What is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is a form of holistic healing that originated in Australia. Since the late 1980’s, however, the technique has been growing in use around the world, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. The technique is perhaps best illustrated as a massage that very light with gentle rolling motions. However, it is important to note that the Bowen Technique is not technically a considered a massage among professionals.
The technique works by stimulating various points on the body with a gentle rolling motion. This motion, depending on the direction, will either tighten or loosen muscle tension. By using various combinations of tightening and loosening motions on a muscle group, the practitioner is able to release built-up stress, which helps patients relax considerably.
When one undergoes Bowen Therapy, they generally lay down for a period of 30 to 45 minutes. The patient can select areas that are under a lot of stress, such as the neck or lower back, to be the target for a treatment session. After moving through general pressure points for the first few minutes, the practitioner will focus the rest of the session on the target zone.
There is a growing movement called self regulation that Bowen Therapy is used in. Self regulation allows people to regulate their body and move towards self healing rather than relying on external medications and treatments. The Bowen Technique is one of nine main techniques used in the self regulation movement.
There have been several scientific studies that have supported the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy. It is shown to improve flexibility and comfort, while some signs lead to other general health benefits as well. There are practitioners in nearly every major city of the world – and the technique is so effective that it is being expanded to animals as well as humans.
