Bowen Anatomy background.

The Bowen Technique is anatomically one of the most fascinating bodywork therapies available. Where the focus is often on full contact from a therapist to a patient whether it is an adjustment, massage, manipulation, muscle stretching or machines Bowen focuses on something much more subtle – the brain’s ability to sort out it’s own problems and functional errors with the correct cues.

Bowen will make a gentle non-invasive move across very particular areas of muscles, ligaments, tendons and connective tissue aiming to carefully trigger particular nerve endings. These nerve endings are involved with the tension of muscles which hold us in correct alignment. When this function is compromised by physical injury, poor posture, emotional injury or constant stress, symptoms often follow. These can range from “bad backs”, stiffness, actual joint injury, headaches, asthma, irritable bowel, whiplash and many others.

Bowen connects the brain directly to the area of a problem and allows an assessment of the tension in a specific muscle and surrounding tissue. When the work is left for five minutes after a move, the muscle if it can, relaxes. This immediate relaxation of a muscle is often seen in clinic and can create relief in a very short period of time.

The practitioner’s skill is knowing which muscles and tendons to treat to create the landslide response that brings back function. Rather like following a piece of string back through the forest to home or knocking down a row of dominoes.

The Bowen Technique is revolutionising bodywork in this country. The simplicity and integrity of the work needs to be seen at first hand.