What is the Bowen Therapy or Bowen Technique?

The Bowen Technique is a dynamic system of muscle and connective tissue therapy that is performed with gentle moves on soft tissue that stimulate physiological changes and energy flow, empowering the body’s own resources to heal itself. The Bowen technique is safe to use on anyone from neonates to the aged and produces lasting relief from pain and discomfort. 

The Bowen technique balances the body to allow it to heal itself. The practitioner makes a series of gentle and precise moves on specific points of the body, on muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves, affecting the nervous system and fascia, which then send messages to the nervous system to reset itself to a prior state of health and balance. Bowen treatments usually result in the relief of many specific injuries and other health problems, both acute and chronic. There are frequent and important pauses between each series of moves giving the body time to process and integrate them.

Although individual moves used alone may produce a positive effect, the full benefit of the technique is gained through a complementary series of moves. Only a limited number of sequences are needed each session, which will often have profound effects.

While there are a few, very specific situations in which a particular procedure is contraindicated, the Bowen Technique is appropriate to use for individuals of all ages and in all degrees of health.

A Bowen treatment usually lasts from 15 to 45 minutes (first treatment is about 60 minutes due to initial consult and assessments). The gentle but purposeful moves can be done through light clothing, while the patient lies on a massage table.