How Bowen Therapy works
Bowen therapy is a completely natural and holistic treatment that puts your body in a relaxed state (parasympathetic dominance). Once total relaxation of the body has been achieved, the inner ability to address any problems in the body and mind is activated. It doesn’t use forceful manipulation but facilitates self-healing. Bowen consists of a series of precise moves on specific points of the body, which are light and can be done on the skin or through light clothing. After each set of manipulations, the body is allowed to rest for a short period to allow the systems to respond. Bowen calms the sympathetic nervous system, putting the body into a state of deep relaxation so the body can unwind back to health.
My Experience with the Bowen Therapy
I found out for the first time about Bowen Technique, from a very good friend of mine, who had the benefit from it. When I saw the results, I decided straight away: ‘’As soon as I will have the opportunity, I have to study this Technique’’. Since then, Bowen was close to me every time.
After my experience as a nurse and physiotherapist (occupations which I embraced because I like to help people to stay/become healthy), when I found that there is a possibility to help sick people without causing supplementary pain, I was amazed and interested in this technique. At the beginning of the training, it was not easy for me to accept, that such a gentle and pleasant therapy can work.
From my experience, a vast majority of people is avoiding or delaying seeing a doctor or a therapist, because they are afraid of the painful procedures, which sometimes implies long, painful and expensive recovery periods and some side effects. On the other hand, people think that some procedures cannot work if there is no pain and suffering (for example, during a massage session, some people would consider it inefficient if the therapist does not work hard on their body). A long time ago, I was one of them, so I can understand those having doubts on the first try.
In the beginning, as a Bowen Practitioner, I was working with my family and my friends. Now I am grateful for their help because I have learned a lot. I use to give some tips to every client to make them be able to improve their life by themselves and, if possible, to help other people, without depending on me and my services. Once, the wife of our friend got bad flu and she had chosen to stay in bed rather than coming for the therapy. She supposed to come with her husband. I showed her husband some moves which he can apply to the wife’s body, at home after his BT session. He learned those moves and he was not afraid to use them every single time when somebody complained about something. Once, he was at a team-building meeting, with his colleagues. One colleague could not stay because he suffered from trigeminal pain (which affects the head, one ear and a half of his face). He applied THE EMERGENCY MOVES and the pain ‘’mysteriously’’ disappeared. Our friend had to give ‘’explanations’’ to the head office about the ‘’Magic Treatment’’ because everybody saw the guy before and after the Therapy.
So, Bowen works, no doubt.
Something extra about Bowen Therapy
Do you get off the treatment table thinking that everything is fine? We did what had to be done, let’s go! Can I continue to live as before? Or maybe you’re wondering why I paid to feel nothing?
Bowen’s magic is not just what happens on the treatment table. It’s what happens in your body in the days after treatment. It works differently from other body treatments and even allows your body to heal itself. The human body heals itself well, when given the chance to do it… It is known that Bowen does not aim to heal you instantly, but to instantly make your body heal itself better.
EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT – is the key we need to pay attention to after receiving Bowen treatment, your muscles and fascia will continue to react. Some people may feel many reactions during treatment, so they are already aware that changes have taken place in their body when they leave. I noticed that many of those who do not feel any change during the Bowen treatment session, sometimes feel the body reacting more later in the day, evening or even the next day or a few days after the session. It’s about how your body reacts and how much we listen to it and let it do its job.
Once you have received Bowen treatment, try not to sit on a couch without moving or sitting at the desk for a few hours. If possible, try not to sit for more than 30 minutes without getting up, especially on the day of treatment (you can use the phone alarm to remind you to move). Get up from your chair, even for a few seconds. Get up a little, move a little and lie down. Don’t let your body get lazy. Certainly there are exceptions to this rule… ..
SLEEP – Some clients feel tired after a Bowen session, and quite often fall asleep faster that night. Sleep and fatigue are symptoms that the body tells the brain to STOP! During sleep, your body no longer has to execute commands received from your brain to affect movement or anything else, so it has time to make repairs. So, being very tired after the treatment, or suddenly sleeping more than usual, is the way the body gets time to make its repairs – and the treatment re-energized your body to be ready to make these repairs. I have many clients who, they tell me that they know that in the morning after the treatment, they will really feel the difference.
WALKING – keeping your body moving in the days after treatment Bowen helps… take a walk, move and breathe…. but avoid contact sports or any very demanding activity for a while…
HYDRATION – Make sure you drink enough water and that you are not dehydrated. In fact, many feel the need to drink even more water than usual in the days after Bowen’s treatment. Your nervous system needs water, your lymphatic system, muscles and fascia need water to help your body repair itself; the body needs more water than usual, it contributes to detoxification; Bowen can help the body eliminate everything that is superfluous.
