Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect in my first appointment?
Please arrive 5 - 10 minutes early at your first appointment to fill out paperwork providing your contact details and a brief medical history. I will spend about 10 minutes with you gathering further information about your current issues, past injuries, episodes of pain, immobility, operations, or illnesses, etc. We will also discuss your expectations about the treatment. The next step is for me to make an assessment of your body looking for any imbalances that give clues to the cause of the pain. The treatment will last 45 to 50 minutes and consists of a series of gentle movements ("the Bowen move") over specific points of the muscles and fascia of the body. Moves are performed in small groups with a short rest period in between. The wait allows the nervous system to process the input from the moves and initiate the bodies response. Bowen therapy is best performed over bare skin but can be performed over loose light clothing (not jeans or active wear) Clients often experience feeling deeply relaxed by the treatment or even fall asleep (many clients use Bowen treatments for relaxtion as an alternative to massage). They regularly report feeling ‘looser’ or ‘standing up straighter’ after treatment. Pain may be reduced or completely gone and restrictions significantly improved. At the conclusion of the treatment I will advise you on follow-up care including drinking enough water, avoiding extended sitting and recommendations for exercises if required. A follow-up treatment within a week may be required to ensure your body holds the changes. A long-standing injury may require regular ongoing treatments. I will discuss this with you at the completion of the treatment.
What about after my treatment?
The influence of the Bowen therapy moves will continue to work in your body for 4 or 5 days or more. You may not experience significant changes straight after the treatment but may find after 2 or 3 days that pain or restrictions have resolved. Occasionally you may find new areas of tension or pain arise a day or two after treatment or even that you feel a bit washed out for a day. These should resolve themselves, however if you have any concern please contact David on 0402 214 142 The 3 W's - Walk. Water. Wait. Drink Water: for 24 - 48 hours after treatment please ensure you drink an adequate amount of water. Muscle pain and restrictions can be due to dehydration in the connective tissue (fascia). The Bowen moves actively rehydrate this tissue requiring extra intake of water Walk Often: following the treatment, for the rest of the day, try to incorporate some walking or light exercise. You should to avoid sitting for longer than 30 minutes. If you need to sit for longer, then make sure you get up and walk around for a few minutes every 30 minutes. Avoid heavy exercise or activity if possible. Walking will help establish the changes initiated by the treatment. Wait 5 days: As the Bowen treatment continues to work for several days or more, follow up treatments are recommended between between 5 and 10 days later. For this reason i is also recommended to avoid other forms of body work treatment (e.g. chiropractic or massage) for 4 days before or 5 days after a Bowen treatment to avoid interfering with the effect of the Bowen.
What do I wear for my treatment?
Bowen therapy is best performed over bare skin. Underwear stays on and all bare areas are covered with towels. The towel is moved back just to expose the area being assessed or treated. However if you are more comfortable staying dressed, Bowen can also be done over loose light clothing (not jeans or active wear). Your comfort and privacy is of primary importance. Children and adolescents will usually be treated over clothing and will also require a parent or guardian to be present during the treatment.
How is Bowen different from other therapies?
How does Bowen therapy compare to therapies such as massage, chiropractic or physiotherapy? Bowen is a gentle non-invasive technicque that uses precise movements over specific muscles, tendons and connective tissue (fascia). The pressure used is generally light and moves can be described as "gentle but firm". The therapist will determine the pressure required based on assessing the underlying tissues. These precise moves provide input to the brain allowing it to assess the tension and balance in the body, and commence the process of muscle relaxation and realignment. Bowen provides a calming effect on the autonomic nervous system to shift the body out of "fight and flight" mode into "rest, relax and reset" mode. Bowen therapy differences: - Does not use oil - clients can remain clothed - No repeated moves or stroking - No hard sustained pressure applied to muscles (trigger points or deep tissue massage) - No forceful manipulation of joints Bowen is gentle and non-invasive and can be used in situations where other therapies may be too invasive. Bowen sets the scene for the body to heal itself. It does not attempt to force the body to change, rather it asks the body to recognise and make the changes necessary to bring it back into balance