Common Questions
You are also encouraged to visit the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia’s website for additional information & resources at www.bowtech.com Some common questions are:
Is Bowenwork® safe for me?
Bowenwork is safe for everyone. There are only a few “moves” that are contraindicated in very specific situations, but a Bowenwork session may still be performed in those cases, only omitting the specific moves.
What about Bowenwork® and chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and other forms of bodywork?
Bowenwork can be effective with any of the mentioned modalities; however, if the treatment is applied too soon before or after a Bowenwork session, it can erase the effects of Bowenwork. There has to be a careful scheduling of the modalities. It is most effective to schedule several consecutive sessions of Bowenwork, without any other modalities in between so that the work can be integrated most effectively without additional “interference”.
How often and how many times will I need to come?
Initially two Bowen sessions are scheduled a week apart. Clients usually see significant improvement within these two sessions. Additional sessions are scheduled at least a week apart as needed, with most conditions resolving within 3-8 sessions. Some chronic, systemic conditions can take longer (such as fibromyalgia), but there should be continual improvement. Some clients also feel they benefit from a Bowen maintenance in order to continue the balancing effects and schedule accordingly.
How long does a session last?
They range from 15 minutes to an hour, but it all depends on your body that day. I would suggest planning on 90 minutes from the time you arrive to the time you leave (even if the session itself is only 15 minutes, sometimes a client needs to rest for quite a while to allow their body to integrate the work we have done).
How does it work?
Bowenwork provides gentle and profoundly effective signals to the brain for healing and recovery through the stimulation of various receptors in the tendons, muscles and ligaments of the body. These stimuli can result in deep relaxation, resetting of muscular tension and range of motion, lymph drainage, pain and inflammation reduction and pain relief. Perhaps one of the most profound way it works is in its ability to help with restoration of balance in the Autonomic Nervous System, shifting the client from sympathetic (fight/flight or freeze mode) to parasympathetic (rest, relax & repair mode).
What do I wear?
You have two options: 1) You may undress and then be covered by a sheet, much like massage, or 2) You may wear light, thin clothing (T shirts & shorts are excellent, please no jeans!). If you are dressed, please be aware that there may be a time or two where a move needs to be performed on bare skin, but I will let you know first.
How will I feel afterwards?
Every person is different! Immediately afterwards, some people feel energized, others are extremely relaxed, some feel the same, it depends on the person and the day. You may feel energized one week, and tired the next. Over the course of the next few days, there are many possibilities, depending upon the nature of your ailment.
Other clients have reported little twitches, pains or sensations that seem to randomly move around the body for several days after a treatment (possibly the body unwinding). The most common thread in their accounts is that they start to feel better.
Visit www.bowenwork.com for published articles/research & additional information on Bowenwork.