The Bowen
Technique
Since 1986 the name of the
Bowen Technique has been gaining recognition and popularity
worldwide for its non-invasive, gentle yet highly effective way of
helping people to be free of pain without resorting to
manipulation, needles, pills or massage.
The Bowen Technique has
been described as being "one of the most down to earth
therapies in the book". Developed from the 1950s until his
death in 1982, the acclaimed Australian therapist Tom Bowen helped
many thousands of people overcome their pains and conditions using
a series of gentle, non-manipulative moves over muscle and
connective tissue using nothing more than his thumbs and index
fingers.
In most cases, only two or
three treatments were required for people to be free of pain,
permanently, which is one reason why the Bowen Technique is so
popular. In 1974 Tom Bowen commissioned a natural therapist,
Oswald Rentsch, to study and document the complete work. He was
the only person to do so and the work took over two years to
complete.
Before Bowen passed away,
Oswald Rentsch made a promise that Bowen's therapy would become
known worldwide and together with his wife Elaine, formed "Bowtech"
to teach and share with others the unchanged method of Mr Bowen's
amazing work.
The Bowen Technique itself
consists of a series of gentle moves where the trained
practitioner uses thumbs and index fingers, making very gentle
rolling-type moves over precise points on the body. These gentle
moves aim to disturb the muscles, connective tissue and subtle
energies within the body creating balance and stimulating energy
flow.
Then, as a standard and
important part of the Bowen Technique treatment, the practitioner
steps back and allows the patient to absorb the work and for the
healing to begin.
The moves used by the
practitioner balance the body, allowing self-healing with minimum
intervention. During the course of a treatment, the client is left
resting several times, allowing the body time to incorporate the
gentle healing moves which have just been performed. This allows
the body's different systems to respond to the moves with the
subtle and fine adjustments that help to relieve tension, reduce
pain and initiate the healing process.
The practitioner will often
note subtle and sometimes quite dramatic changes taking place
during the breaks, and can adjust the next set of moves
accordingly. A feature of the Bowen Technique is that nothing is
forced to happen - the therapist gently and precisely does the
work which triggers the body's natural healing responses.
Improvement is often experienced within a few days. The body is
prompted to readjust itself by tapping into its own resources for
self-healing.
Producing a deep sense of
relaxation and providing lasting relief, the Bowen Technique has
impressed practitioners of all modalities with its simple and
effective method of helping people.
Bowen is a gentle,
non-invasive, safe practice, and works well with all ages from
newborn to the elderly. It also has a very beneficial effect on
animals and there are courses available to learn a horse version
of the Technique, called EMRT (Equine Muscle Release Technique),
which is run under the auspices of the Bowen Therapy Academy of
Australia.
Thanks to
Aura
Publications for this article
More
about the Bowen Technique
New Bowen
Technique book by John Wilks
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