Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy Workshop

The Central Highlands School of Massage is conducting a 1 day workshop for trained Bowen therapists. This is a great opportunity to brush up on skills and explore aspects of the technique that you may not have been aware of or maybe had forgotten.

It will be good to have like minded people come together and share information and perhaps introduce something new to the technique or a complimentary modality.

Enquiries: Norman Beshara PH: 0429 666 102

Bowen Therapy: A Brief History

Mr. Tom Bowen (1903-1982) devoted most of his adult life to developing and refining his gentle and dynamic modality in Geelong. After serving in WW2, Mr. Bowen became interested in ways of relieving human suffering. He developed his technique without training in any health field claiming it was simply a gift from God.

Whatever influences were involved he had an extraordinary ability to recognize energy blocks in the human anatomy which either perpetuated injury or prevented injuries from healing.

His technique is one of controlled movement of soft tissue which stimulates the body to respond.

This sequence of moves done accurately are gentle, painless and non-invasive; not only treating muscle tissue but organ and nerve tissue as well.

In 1975 a Victorian government inquiry into alternative health care professionals revealed that from one small clinic in Geelong, Tom Bowen had personally treated 13,000 patients in one year. It is the intension of this course to teach the Bowen technique in its purist form to preserve its integrity in the memory of the great Tom Bowen.

How Does Bowen Work?

Simply stated, the Bowen technique resets the body to heal itself. The work consists of a series of gentle rolling connective tissue moves, using light touch and may be done through clothing. There are frequent important pauses between these moves, which give the body time to absorb and relax. By combining moves, both in placement and combination, the practitioner is able to address the body holistically and also target specific problems. A unique tool of the Bowen practitioner is “tissue tension sense”, meaning the practitioner is able to discern stress build up in muscle groups and then utilize Bowen moves to release that stress.

The Bowen technique balances and stimulates energy flows, resulting in a deep sense of overall relaxation. The restorative process begins once the body is relaxed, and continues as the body allows. Healing seems to occur by affecting the body’s autonomic nervous system, which creates homeostasis at a cellular level. Bowen is referred to as a complementary modality. This means it will enhance and compliment and not interfere with other medical attention. However, doing other manipulative therapies immediately after a Bowen session can undermine the effectiveness of the continuing Bowen work. Wait a week before commencing additional body treatment is therefore recommended.