About Bowen Therapy
Bowen is a naturopathic therapy that aims to rebalance the whole person, not just to address the current symptoms. Bowen stimulates the body’s innate ability to rebalance itself.
After a case history is taken and various assessments made, the treatment involves unique rolling-type moves over precise areas of the body, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and even meridian points. These moves stimulate changes in the fascia and autonomic nervous system which can result in changes in structural alignment, nervous system and bodily functions.
Bowen Therapy was initially developed by Thomas Ambrose Bowen in the 1970s and 80s in Australia, whose treatments were so effective that he treated over 13,000 clients per year. The therapy was introduced to the UK in the 1990s and is rapidly growing in popularity as more people discover how effective it can be.
What can Bowen treat?
Common presentations include back and neck pain, sciatica, knee and ankle injuries, frozen shoulder, digestive issues, respiratory problems, structural imbalances, sports injuries, and stress. Practically any problem can potentially be addressed.
Many people have sessions of Bowen therapy in order to support their stress levels and maintain their health, booking regular treatment to help them to not only be free of pain or discomfort, but also to optimise their physical and mental condition.
What does a treatment involve?
An appointment generally lasts 45-60 minutes. The treatment can be given through light and loose clothing or directly on the skin. Three to four treatments at weekly intervals are often sufficient to achieve lasting relief, although further treatments may be required. Many people have sessions of Bowen therapy in order to support their stress levels and maintain their health, booking regular treatment to help them to not only be free of pain or discomfort, but also to optimise their physical and mental condition.
During a session, there are several break periods where the therapist will step away, in some cases leaving the room, in order to give time and space for the body to react to the treatment and make changes. These periods are an essential part of Bowen treatments as they facilitate the rebalancing required. While Bowen therapy can be compared to osteopathy and chiropractic due to its effects on the musculoskeletal system, it is more like acupuncture than massage in its approach: less is often more.
The treatment is always gentle and therefore suitable for all ages, from babies to the elderly. While Bowen is usually given to a client lying on a treatment table, it is also possible to treat someone sitting on a chair if mobility is an issue. There are no known contraindications to receiving Bowen therapy.
Bowen treatments are currently available in Tavistock, Devon, at the Tavistock Therapy Centre. Please be aware that there are stairs to access this centre (!st floor). If you require wheelchair access or find it difficult to use steps, please contact me before booking as we can arrange a session at the Wellness Rooms in Tavistock instead which is on the ground floor and has a ramp. It is also possible to treat remotely if you live in another location. Please contact me if you are interested in this.
Nutrition & Other Advice
While your session will be focussed upon a Bowen treatment, in cases where it is relevant, I may also offer some basic nutritional and other related steps that could be taken to assist your condition. As a fully trained naturopath and nutritional therapist (click here for info), I am uniquely placed to offer this more complete service to my Bowen clients. However, please note that if you would like a detailed nutrition and advice based-consultation, including a written-up plan and the possibility to run lab testing, there will not be time for this during a regular Bowen treatment. I suggest that you book a full nutrition-based consultation or package for this, information for which can be found via this link.
Prices
- £60 for an initial or follow-up session lasting up to 60 minutes.
- Alternatively a package of 5 sessions is available for £270 which works out 10% off.
- £45 for under 18s – a discounted session lasting up to 45 minutes.
Most clients are amazed by the effectiveness of this simple and gentle hands-on therapy.
Results from 23 clients:
- Neck and back pain, sciatica and whiplash
- Frozen shoulder
- Joint pain and general pain management
- Sports injuries, both chronic and acute
- Strains, sprains and muscle spasms
- Stress management
- Acute and chronic fatigue
- Headache and ear ache
- IBS and other digestive problems
- Respiratory problems
- Asthma, hay fever and sinusitis
- TMJ problems incl. teeth grinding and snoring
- Pregnancy and fertility problems
- Infant colic and reflux
- PMT and other menstrual problems
- Sports performance
- RSI
- Strokes
I am a full member of the Bowen Therapy Professional Association (MBTPA). This displays a commitment to the practice of Bowen and a recognition of the quality of my training. In the past, many people qualified in Bowen after just four days of training! However, I completed the most comprehensive training available in the UK at Bowen College and as a member of the BTPA I continue to study each year with further in-person training to develop my skills.
Most recently, I have been studying NST (neuro-structural integration technique), which could be considered a chiropractic interpretation of the Bowen technique. The more commonly known “Bowen technique” is an interpretation of Tom Bowen’s work from a massage therapist’s perspective. They are effectively two interpratations of the same technique and thus deepen my knowledge of Bowen and give me more tools to help clients.
