Bowen Therapy

Bowen therapy works directly with nerves, similar to an accupuncture treatment, but instead of needles, the therapist uses her own hands.

Nerves always send signals to the brain
The brain always responds by sending some form of signal back to the body
The signals from the brain will show themselves in the form of reactions (shivers; pins and needles; warm all over; twitches; itchiness; etc…)
Nerves have different traveling or reactive speeds (in simple form divided into 3 categories):
- Fast travelling / fast reacting – usually takes seconds to react (example: when you touch hot stove you feel it within a second and react by taking your hand away almost immediately)
- Medium travelling speed – takes few minutes up to few days to get a reaction (example: it is -40 degrees outside and you forgot something in the car and need to run out for it; you do not want to dress up and run out fast just in your t-shirt; it takes about 30-60sec for you to start reacting with violent cold shivers)
- Slow travelling / slow reacting – takes days, sometimes even months to react (those are the more insidious reactions, involving our organs, hormonal changes, etc…)

Book Now

What can you expect from a Bowen session?

During your first visit, your therapist will conduct verbal examination and objective, orthopedic and / or neurological tests (if needed) then plan and iniciate your session.
At your follow up visits, your therapist will ask for feedback and any changes since the last treatment, to see in which direction to focus their treatment.
You will lie down on table as per your therapist’s instructions. You can stay fully clothed most of the time, unless therapist instructs you differently.
Once the session starts the therapist applies pressure with her hands on various parts of the body. Most moves take about 10-20sec.
The therapist leaves the room, to give your brain chance to process these moves and react to them by sending signals back to your body. Some people do not experience any reactions until 2 or 3 days later, or until following visits and there are some people who never have any reactions but they just start feeling better.
If you have reactions, regardless how small or how short they are you need to let your therapist know immediately.

The reason why you mention any reactions to your therapist:

Every reaction could have different meaning and it is up to your therapist to interpret them.
Some reactions are part of the treatment and it is OK to proceed.
Some reactions are an indication that the body had enough and is already working with what it has. In this instance the therapist might finish the session for the day. If the therapist continues with the treatment it could negatively affect client by:
1. Increased pain or worsen the problem (for a few days)
2. Redirecting the actions to different parts of the body, where it is not needed as much
3. Slow down the healing process

The therapist will leave the room to give time for your brain to receive signals and to respond.
The full session is anywhere from 30-60min; however, for your first treatment you could expect to be here for up to 90min. due to the initial assessment.
Your session could be shorter, if you are one of the people having a strong reaction.

You need to drink lots of water.
If you sit for longer period of time, you should get up every hour and walk around for 5min.
Do not do anything strenuous for the day.
Do not have hot bath or use a hot tub the day of the treatment.
Do not apply cold a compress to your body the day of the treatment.
If the therapist advices you to do exercises, do them daily.
If therapist recommends to do something in some instances or not to do something in other instances – follow the instructions.

Minimum of 3 times, approximately one week apart.
Generally, the more acute the problem the less treatments you will need and adversely, chronic problems will likely require more treatments.

No. If you are receiving other therapies (Physiotherapy, Chiropractor, Massage, Acupuncture, etc…) you have to wait at least 1 week before you can come in for your Bowen session.
Every therapy will influence our body certain way, elevating different systems and thus getting varied reactions. Because of the strong influence of Bowen therapy on our nervous system, by combining it with other therapies you would increase the intensity of reactions your body would receive – literally, your body would try to heal itself or align itself too fast, thus creating more pain or problems.
Once you finished with all your Bowen sessions and feeling better or improved, you can start going again for your favourite therapy.

Our Bowen therapist is a registered practitioner with NHPC.
Bowen is a recognized modality under a massage therapy and therefore can be written on receipt as a massage therapy treatment. As long as your insurance provider covers you for massage therapy, you are OK.

No.
There might be some specific condition that the treatment has to be adjusted for, but it still can be performed on everyone.

To schedule a massage therapy session, call us at 780-402-3292 or fill out our contact form.