One of the most interesting areas of the body is the brain. The basic function of the brain is to receive information from our sensory organs and interpret this information, such as light, sound, pain, movement. This enables conscious communication within our body. Neuroplasticity which is the brains ability to recognize itself by forming new neural connections, allows the nerve cells in the brain to adjust their activities in response to new situations or changes in the environment. This includes a stimulus through touch. There is something like 600,000 signals that travel from the brain into the body every second and these in turn come back to the brain with information which is then interpreted  and sent back out. Whenever we feel, hear, see or even think something , the brain brings in past experience in order categorize the sensation and create and appropriate response.

 

In the case of the Bowen move, the brain is unable to do this instantly and needs more information to form a response. As it is, just when the brain is asking for more information, the therapist has left the room, and therefore the brain has to send specific signals to the area in order to gauge a response.

 

If the client is lying down, the immediate response is nearly always rapid and deep relaxation. The client will often report that they feel tingling sensation or warmth in the area just worked on. "It felt like your hands were still on me," is a common comment.

 

One of the more difficult elements to come to terms with is how little 'hands on work' is done during a session. In addition, the client may well walk out of the treatment room having felt little or no improvement over and above a sense of relaxation. However, the reactions to Bowen in the days following a treatment can often belie it's soft and gentle approach. Stiffness, soreness, headache and feeling like "I've been run over by a bus!" are common, demonstrating that the brain and body have started the process of repair. This process, when started, is generally rapid and it is not uncommon for even long standing pain to be reduced or resolved in just two or three treatments.

 

Although musculoskeletal problems such as frozen shoulder, back and neck pain account for the majority of conditions brought for Bowen treatment, it can also be helpful with more organic problems.

 

A typical Bowen Technique session generally lasts from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Clients usually lie on a massage / bodywork table or bed, or may be seated on a chair if required, for comfort. A 'session' involves one or more 'procedures', each of which consists of several sets of 'moves'. The moves are gentle, but purposeful, and can be done through light clothing.

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