Article for Hemihelp Magazine
The Bowen Technique The Bowen Technique developed from the work of Tom Bowen (1916 – 1982), who refined his gentle technique over many years of clinical practice in Australia. A Bowen treatment consists of a series of light moves over muscles, tendons, or joints, with the client usually lying on a comfortable treatment couch or a chair. However, when treating children, it is usual to treat them whilst the mother is holding them or reading them a story. Such a light touch is used in Bowen work that it is considered one of the safest therapies around and can be used on newborns and children as well as the elderly. Because Tom Bowen’s own granddaughter suffered from Cerebral Palsy, he developed ways of working with this condition and ran a free children’s clinic in his home town. Some Bowen practitioners now specialise in this field as well as working with children with emotional or behavioural problems. Children find it very relaxing and often ask to go back when they need another treatment. There are many theories as to how the Bowen Technique works, but none that completely explain its holistic effect, and often outstanding results. Unlike some other hands-on disciplines, the Bowen Technique does not impose a particular approach on the client. Instead, it encourages a gentle response which empowers the body’s own resources to heal itself. Bowen moves are, in themselves, a study in delicacy, being light, gentle and very precise. Frequent pauses between moves give the body time to respond and benefit. The Bowen Technique is not necessarily a ‘long-term’ treatment programme. Most clients find that a small number of treatments are adequate even for long-standing complaints. For details of your local practitioner, contact The Bowen Association of the UK, which keeps a register of Bowen therapists in the UK and abroad. Tel 0700 269 8324 Web: www.bowen-technique.co.uk Email: office@bowen-technique.co.uk John Wilks is author of The Bowen Technique – the inside story and runs training courses in the UK for the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia. He practises in Dorset and can be contacted on 01963 220991.
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