor said I was a miracle man. I had come so close to severing my spinal cord. Because of my age and my fitness, they decided I could avoid surgery."
Instead, he underwent ten hours a day of physiotherapy, swimming, stretching and ultrasound treatment - a programme designed to help servicemen get back to active duty, but rarely available to civilians.
The alternative - and one offered to most people in a similar situation, but without Bear's peak fitness - is surgery to fuse the broken vertebrae.
'I had nightmares for months. Still, I was lucky to walk away without surgery - but ever since, I have suffered twinges and pains."
Deep massage helped, but he says he always felt physically 'unbalanced' by his injury.
Then a year ago his wife suggested he see a Bowen therapist. The Bowen technique, developed in the 1950s, involves using rolling movements over muscles, ligaments and tendons.
This is said to send impulses to the brain to trigger the body's own healing system.
Precisely how it works is a mystery, but many professional football clubs maintain a Bowen therapist as it has been shown to be very effective in realigning the skeletal structure.
"I was sceptical, but wanted to keep an open mind," says Bear.
He went to see East Sussex based Bowen therapist Sarah Yearsley.
"With the slightest squiggle of her fingers, it felt like petrol was being put back in my tank and I could feel all the stress seeping away. More importantly, after my back accident, my spine and pelvis had lost alignment, so I felt unbalanced."
Sarah explained that Bear's pelvis was slightly twisted - and that this would cause endless problems and backache.
Most fans of Bear's Born Survivor series will not have noticed anything wrong, yet a subtle misalignment - visible only to the expert eye - can impact on total health For Bear, who is often jumping out of planes, having complete structural alignment is even more important than for the average person.
Bear describes himself as now 'hooked' and has treatment every month.
It has helped him prepare for his most perilous challenge yet. Next month he is attempting a powered paraglide over Everest's 29,035ft summit.
Other Celebrities
Kylie Minogue is also rumoured to be a fan of Bowen, and both Sam Taylor-Wood and Elle Macpherson were rumoured to be avid Bowen fans during their pregnancies.
It’s time to get on board! I have never felt so good and will continue to recommend it to anyone looking for pain relief or even just wanting to improve their quality of life. We need to all spread the word, this technique really is life changing!” – James Ellison (current British Superbike Racer, one time British Champion, two times European Champion and one time World Champion.)
