The Bowen Technique

A gentle, dynamic therapy that works on muscle tendons, ligaments and connective tissue. It corrects imbalances in your body by allowing soft tissue to relax or take up appropriate support tension.

The Bowen technique was developed in Australia by Thomas A. Bowen (1903-1982). It is revolutionising world health care. The Bowen technique uses a series of gently rolling movements to stimulate the re-alignment, balance and energy flow of your body. This affects the body’s autonomic nervous system, creating homeostasis and balance to the cellular level.The goal of the Bowen Technique is to create equilibrium and homoeostasis by catalysing your body to heal itself.

How does Bowen work?

The Bowen Technique affects the body primarily through two of its main regulatory systems (the nervous system and the energetic system) to bring it back to a state of balance.

 Autonomic nervous system rebalancing:

The autonomic nervous system controls over 80% of bodily functions (cardiac, respiratory,peripheral circulation, reproductive, endocrine, gastrointestinal ) and is very susceptible to stress and emotional states. For healing to happen, the organism needs to shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance and for this to happen it needs time and space to literally unwind and digest physical and emotional stress. This is what the Bowen Technique does.

 The Moves:

Most moves are done either at the origin, insertion, or belly of muscles, where the Golgi and Spindle receptors are located, informing the nervous system on the state of tension, length or stretch in the muscles or tendons. These receptors are stimulated during the rolling part of the Bowen move. In case of a pain-muscle spasm loop, the Bowen Technique breaks this viscous loop by changing the stimulus received by the nervous system.

 Joint proprioceptors:

All moves done around a joint are directly affecting the joint and ligaments, which are richly enervated with proprioreceptors. Stimulus is received by the central nervous system, inviting normalization of the joint function without the need for forceful manipulation.

 Lymphatic circulation:

The Bowen Technique stimulates lymphatic circulation and drainage. There is an overlap between the Bowen moves and the location of neuro- lymphatic reflex points which regulate the lymphatic system. This explains detoxifying reactions and improved circulation following a Bowen session.

 Spinal reflexes:

Many of the Bowen moves are done along the spine over the erector muscles and produce referred reactions to internal organs. Often people will mention that conditions, other than the one they originally consulted for, were addressed even though the practitioner didn’t know about them (e.g., digestion, elimination, circulation, better sleep).

 Trigger points:

Several Bowen moves overlap recognized trigger points. By clearing these trigger points, referred pain is alleviated and joint mobility and muscle coordination are improved

 Fascia:

The fascia connects everything in the body: muscles, bones, internal organs and central nervous system. It plays a major role in muscle coordination, flexibility, postural alignment and overall structural and functional integrity. Each Bowen move disturbs and frees the relationship between the fascia and the nerve, muscle or tendon being mobilized.

 Acupuncture points and meridians:

The Bowen Technique stimulates circulation of energy and clears energetic blocks. Several of the moves are located along acupuncture meridians or on specific acupuncture points which are known to stimulate and balance the body’s energy.

Taken from the Bowen Technique practioner web site discussion pages.