The Bowen Technique is a gentle form of body work/physical therapy in which subtle moves performed over muscles and connective tissue act upon the fascia and nervous system. This sends messages deep into the body, providing relaxation, relief and balance back to the body.

A typical session can generally last from 15 to 45 minutes. A session involves one or more ‘procedures’, each of which consists of several sets of rolling moves. The moves are gentle but purposeful and can be done through light clothing. These moves deliver signals to the nervous system at specific locations (on muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves), and the body responds in its own time within its capacity. Between each set of moves, the practitioner pauses for as many minutes as are needed for the client’s body to begin responding. The nervous system begins to adjust the tension level in the soft tissue.

These movements intervene with the brain’s signals to prompt the body to let go of tension and stress, helping to support the body back into alignment. A common approach in a session is to balance the entire body by addressing the lower back, then the upper back, and then the neck.

Bowen takes a more ‘whole-body’ approach to facilitate alignment and recovery. Rather than focusing on a single complaint, Bowen addresses the entire body by restoring balance via the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls over 80% of bodily functions and is very susceptible to external stressors. Most people today live in a constant state of high stress and over-stimulation (fight, flight or freeze mode). Healing can occur after the ANS shifts from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance (rest, relax and repair mode).

During a session, the client often drops into deep relaxation or falls asleep. These changes are indications of a profound release from stress and a shift towards parasympathetic influence. This shift could explain, in part, the common observation that a Bowen Technique session seems to reactivate the recovery process in situations where healing has stalled or reached a plateau.

The Bowen Technique is a complementary modality in the sense that it enhances and complements, but does not interfere with, traditional medical attention. The input to the nervous system is very subtle and the body responds over time. For that reason, it’s best to avoid other manipulative therapies for a few days before/after a session, and 3 sessions 1 week apart are recommended.