FAQ

What conditions can be improved by Bowen?
Bowen facilitates the balancing of a broad range of conditions.  It can address many problems (with medical supervision where appropriate) as the treatment is holistic.  Bowen produces an integrated body response, and consequently improves circulation, lymphatic and venous draining, assimilation of nutrients and elimination of toxins, joint mobility, postural imbalances, normalization of cellular physiology and tissue integrity.  Examples of just a few conditions treated successfully include:

Back and neck pain	Degenerative disc pain
Whiplash	Scoliosis
Frozen Shoulder	Tennis and Golf Elbow
TMJ	Bell's Palsy
Tinnitis and Meniere's Disease	Migraines and headaches
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other  RSIs - Repetitive Strain Injuries	Fibromyalgia
Gastrointestinal disorders: IBS Ulcerative colitis diverticulitis chronic constipation	Respiratory disorders  acute and chronic colds coughs influenza bronchitis asthma
Sports Injuries and sports  performance enchancement

What do I wear?
Wear or bring light-weight, loose-fitting clothing that your practitioner can work through.  Ideal would be gym shorts, workout bra, and/or light t-shirt.  Or be prepared to be worked on in your underclothes, under sheets or blankets for modesty and comfort.  Because of my background and training in massage therapy, I find it personally more effective to work directly on skin and muscles.

How many treatments?
2-3 treatments usually resolve acute conditions (i.e., recent injuries or illnesses).  Chronic conditions often take 6-10 sessions.  Once a condition is resolved, occasional tuneups are recommended.

How long does a treatment last?
Depending on the protocol being used, sessions are anywhere from 10-60 minutes.

There seems to be a lot of down times in Bowen.  What is that all about?
Because Bowen is a neurological modality, your body needs time between groups of moves to assimilate the work.  During the course of a treatment, the client is left resting several times, allowing the body time to incorporate the moves which have just been made.  This allows the body's different systems to respond to 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 Bowen is that nothing is forced to happen -- the therapist precisely and gently 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.

How will I react to a Bowen session?
The most common reaction to Bowen is a deep sense of overall relaxation and lessening of muscular tension and pain.  This results from the body's balancing and improved flow of internal energy.  The restorative process begins once the body is relaxed.  It is not uncommon for people to fall asleep during Bowen.  Some people do not feel much of anything, but 2-3 days after the session realize that their pain is decreasing or gone.

What about healing crises?
Some people experience mild flu-like symptoms or body aches the day of or day following a session.  Drink plenty of water, do some gentle walking to allow the released toxins in the body to work through the system, and wait for the process to unwind.  The mantra of Bowen is 'Walk, Water, Wait.'

What about exercising after Bowen?
Avoid heavy exercise on the day of your session.  Walking is a good form of exercise for the week following a session. 
If you have been given specific exercises for pelvis, hamstrings, shoulders or respiration, do NOT start them on the day of therapy.  Start exercises the day following your treatment.

How often do I receive Bowen treatments?
The ideal treatment plan is 5-10 days between treatments.

Are there any other precautions while receiving Bowen?
Excessive heat and icing of body parts can disrupt the movement of energy in the nervous system.  Lukewarm showers are best.
Receiving other forms of therapy or bodywork during Bowen treatment can antidote the work.  It is best to separate Bowen from other healing modalities.  Many of my clients come to me after their physical therapy or chiropractic insurance runs out.

 Are there any contraindications?
There are no contraindications that would keep a person from receiving Bowen sessions.  There are, however, a few procedures that are contraindicated in specific circumstances:
The Coccyx Procedure is not done on pregnant women.
The TMJ Procedure is not done on people whose jaws have been surgically altered at the condyles.
The Chest Procedures is not done on women with breast implants.