What is Bowenwork?

Bowenwork is a gentle, yet powerful method of healthcare in the form of hands-on bodywork.   It has been found to be effective in pain relief, accelerating recovery from injury and illness, improved self awareness, stress reduction, maintenance of overall health and improved performance in work and sports.

One of the primary principles of Bowenwork is that given proper stimulation and sufficient response time, your body is able to heal itself effectively.   Bowenwork gently, yet powerfully works through your body's primary regulatory systems – the nervous system and the energetic system.

How does it work?

The session begins with you receiving a series of gentle and precise applications of rolling pressure over specific muscles, tendons or nerve bundles.  Intervals of stillness occur between each series, giving your body the opportunity to begin processing the signals that have just been received.

The process that begins during your session continues throughout the session and over the next several days.   As you go about your normal day-to-day activities, the signals created in your body slowly integrate positive change on a whole-body-systems level.   By making space for present-moment awareness and non-judgmental curiosity during the session and in the days following a session, your body will more effectively integrate and maintain the changes that begin during the session.

Taking this into account, you should be receiving the treatments at a time in your life when you can make a commitment to taking care of yourself, not running marathons or moving apartments.   During the week following a session, you should take comfortable walks, get rest and drink plenty of water, in addition to your regular routine.   You should avoid receiving any other form of bodywork for one week before and after each session, in order to receive the maximum effectiveness of the treatment.

What can I expect in a Bowenwork session?

Following a thorough intake interview, a typical treatment session will last between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on your needs.   For the treatment itself, it is important that you be as comfortable as possible. You will receive the treatment while lying comfortably on a padded massage table or seated, if lying down is not a comfortable option for you.   It is necessary for you to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes to your session, as you will remain clothed during the treatment.

During a session, you may experience sensations of warmth, pulses of fluid or energy moving through the body, and a feeling of deep relaxation.   At the conclusion of a session, you will be helped to notice and integrate changes that are taking place.   During this time, suggestions will be made for the following week, such as specific daily exercises.

Can Bowenwork™ help me?
This method of healthcare is not, and should not be mistaken as a cure for any condition.   Bowenwork stimulates the body to engage its own innate healing abilities to respond to the conditions that need attention.   It is common for some conditions to require several sessions for effective treatment, depending on the severity and complexity of the conditions, the level of sensitivity of the client and other factors.   The following is a list of presenting conditions that have been found to respond well to Bowenwork.

What are the origins of Bowenwork?

Bowenwork is named after its originator, an Australian named Tom Bowen (1916-1982).  A 1975 study by the Victorian government inquiring into complementary health care professionals estimated that Tom Bowen's clinic was providing approximately 13,000 treatments a year.  Over the many years of his practice, Tom Bowen trained very few people in his unique method of healthcare.   In the final years of his practice, he trained Ossie Rentsch, and allowed him to document the method.   With Tom Bowen's permission, Ossie and his wife Elaine Rentsch founded the Bowen Academy of Australia.

How do I know if a practitioner is qualified to practice Bowenwork?

You can and should confirm that the practitioner you are seeing is a true Bowenwork practitioner who is registered with the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia.   Otherwise, you may not be receiving the true work of Tom Bowen.   To verify that a practitioner is registered or to find a practitioner near you, visit the Academy's website at www.bowenwork.com and use the practitioner search tools.

Where can I find more information on Bowenwork?