Bowen Therapy was developed by the late Tom Bowen in Geelong Australia in the 1950's.

The practitioner makes controlled gentle moves over specific locations on the body, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves, and the body does the rest. There is no forceful manipulation in Bowen Therapy and no oils used.  Bowen can be done directly on the skin or through light stretchy clothing.  You also don't need to be able to lay on a table to be able to receive Bowen as it can also be completed while seated or lying on your side.  Your comfort during the procedure is paramount. 

The practitioner performs a procedure and then allows time for the nervous system to begin its own adjustments to tension levels in the muscles.  During this time the practitioner will often leave the room and then return to complete the next procedure. It takes approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes for the brain to process the new information that is being received via the nervous system, which is why we allow for wait time between procedures/moves.  

For very recent injuries (on the same day is ideal) a Bowen practitioner may address only that one part of the body, because the body hasn’t started to compensate for the injury. The practitioner will help the inflammation process, increase lymphatic drainage, helping the body to heal more efficiently. 

But where conditions have developed gradually over many years, your body has been compensating.  This is where Bowen can gently coax your body back into a more balanced state, without the need for forceful manipulations or interventions.

Bowen addresses the entire body by restoring balance via the autonomic nervous system which controls over 80% of the bodily functions and is very susceptible to external stressors. 

In our current high stress living, people seem to be in a constant state of fight or flight mode. Bowen guides the body to shift into it’s natural parasympathetic mode of rest, relax repair, in which the body’s natural healing processes can occur.

It is common for clients to feel so deeply relaxed that they fall asleep and may even feel different sensations such as warmth and pleasant tingling.

The Bowen moves and procedures reset the body so it can heal itself.

• Allow time for the session to work.  Bowen can take up to 10 days to be fully integrated by your body. 

• Avoid other treatments / therapies for 4 -5 days - as this may reduce the effectiveness of your treatment

• Avoid hot or cold including packs/wheat packs, baths/showers and topical treatments, which cause the hot/cold sensation (Unless prescribed by your treating doctor)  - as this may reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

• Increase your water intake

• Avoid sitting for long periods of time - consider moving every 30mins

• Consider light exercise or a walk  - motion is lotion 

• Avoid vigorous or high impact sporting activities for 4-5 days after treatment

• The therapist may also provide individual exercises or recommendations for you to follow after your treatment

• Continue with all advice, prescriptions, topical treatments etc. from your doctor/physio/primary care physician etc.