Bowen Therapy

In Bowen Therapy, I gently move the fascia and muscles in a particular way to either stimulate or relax muscle fibres to improve posture, achieve relief from pain and improve mobility. I perform gentle moves on precise points and thus there is no manipulation. The moves are initiating signals of repair and realignment via the central nervous system. The therapy includes small breaks in between sets of moves to allow the body to react. The input from the moves last up to 5 days in your body where the body will attempt to make the changes needed.

My name is Lise, and I have worked as a qualified Bowen practitioner since 2002. I help resolve musculoskeletal complaints and often see how these tie into life events. Body and mind work together. Everything we have experienced settles in the body; sometimes as tension, compensation or pain. We live in a time where an overactive brain often steals our energy and focus – and emotions settle as tension, which may not disappear by talking, thinking or analysing. I love the simplicity of the Bowen Technique, addressing the body and mind through stimulation or relaxation of fascia.

In a Bowen session, the client usually lies on a couch – unless this is uncomfortable, in which case the client can be seated. Bowen work is usually carried out through light clothing or directly on the skin. The first session, which includes a consultation covering medical history and assessments, is likely to be 45 minutes. The amount of work done within a session will be determined by the client’s condition. Fit and healthy clients will be able to receive more; those suffering with certain syndromes may only receive a few moves each time as they build their resilience. Children often don’t need much work at all as their body’s response rate appears to be much faster. At the end of the session, I will explain aftercare advice.

Unbalanced levels of tension in our muscles may result in pain and fatigue. This may be a result of bad habits or the strain of the activities we’re undertaken. It may be through playing sports or from accidents causing micro-tears and scars in muscle fibres (e.g. whiplash). Patterns of movement may cause the body to compensate causing postural compensations. Regular screen use or physical jobs may create localised tension. The body continually adjusts and compensates in order to keep functioning, which, over time, may lead to pain and reduced movement. Many people use the Bowen Technique to help address these compensations, restoring balance and ease of movement.

An increasing awareness and understanding of the role of fascia within the body has underpinned our appreciation that the body should be looked at holistically (as a whole). The growing body of testimonial evidence from Bowen clients supports a deeper understanding of the link between mental and physical health. A frozen shoulder research study using Bowen Therapy was conducted at the Metropolitan University of Manchester. All participants experienced improvement in their daily activities, even those with a very longstanding history of frozen shoulder. For the majority of participants it provided a good outcome particularly in relation to improved mobility. 70% of participants regained full mobility.

I don’t usually see the Bowen Therapy as a long-lasting treatment method but it does vary from client to client depending on the client’s present situation and condition. I re-assess after 3-4 sessions usually, and this may be all the body needs. There is around 1 week between sessions at first, and I will give aftercare advice for in between to ensure the Bowen moves keep working in the body for as long as possible.