What is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is a remedial, hands-on technique that works with the body's own healing mechanisms to promote balance and wellbeing.
A gentle yet effective approach
Bowen Therapy is a soft-tissue therapy developed by the late Tom Bowen in Australia. It consists of a series of gentle, precise movements made over muscles, tendons and connective tissue.
These subtle moves stimulate the body's nervous system, encouraging relaxation and supporting the body's natural ability to rebalance itself. Bowen Therapy is not a form of massage and is typically performed with light pressure, through clothing.
How Bowen Therapy works
During a Bowen session, the practitioner performs a series of movements on the body, then allows pauses between them. These pauses give the body time to respond and integrate the signals it has received.
Bowen Therapy does not aim to "force" change. Instead, it works by communicating with the body's systems — particularly the nervous system — to encourage improved function and balance.
Will it help me?
People seek Bowen Therapy for a wide range of reasons, including:
- • Muscular and joint discomfort
- • Back, neck and shoulder issues
- • Sports-related strains
- • Stress-related tension
- • General wellbeing and relaxation
As with all complementary therapies, Bowen Therapy does not claim to diagnose or cure medical conditions. If you have concerns about your health, you should always consult a qualified medical professional.
Using your Health Insurance
If you have a health insurance policy or health cash scheme, you may be able to claim back the costs of your Bowen Therapy sessions.
If you have one of these schemes, get in touch with them and ask whether your Bowen session would be covered, in advance of making your appointment. Your practitioner may need to be registered with the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
Looking for a qualified Bowen practitioner?
Members of the Bowen Therapy Professional Association (BTPA) are trained to high professional standards and adhere to a strict code of practice. We have a Register of therapists in the UK and abroad.
Research studies
The BTPA have been collecting evidence of the benefits of Bowen Therapy, including patient testimonials and case studies, and research studies.
Bowen Therapy in the workplace
Bowen Technique is also offered in workplaces around the country, as a means of addressing workplace injuries and helping employees get back to work quicker. Read more on the Corporate Bowen page.
Bowen Therapy for children
Bowen Therapy has been used for children with a range of symptoms, and some BTPA members have set up dedicated Children's Clinics. Testimonials from parents of such children are included on the testimonials page.
The Tom Bowen Legacy Trust Fund (UK) was set up to help children with disabilities to obtain relevant equipment (mechanical, sensory, electrical/electronic) which would improve their quality of life. Applications can be made by Bowen therapists or parents/guardians.
Bowen Therapy for animals
There are recorded accounts that Tom Bowen also applied his techniques to animals on occasion. Observations from those who studied his work, including Oswald Rentsch, indicate that Bowen's approach was not limited solely to human clients.
These instances appear to have been informal, and Bowen did not develop or document a specific system of work for animals. As with his work more generally, there was no formal written methodology.
Read more...