CONTACT AND BODY MASSAGE – I, at the end of each Bowen session, try to explain to clients that their body has just been ordered to take action and the body is busy responding for a few days. If the body now receives new commands, it will stop responding to the initial command and follow the new commands. What kind of “new commands” can the body respond to? If you use extreme hot-cold temperatures, the muscles and fascia will take over commands of relaxation (hot) and contraction (cold), instead of continuing to respond to commands received at the Bowen session. This includes compresses, hot baths or electric beds. So, a few days after Bowen, it is good to refrain from using them because it blocks the transmission of the command during Bowen treatment. Also, if you massage the painful area, give the body other commands that it will have to respond to instead of finishing the work started during the Bowen session. Sometimes, some may feel stiff after Bowen treatment, some feel so only in the evening after treatment, some the next day and (only occasionally) some for a few days. This happens most often to clients after the first Bowen session, especially if they have many postural imbalances – and sometimes surprisingly, a shorter treatment can influence these imbalances. Pain does not always have to scare you – changes in the body are definitely realigning. It is important not to massage the painful areas after Bowen, possibly you can take a mild sedative or a natural remedy. Definitely, more water is needed! It is obvious that the muscles and fascia are trying to relax and if you hydrate, you will help this process.
After all, Bowen isn’t made to make you feel good instantly (although this happens quite often), Bowen is made to come to you.
Q & A about Bowen Therapy
Your first visit with the Bowen Therapist
Your initial consultation will take 60-80 minutes and the therapists will take a detailed case history that provides them with useful information regarding your general well-being and the reason for the visit and then continues with a treatment of 20-30 minutes.
How many treatments will I need?
Any session after the initial treatment will take between 30-60 minutes. For most conditions Bowen Therapy generally requires only 3 to 4 sessions spaced a week apart (7-10 days), whilst others may need 6 to 8 sessions or more. In acute situations your sessions may be daily, or as the situation requires. If your health issue is more a chronic condition, you may require regular long-term treatments, usually spaced up to a week or more apart. If you require general maintenance, depending on your lifestyle, you may need 3-4 session every tree months. If your Bowen Therapist feels treatment is unlikely to be of benefit, they will refer you to a relevant practitioner.
What should I wear?
It’s best to wear loose and light clothing such as cotton or lycra so you don’t have to remove any clothing. If you wear denim, leather or tight skirts you may have to remove those and you could bring a change, such as shorts and t-shirts to the treatment session.
Are there any special requirements?
Not really, besides wearing loose comfortable clothing and drinking plenty of clean water prior to the treatment.
What to do after the Treatment?
A 20-30 minutes gentle walk after the treatment enhances hydration. Avoid having hot showers or baths and rigorous activity, even if you are feeling the best you have felt for a long time. Drink regular small amounts of clean water to flush out the toxins that have been released throughout the treatment.
Will I feel any relief after the treatment?
Some clients have less pain and the condition improves within a few days and some have an immediate improvement. It really depends on your body’s healing process and long-term conditions. As for some, they need a number of treatments until they feel a slight change. As a general rule; after receiving 3 treatments and you have not felt a change within at all, the Bowen treatment may not be for you and we would refer you own to a more suitable practitioner.
Will I have any reactions?
Feelings of improved energy, better mechanics and reduced pain are common after the Bowen treatment. However, if you are dehydrated your body may react with tiredness, musculo-skeletal discomfort, headaches, urination or general discomfort which can last up to 24-36 hours.
Through treating the cause not the symptoms Bowen Therapy has consistently shown it can have a profound and permanent healing and pain relief outcomes.
Bowen Therapy Prices
Bowen Therapy Promotions
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3 Bowen session £189
Save £36 (applicable for subsequent sessions) ; When you pay upfront.
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5 Bowen session £328
Save £47 (applicable for subsequent sessions) ; When you pay upfront.
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12 Bowen session £748
Save £152 (applicable for subsequent sessions) ; When you pay upfront.
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Children £30
Under 14 years old - only £30/session (applicable for subsequent sessions)
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Babies Free
Under 3 years old - FREE - (applicable for subsequent sessions) if one relative is my client.
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Loyalty £60
For those who have more than 6 paid sessions the price/session will be £60.
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Two friends/relatives treated on the same day and place (separate rooms) £60
Each of them will pay £60 instead of £75/session;
Bowen Therapy Discounts
- Refer a friend - Both of you get £10 OFF from your next session;
- Birthday - You get £10 OFF during your aniversary month;
- FREE - Exchange services with other Self Employers;
- NHS employee - 20% OFF;
- Employee of the same Company or for Communities - discounted prices depending on the number of clients, how often they need the service, and how far away they are.