Bowen Technique

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Bowen Technique

The Bowen Technique

Dr. Lise Maltais N.D.

Developed in Australia by Tom Bowen, Bowen Technique involves a gentle yet dynamic system of muscle and connective tissue moves, which balance the body and stimulate energy flow.

Bowen Technique restores the body's innate capacity for self-healing. The gentle rolling moves affect the autonomic nervous system and help to create homeostasis at the cellular level. Many moves are performed on the tendons. These structures contain a reflex that, when excited, signals to the brain to bring the muscle back to its normal state. Bowen is a bit like playing a string instrument. When we play guitar, a string is strummed and the vibration created is the music we hear. The Bowen moves are similar, sending a subtle vibration through the entire body, bringing about homeostasis.

Bowen Technique is unique. The less is done, the more impressive the results. A typical session lasts about 30 minutes. A few moves are done and the therapist leaves the room for two minutes. The therapist returns, does a few more moves and leaves again. These moves are gentle yet very powerful and it is necessary for the brain to process a few minutes before continuing. The moves can also be done through clothing.

During a session, the patient will feel remarkably relaxed. The autonomic nervous system has two components, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic system takes care of the flight or fight response, our capacity to deal with stress and the secretion of adrenaline. We often see patients in this state of stress when they come for a first session. During and after the session, the parasympathetic system takes over. This system allows for sleep, digestion and relaxation to occur. The body needs to be in this state for healing.

The results tend to be permanent, reprogramming the body back to its original blueprint. Usually, as few as three to six sessions are needed to achieve optimal wellbeing. Tom Bowen had remarkable success, with most of his patients needing only one to three sessions. Near the end of his life, he saw in excess of 13,000 patients per year!

Most likely, you will see immediate positive results when you begin using the technique. People gain impressive relief from back pain, pelvis and coccyx problems, sciatica, TMJ syndrome, knee pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, headaches, hay fever and much more.

Bowen Technique is new in Alaska, but not new in the United States. Since 1982, many therapists have been trained in this wonderful healing art.

Dr. Lise Maltais is a Naturopathic Physician in practice since 1992. She will be teaching in Anchorage November 19 through 22. Contact Caroleen Montserrat for details at 907-335-8225. Or, visit our website: www.bowenwork.com

Bowen Technique Healing Stories

Lise Maltais

It was so amazing that some people in the audience thought that I had hired the lady.

In a previous article in Alaska Wellness (above), I explained how the Bowen Technique can restore the body's innate capacity for self-healing. Gentle rolling moves on muscles, tendons and ligaments affect the autonomic nervous system and signal to the body to start healing. The following short stories reveal just a few of the healing miracles that I have been privileged to witness with some of my patients in using the Bowen Technique.

Ted, an 85-year-old, vital male, came to see me for his painful right sacro-iliac joint. During WWII, his plane crashed and the shock was absorbed in that area. After a few sessions, to his amazement, the pain vanished. He has suffered with this problem for over 60 years, and has seen many therapists including chiropractors, but Bowen was the only technique that relieved him permanently.

Ted now comes to me every month as the treatments are also helping his hearing loss.

I enjoy giving talks on Bowen. I describe the technique for a few minutes and then I do the hands-on demonstration. One time, a lady came up and showed me her frozen, painful left shoulder. Her range of motion was no more than a few degrees abduction, and the joint was swollen. I did the shoulder procedure, and waited two minutes. I then asked her to raise her arm. She did—with full range of motion and no pain! It was so amazing that some people in the audience thought that I had hired the lady. However, I live in a small community and others present in the audience let everyone know that this person had genuine pain and restriction.

At another talk, a woman came up and told me that for the past 20 years she had been unable to open her jaw completely. I started doing the upper respiratory and temporo-mandibular joint procedure. Immediately after, she could open her jaw fully. I never forgot this lady, and always tell this story to my students. But, what happened to this woman, I wondered. Was the improvement permanent? Interestingly, I met her on the beach this past spring. Three years had elapsed since I did the work on her. She told me her jaw maintained its openness and that she is still enjoying a normal jaw today.

Michael works for the city in which I live. When I first saw him, he had tremendous back pain and was on workman’s compensation. None of the rehabilitation therapies that he followed were helping. His wife sent him to me, but the look on his face that first day was screaming, “You can’t help me!” I felt he did not want to be in my office and certainly didn’t believe that I could help. After doing the Bowen Technique on him, I sent him on his way. The following week, he greeted me with a large smile. His pain was so improved, and so was his quality of life.

