Since 1986 the name of the Bowen Technique has been gaining recognition and popularity worldwide for its non-invasive, gentle yet highly effective way of helping people to be free of pain without resorting to manipulation, needles, pills or massage.
The Bowen Technique has been described as being "one of the most down to earth therapies in the book". Developed from the 1950s until his death in 1982, the acclaimed Australian therapist Tom Bowen helped many thousands of people overcome their pains and conditions using a series of gentle, non-manipulative moves over muscle and connective tissue using nothing more than his thumbs and index fingers.
The Bowen Technique itself consists of a series of gentle moves where the trained practitioner uses thumbs and index fingers, making very gentle rolling-type moves over precise points on the body. These gentle moves aim to disturb the muscles, connective tissue and subtle energies within the body creating balance and stimulating energy flow.
Then, as a standard and important part of the Bowen Technique treatment, the practitioner steps back and allows the patient to absorb the work and for the healing to begin.
The moves used by the practitioner balance the body, allowing self-healing with minimum intervention. During the course of a treatment, the client is left resting several times, allowing the body time to incorporate the gentle healing moves which have just been performed. This allows the body's different systems to respond to the moves with the subtle and fine adjustments that help to relieve tension, reduce pain and initiate the healing process.
The practitioner will often note subtle and sometimes quite dramatic changes taking place during the breaks, and can adjust the next set of moves accordingly. A feature of the Bowen Technique is that nothing is forced to happen - the therapist gently and precisely does the work which triggers the body's natural healing responses. Improvement is often experienced within a few days. The body is prompted to readjust itself by tapping into its own resources for self-healing.
Producing a deep sense of relaxation and providing lasting relief, the Bowen Technique has impressed practitioners of all modalities with its simple and effective method of helping people.
Bowen is a gentle, non-invasive, safe practice, and works well with all ages from newborn to the elderly. It also has a very beneficial effect on animals and there are courses available to learn a horse version of the Technique, called EMRT (Equine Muscle Release Technique), which is run under the auspices of the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia.
Thanks to Aura Publications for this article.