About Bowen Therapy
by Judy Wolmarans
This article is part of our 'About' series where we asked practitioners of various healing modalities and therapies the same set of questions to give you some background information, features of the healing modality, health benefits and what you might expect from a session with this type of practitioner.
1. What type of healing modality or therapy do you practice and how would you summarize it?
Bowen Therapy - The Bowen Technique is a gentle, relaxing form of natural healing. It promotes the body's innate ability to heal itself and really needs to be experienced to be appreciated.
2. Why did you decide to become a practitioner in this field and what do you enjoy most about it?
I was introduced to Bowen by a woman who had had Bowen prior to having an hysterectomy and who, just 3 days after surgery, was fully mobile with no pain. This amazed and fascinated me so I decided to have a couple of sessions for my back problem. After about 6 sessions my back problem was fully resolved. This said to me that Bowen actually works and I decided to become a practitioner.
3. What is the history or foundation of this therapy/healing modality?
Tom Bowen, an Australian, developed this technique in the early 1950s and 60s. He was a natural healer but also spent time studying how people walked, sat and moved. Bowen developed from these observations. Tom Bowen was deeply religious and claimed that the development of his work was a 'Gift from God'.
Tom Bowen allowed a few therapists to study his work. On his death he asked one of the therapists, Oswald Rentsch, to document and teach his work. The Australian Academy grew from this and today Bowen Therapy is taught throughout the world by many instructors and academies.
Tom Bowen also had a keen interest in helping animals and today his work is continued through the efforts of Alison Goward with Equine Muscle Release Therapy and Cat and Canine Muscle Release Therapy.
4. What are the key features and components of this form of therapy/healing modality?
A Bowen treatment involves light moves which are applied to very specific points on the body, with pauses between each series of moves.
- Less is more - Mr Bowen was a firm believer that if one move works, why do five?
- Light Touch - a Bowen Treatment is very gentle and relaxing. It has been found that you do not need to use forceful manipulation to achieve significant changes. The lighter the touch the more effective and profound the effect.
- Two-minute breaks to enhance the relaxation and allow the body time to respond and integrate what is being done.
- Long lasting relief - people often experience a deep and long-lasting relief.
- Everyone can be treated safely with Bowen. Because it is so gentle it can be used on babies, pregnant mothers, and the very old and infirm. It is ideal for children because it is non-invasive.
5. Does this therapy/healing modality cater to the physical body, mind, emotions, spirit, or a combination of these?
This healing modality addresses all of these.
6. When should someone visit this type of practitioner?
Bowen is beneficial for routine health maintenance and for diseased or injured bodies. We recommend seeing a practitioner regularly and especially as soon after an injury as is possible.
7. What can someone expect from a session?
Sessions can be anything from 15 minutes to an hour or even longer. It depends entirely on the nature of the injury and the speed at which a client's body responds. Healing generally continues for 4-5 days after the session.
The client may remain fully clothed and lies down during a session. Bowen moves are done over muscles, ligaments or a nerve plexus with a break of varying lengths between each set of moves.
It is quite common to feel mild sensations of heat, tingling, numbness, cold, changed emotions etc. during a treatment. Some clients may experience immediate pain relief.
After a treatment the client is required to drink at least 2 litres of water within the next 48 hour period to assist with the detoxing.
The ideal situation is to give the Bowen Technique a try for 3 sessions, 5-10 days apart without having any other kind of bodywork in between.
8. What are the most common outcomes for clients?
Cessation of the pain, a sense of well-being and deep relaxation.
9. Can you share some success stories from this form of therapy/healing modality?
a) A woman presented with a blocked tear duct. Surgery had not been successful and the specialist wanted to schedule her for a further operation. After 6 treatments of Bowen, she was able to wear makeup and no longer had to walk with a tissue in her hand.
b) A retired gentleman presented with two 'frozen' shoulders. He was unable to lift his arms higher than his shoulders. He had tried various other forms of therapy but with little success. After 5 treatments he regained full mobility of his shoulders and his comment was "I cannot believe that such silly little moves could fix my shoulders".
c) A 10 year old boy presented with bed-wetting. His grandmother was waking him up every two hours to try and keep him dry at night. After 4 sessions of Bowen and a change in his diet he was managing to stay dry for about 5 out of 7 nights.
10. Is there anything else that stands out to you about this form of therapy/healing modality that you'd like to share?
I think the fact that Bowen is so gentle and relaxing and extremely effective. It just continuously amazes me with the results. Clients ask "Can it help..." and all I say is "Let's try". By trusting the process the most amazing results are experienced.
Thank you to Judy Wolmarans of of Cape Town, South Africa for answering Peaceful Willow's questions about Bowen Therapy. Judy is also a registered nurse and Quantum-Touch practitioner. For more information about Judy please visit her website: www.bodyandmind.co.za/merchant_nc.php?pid=758&step=4.