I saw Michael again, one year later. He asked me to work on his back, telling me that the previous week he had passed a kidney stone. He said that he was scheduled the following week for an operation to remove the stones in the other kidney. Knowing that Bowen can help pass stones, I asked Michael permission to work on his kidneys. The next morning, I saw his wife, who was anxious to talk to me. She said that after the treatment, Michael slept for five hours. When he woke up, he urinated and out came the stone. Without pain! I could hardly believe it myself. I felt the Bowen had relaxed him so much that this process was allowed to take place. Needless to say, the surgery was cancelled!

Because I have been witness to more incredible stories, I know the Bowen Technique will continue to amaze me for years to come. What a blessing to be involved with such a powerful yet gentle healing modality!

Dr. Lise Maltais is a Naturopathic Physician in practice since 1992. Visit our website: www.bowenwork.com

FAQ's About...Bowenwork
by Sandra Gustafson

Bowenwork: a gentle, dynamic system of muscle and connective tissue relaxation that relieves pain and restores wellbeing.

What is Bowenwork?

Bowenwork is a unique, soft-tissue form of bodywork that is performed by gentle rolling moves over muscles, tendons and ligaments. Mandatory delays interspersed between sets of moves allow the nervous system to integrate the signals that are being generated by the moves. This results in a profound sense of relaxation and re-education of the nerves and muscles in releasing dysfunctional tension patterns in the body.

Who developed it?

Bowenwork was developed by Tom Bowen, who lived in Victoria, Australia (1916-1982). As he discovered an intuitive talent for healing people with occupational and sports-related injuries (and many other afflictions, too), he gradually built up a full time practice as a manipulative therapist, using his unique method (later to become known as Bowenwork). Bowen’s work was based on his philosophy of “resetting” the tension in certain muscle groups, with mandatory time delays between sets of moves. He achieved amazing results, with about 80% of his clients only needing two treatments.

Who teaches it?

Before Bowen died, he taught his work to Oswald Rentsch, who has undertaken the enormous task of teaching this valuable technique all over the world. Since 1987, Ossie and his wife, Elaine (principals of The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia) have taught people from all walks of life, including doctors, nurses, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists to include the work into their practices.

How does it work?

Instead of being “manipulated” by a therapist, the Bowenwork practitioner facilitates a healing response within the client’s body by giving it specific signals (through muscles and tendons) to release the tension itself. Thus, it is a very gentle, non-invasive way of helping the body to heal. In addition to encouraging the body’s innate ability to heal itself, Bowenwork helps to reorganize energy patterns in the body to facilitate healing. There is a direct relationship between the tension and organizing of the muscular-skeletal area of the body and its internal organs. Bowenwork restores functional integration by gentle moves that relax muscles, fascial tissue and the Autonomic Nervous System.

How effective is it?

Collected case histories from Bowenwork practitioners around the world reveal that most people respond within a week of the initial treatment. A second treatment is required to “set” the work. Compared with many other therapies, this is unique. Clients who do not have such miraculous responses usually have a complexity of problems that improve with continuing treatments.

What conditions can be helped with Bowenwork?

Tom Bowen used to say that there wasn’t any part of the body or condition that would not benefit by this treatment! However, Bowenwork is particularly useful in relieving muscular pains and for postural realignment. It is very effective for Fibromyalgia, chronic neck and backache, sciatica, frozen shoulder, knee problems, stress and tension discomfort, sleep disturbances, menstrual irregularities and respiratory problems. Sports and work-related injuries respond quickly to treatment, allowing the client to resume activities sooner. Where there is swelling or congestion of tissue, Bowenwork activates the lymphatic system to improve its drainage and function. Sinusitis, head colds and migraines respond well to the method.

Who can receive Bowenwork?
Bowenwork can be used safely on anyone as it is extremely gentle and not known to have adverse side effects. As it has a harmonizing and balancing effect on the nervous system, people of all ages can benefit from treatment—from newborn infants to the elderly. In short, Bowenwork may enhance the quality of everyone’s life.

Sandra Gustafson, a Registered Nurse and Naturopath, is also a certified Bowenwork practitioner and a registered instructor of the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia. See ad for details about her workshop in Alaska.