What is Bowenwork?

Bowenwork is a unique approach to stimulating the body's natural healing ability, so it is sometimes challenging to describe to those who have not experienced it. While the work is gentle and non-invasive, the effective practice of it is very specific and precise.

Bowenwork involves gentle, yet powerful, "moves" on muscle, tendons and nerves. These moves prompt soft tissue release, sending neurological impulses to the brain. Because the impulses travel through the internal nervous system pathways, they stimulate whole brain responses, which address every system in the body -- internal organ systems as well as musculo-skeletal structure.

Therapeutic pauses are inserted between sets of these moves, which allow the brain time to process and send messages to realign the body. It is thought that because the whole brain is stimulated, the original, genetic pattern is re-awakened, and the more recent injury and compensation patterns are released. Respecting these pauses is an essential component of Bowenwork, for it allows the body sufficient time to remember and restore its own healthy, natural balance.

The History of the Bowen Technique

Tom Bowen, born 1916 in Brunswick, Australia, pioneered the work that now bears his name in the early 1950's. By the 1970's, Bowen was treating 13,000 people a year, with a documented success rate of over 85%. At the time of his death in 1982, he considered only six men to have been trained in his technique -- "his boys", as he called them. One of the men, Ossie Rentsch, spent 8 years documenting Bowen's work. Though Tom did not formally teach his technique himself, he authorized Ossie to "take the work to the world after I die". Ossie and his wife Elaine taught their first seminar in 1986 in Perth, Australia. Bowenwork is now being taught around the world.

Receiving a Session

The client lies on a massage table, wearing loosely fitting clothing or underwear (and covered by a sheet). The therapist applies a series of gentle rolling moves in specific places to the muscles, tendons and nerves.

During the session, the moves are applied in a series of patterns. The therapist will leave the room between each series so as to allow the brain time to receive and process the messages. These breaks also afford the client a "personal space" so as to achieve energetic realignment without interference, and enter a profound relaxation.

This deeply relaxed state seems to act upon the body's autonomic nervous system, which creates homeostasis at the cellular level. Because it addresses the body as a whole, Bowen Therapy treats beyond the presented symptom and makes physical, chemical, emotional and mental adjustments within each system. Through this precise resetting of the autonomic nervous system, the individual's body is freed to find its own natural balance.

Sessions usually last approximately one hour. Treatments can often be given to more than one client at a time, due to the required pauses between sets of moves. A second visit is best scheduled one week later, in order to complete laying the foundation of the work in the body. Subsequent visits are determined by the client's needs. Tom Bowen used to say, "I want to see you whenever you want to see me."

Bodywork manipulations, such as massage or chiropractic, can affect deep tissue and counteract Bowenwork's ability to stimulate healing from within the internal nervous system and the brain. Therefore, it is advisable to allow a week between sessions of any other physical modalities and Bowenwork (although Bowen done immediately after a chiropractic adjustment can be a powerful combination and really set in the adjustment!).

Bowenwork or Rolfing?

Both forms of bodywork are excellent, which is why I am trained in both!  As a bodyworker, I am always exploring different therapies and I now feel that I have a dynamic combination with Rolfing and Bowen! I'm also very excited to offer Bowen sessions for clients who have completed the Rolf 10-Series and want to continue with maintenance bodywork.  Bowen provides another tool to integrate the nervous system with the physical body.  In fact, where Rolfing is called Structural Integration, Bowenwork is also known as Neuro-Structural Integration!

Conditions Often Helped by Bowen Sessions

* Frozen shoulder and shoulder pain
* Arthritis pain
* Fibromyalgia
* Knee and hip restrictions
* Back pain and Sciatica
* Neck pain and stiffness
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* TMJ
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

And more!!!!!!

FREE Trial Sessions during the month of September!!! 

Bowenwork is something that is very hard to explain and is best experienced first hand. Therefore, for the month of September, Advanced Bodywork LLC will be offering your first session free so you can experience the Bowenwork difference!  Call Mark to schedule your appointment at 248-761-4135!