Technique Summary
The Bowen Technique is a catalyst in enabling the body to heal itself.
- Julian Baker, Prinicpal Instructor and Director of ECBS
Named after the Australian, Tom Bowen, it is a soft tissue remedial therapy using fingers and thumbs to make a rolling move over fascia, muscles, tendons and ligaments at specific points on the body.
Whereas some other therapies work on releasing muscle tension, Bowen works on releasing tension in the connective tissue of the body. There are layers of connective tissue, or fascia, throughout our bodies and every muscle, tendon, ligament, organ and bone is also covered, contains or is made up of this connective tissue which also contains a great deal of our nervous system. By working to release the connective tissue there is a greater effect of release throughout the body and nervous system and so the body is able to make many corrective adjustments itself.
When a Bowen move is made, the brain asks the body questions in an attempt to establish what actions are needed in response to the move. This communication between body and brain enables the appropriate response to occur in the body bringing balance to the area worked. Effects may be felt in other areas of the body as equilibrium is restored and it is very common for a client to come back for a second treatment and report that his original shoulder pain is reduced and his digestion is also working better or his hay fever is improved. These secondary symptoms may never have been mentioned to the therapist in the first treatment but this demonstrates that the information the brain received from the body enabled it to recognise further imbalances in the body and set up the appropriate responses in order to rectify them.
The Therapy works by carefully working over specific areas of the body to produce a response from the brain. This remedial re-alignment ‘reminds’ the autonomic nervous system of correct placements which provide relief to the client – sometimes within a session and sometimes over a few days after treatment.
The skill from the Practitioner is in identifying the exact source of discomfort and applying the correct Bowen moves directly to that area. A unique tool of the Bowen technique practitioner is 'tissue tension sense', meaning that the practitioner is able to discern stress build-up in muscle groups and then utilize the Bowen technique moves to release that stress. Using very light pressures with fingers and thumbs, the available skin is rolled up and over the area identified, thus creating a disturbance in the connective tissue and the signals being transmitted to the brain. A period of waiting allows the brain to identify this disturbance and then re-transmit the correct signals to the affected area. This helps relieve muscle spasms and increases blood and lymph flow. Bowen is effective in bringing balance to all the body’s systems, restoring equilibrium to functions that are experiencing instability. To take a very extreme parallel, the cause and effect is similar to pulmonary defibrillation where the disorganised electric impulses in the heart are interrupted in order to allow a steady beat to be restored.
From the client’s point of view, Bowen is a relaxing and non-invasive procedure, comprising small, gentle moves by the Practitioner interspersed with periods of resting. These resting periods are essential to the treatment since they allow the brain time to recognise the appropriate response required to make the necessary neurological adjustments to retain correct placement and posture through out the body.
“Excellent, many thanks. Already extremely pleased, not only in my choice of career therapy but also my choice of school - excellent, professional, efficient and helpful. Thank you.”
Chrissie H, Feb 2000
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