Bowen FAQ

Bowen Therapy is NOT a massage, but it is a type of tactile bodywork. Bowen Therapy is more precise than massage, so specific targeted moves are applied to strategic points of the body to stimulate a response. This stimulation process initiates the body’s natural healing potential, often allowing for a very powerful response. A Bowen practitioner starts this process, but the body does the rest. In Bowen therapy there is no kneading or massaging involved.

A Bowen Therapy session can initiate a series of beneficial changes within the body that may continue for several days following treatment. During this time, the body is encouraged to respond and integrate the effects of the Bowen work.

To allow this process to occur without interruption, it is recommended that you wait at least one week after a Bowen Therapy session before receiving other forms of manual or manipulative therapy. This includes treatments such as massage, chiropractic adjustments, osteopathy or other hands-on therapies.

Receiving other manual therapies during this period may interfere with the body’s natural response to the Bowen treatment and may reduce its overall effectiveness.

Yes. Bowen Therapy is a complementary therapy and can generally be received alongside prescribed medications and conventional medical treatment. You should continue taking any prescribed medication and following the advice of your doctor or treating healthcare professional. Bowen Therapy should not be used as a replacement for medical treatment.

Following surgery or intensive medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, it may be appropriate to allow the body time to rest and recover before recommencing Bowen Therapy.

The therapy starts by conducting an appropriate holistic assessment of the body, and then providing a treatment which targets the problem depending on the presenting tonal asymmetry of the body.

Typically, the first session will be longer than the others, as we take down details of your health history, previous treatments, lifestyle, exercise and diet. This enables us to tailor the treatment plan to your specification. You will then be asked to lie down on a treatment table to receive the treatment (for those who are unable to lie down, the treatment can be provided whilst sitting).

It is important that silence is maintained through the session, to enable the brain and body to relax and facilitate the messages being provided to the body. The therapist will then apply a series of precise, non-invasive ‘moves’ to various parts of your body according to the treatment plan. The therapist will allow for pauses between moves at regular intervals, allowing the body to assimilate the messages received.

To conclude, the body is re-assessed to confirm that the therapy has restored tonal symmetry, eased movement restrictions, and promoted the deep relaxation necessary for healing.

Please wear loose and light clothing, allowing the therapist to work on the body as comfortably as possible. Please do not wear thick clothing (like jeans and jackets) or slippery material (like silk). Your body will be covered with towels to keep you comfortable during the sessions. Wear comfortable elastic shorts with a loose vest.

Allow 1.5 hours for the first session or a single session. Following sessions may take from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on your body and treatment plan.

Often people start getting results after the first session itself. Three sessions are recommended to address most issues. For some chronic conditions more sessions may be required; others may require ongoing long-term sessions to maintain wellbeing and stay pain free. For reset and relaxation, Bowen sessions every 4–6 weeks are very beneficial.

During the treatment plan, sessions should ideally be scheduled to take place approximately 5–10 days apart. Once the treatment plan is complete, it is recommended to undergo a ‘maintenance’ session every 4–8 weeks.

Bowen is safe for all ages, from newborn babies through to elderly people. The technique can be applied at a gentle level of touch and is considered one of the safest therapies. There are only a small group of people for whom additional caution must be observed during some Bowen treatments:

• Pregnancy
• People with implants
• Post operation of the jaw and temporomandibular joint
• People with mental health conditions