About Bowen Therapy

Bowen is a soft-tissue therapy that encourages your body to re-align and heal itself. The changes are not always instant but are often long lasting. Even long-standing chronic pain can be relieved.

Bowen Technique helps with conditions including:

• RSI, carpal tunnel syndrome & tennis elbow
• Menstrual and hormonal irregularities
• Hip, knee, ankle and foot problems
• Respiratory problems & hay fever
• Digestive and bowel problems
• Sports and traumatic injuries
• Neck & shoulder problems
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Migraines and headaches
• Stress and anxiety
• Back pain & sciatica
• Earache and TMJ
• Rheumatism / arthritis

A Bowen treatment is very subtle, gentle and relaxing, and most of the work can be performed through light clothing. During a session, you lie on a therapy table while your therapist uses fingers and thumbs to roll over muscles, ligaments and tendons in various parts of the body. The precise, subtle moves are very gentle and do not cause discomfort.

The initial stage of a treatment covers the whole body. Moves are made over areas of the body that are often under stress. These areas of stress may be contributing to your complaint. Your therapist then concentrates on specific problem areas identified during the whole-body stage. A feature of Bowen is that between sets of moves, your therapist leaves the room and allows you to rest. These breaks allow your body to make a decision about what action needs to be taken in response to the moves given.

Each treatment lasts 45 minutes, and an initial course of three treatments is recommended, with sessions between five and seven days apart. Most people respond to treatment within three to four sessions, but some conditions might need extra treatment. Many patients benefit from a treatment every six to eight weeks as it aids in relieving stress and tension, and helps to maintain optimum health.

The Bowen therapist at The Riverside Clinic is Katharine Howard. Katharine says, "I love working with Bowen. It's such a simple treatment, yet the results are often remarkable. I continue to be amazed at how people respond to the gentle moves. During and after a Bowen treatment people often feel totally relaxed. Their pain doesn't usually disappear right away, but it changes and eases in the days following the treatment."