What is Bowen Therapy?

BOWTECH "The Original Bowen Therapy"
- A very gentle therapy, manipulating soft tissue
- Suitable for babies to the elderly
- Profoundly relaxing
- Great results can be obtained from just one treatment
- Effective for acute pain or chronic conditions
- No oil used, and can be done through light clothing
The Bowen Technique is a safe, non-invasive yet effective system of muscle and connective tissue therapy which was developed and used by the late Tom Bowen in Geelong, Australia in the 1970s. BOWTECH™ is a 'complementary' modality in that it enhances and compliments existing treatments but does not interfere with traditional medical attention.
What Does Bowen Therapy Do?

By targeting the sensory receptors and through the body's innate healing mechanisms, Bowen can holistically provide relief for many types of injuries and health problems, both acute and chronic, via touch. The practitioner's gentle moves send signals to the nervous system at specific locations (on muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves), and the body responds in its own time, within its vital capacity.
While there are a few, very specific situations in which a particular 'procedure' is contraindicated, the Bowen Technique is appropriate for people of all ages, in all degrees of health.
When clients present with pain of a sudden onset or injury, I may only address the traumatized areas, since the clients’ body has had little time to compensate for, and accommodate to, the injury. However, if I am working with clients whose conditions have developed gradually over many years, and patterns of dysfunctional muscle recruitment and posture have become entrenched over time, I rely on a 'whole-body' approach to facilitate optimal alignment and recovery.
How Does Bowen Work?
The Bowen Technique addresses the entire body by restoring balance via the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls over 80% of bodily functions and is very susceptible to external stressors. The Bowen Technique enables the body to heal itself by prompting a shift from sympathetic ANS (fight, flight or freeze mode) to parasympathetic dominance (rest, relax and repair mode). During a session, the client often drops into deep relaxation or falls asleep. This helps to reactivate the recovery process and Bowen Therapy is great for health situations where healing from trauma, sickness or surgery has stalled or reached a plateau.
What Does a Typical Bowen Session Involve?
Clients usually lie on the massage/bodywork table, or are seated in a chair if required, for comfort. A 'session' involves one or more 'procedures', each of which consists of several sets of 'moves'. Between each set of moves, I will pause for as many minutes as needed for the client's body to begin responding. A common approach in a session is to balance the entire body by addressing the lower back, then the upper back, and then the neck.
How Long Will Each Bowen Treatment Last?
Bowen treatment can take just a few minutes or up to 1 hour. Often only 1 to 3 treatments are required. In contrast to other hands-on modalities, where the practitioner imposes correction on the client through manipulation, Bowen Technique facilitates the body in healing itself, with minimal intervention. Due to the subtle nature of Bowen Technique, and the body's continuing response to it over several days thereafter, other forms of manipulative therapy are discouraged for up to 5 days after a session, as they may interfere with the efficacy of the work.
If you are in a hurry, for example, if you have a sore wrist and need to get back to the office or have a sports injury and want to get back on the field straight away, I can treat you standing upright if you wish .
What Should I Wear?
A great deal of Bowen work can be done over light clothing, so wear something comfortable and non-restrictive. However, some moves will need to be performed on the skin. Draping, using soft towels or sheet will be used in each session to preserve your modesty and to keep you comfortable. Underpants are essential for each session.
What Can Be Treated With Bowen Therapy?
While there are a few, very specific situations in which a particular 'procedure' is contraindicated, the Bowen Technique is appropriate for people of all ages, in all degrees of health.
When clients present with pain of a sudden onset or injury, I may only address the traumatized areas, since the clients’ body has had little time to compensate for, and accommodate to, the injury. However, if I am working with clients whose conditions have developed gradually over many years, and patterns of dysfunctional muscle recruitment and posture have become entrenched over time, I rely on a 'whole-body' approach to facilitate optimal alignment and recovery.
How Does Bowen Work?
The Bowen Technique addresses the entire body by restoring balance via the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls over 80% of bodily functions and is very susceptible to external stressors. The Bowen Technique enables the body to heal itself by prompting a shift from sympathetic ANS (fight, flight or freeze mode) to parasympathetic dominance (rest, relax and repair mode). During a session, the client often drops into deep relaxation or falls asleep. This helps to reactivate the recovery process and Bowen Therapy is great for health situations where healing from trauma, sickness or surgery has stalled or reached a plateau.
What Does a Typical Bowen Session Involve?
Clients usually lie on the massage/bodywork table, or are seated in a chair if required, for comfort. A 'session' involves one or more 'procedures', each of which consists of several sets of 'moves'. Between each set of moves, I will pause for as many minutes as needed for the client's body to begin responding. A common approach in a session is to balance the entire body by addressing the lower back, then the upper back, and then the neck.
How Long Will Each Bowen Treatment Last?
Bowen treatment can take just a few minutes or up to 1 hour. Often only 1 to 3 treatments are required. In contrast to other hands-on modalities, where the practitioner imposes correction on the client through manipulation, Bowen Technique facilitates the body in healing itself, with minimal intervention. Due to the subtle nature of Bowen Technique, and the body's continuing response to it over several days thereafter, other forms of manipulative therapy are discouraged for up to 5 days after a session, as they may interfere with the efficacy of the work.
If you are in a hurry, for example, if you have a sore wrist and need to get back to the office or have a sports injury and want to get back on the field straight away, I can treat you standing upright if you wish .
What Should I Wear?
A great deal of Bowen work can be done over light clothing, so wear something comfortable and non-restrictive. However, some moves will need to be performed on the skin. Draping, using soft towels or sheet will be used in each session to preserve your modesty and to keep you comfortable. Underpants are essential for each session.
What Can Be Treated With Bowen Therapy?
Bowen can help a range of health problems including (but not limited to):
Abdominal Pain
Adrenal Exhaustion Allergies Angina Pain Ankle Problems Arthritis Back Pain Backache Bell's Palsy Bladder Blood Impurities Blood Pressure Breast Lumps Breast Pain Bronchitis Chest Pain Circulation Coccyx Pain Colic Constipation Coughs Deafness Depression Diaphragm Pain Diarrhoea Digestive Problems Disc Distension Duodenal Ulcer Ear Infections Ear Problems Eczema Emphysema Eye Disorders Eye Problems Eye Strain Fever Flatulence Fluid Retention Frozen Shoulder Gall Bladder Pain Gall Stones Glandular Fever Groin Strain Haemorrhoids Hair Hammer Toes Hay Fever Heart Condition Hiatus Hernia |
High Shoulder
Ileo-Caecal Valve Immune System Incontinence Indigestion Infertility Influenza Irregular Milk Supply Jaw Kidney Problems Lactation Leg Cramps Liver Cirrhosis Liver Problems Lumbago Lungs Lymph Drainage Menopause Menstruation Migraine Musculo-Skeletal Nausea Nervous Exhaustion Nervous Tension Obesity Osteoporosis Pelvic Tilt Period Cramps Pre-Menstrual Tension Prostate Psoriasis Respiratory Problems Sacral Pain Sciatica Scoliosis Shin Splints Sinus Skin Disorders Sterilotu Sternal Pain Stomach Ulcer Stress Teeth and Gums Tennis Elbow Thrush Thyroid Tonsilitis Vision Problems |