What to Expect During Treatment

What to Expect During Treatment

appointmA typical Bowen Technique session generally lasts from 45 to 90 minutes.

Clients usually lie on a massage table or bed, or may be seated in a chair if required, for comfort.

A ‘session’ involves one or more ‘procedures’, each of which consists of several sets of ‘moves’. The moves are gentle, but purposeful, and can be done through light clothing, but better results when moves are on bare skin.

Between each set of moves, the practitioner pauses for as many minutes as are needed for the client’s body to begin responding. As the nervous system begins to adjust the tension level in the muscles, the practitioner senses when the client is ready for the next set of moves.

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. To minimize the need for disturbing the client’s rest, all procedures that address the back of the client are completed before turning over for procedures that are done with the client lying on his/her back.

After the initial professional exchange the patient will be invited to drink a quantity of water prior to treatment. This is an important feature of Bowen Therapy as effective fascial release requires the adequate hydration of cells.

The therapist will initially open blockers and then follow with a series of specific rolling moves across fascia associated with particular muscle groups and tendons. A specified time interval is included between each series allowing the body to respond, re-hydrate tissues and commence its own healing process. During these intervals the therapist may leave the room or quietly update the patient records.

On completion of the treatment the patient, who often has already experienced pain relief, will be asked to drink additional water. They will then be advised of possible physical or emotional changes that may take place with recommendations for post treatment actions or activities, and be invited to feedback on outcomes.

How Many Sessions Are Enough?

For best results, it is recommended that clients have a minimum of three treatments at weekly intervals to begin with. This is often sufficient enough to produce lasting relief from pain and discomfort, although for some long standing conditions further targeted sessions are required.

It can sometimes take up to a week for full results to be felt from a Bowen session. It is therefore advised that no other therapies are administered in the week following treatment so as not to interrupt the healing process.

It is recommended that clients follow the 3 ‘W’s following treatment – Wait, Water and Walk. These simple steps will ensure that clients obtain the very best from their treatments.

 

Importance of 3 W’s & exercise in Bowen

 

  • Walking is very important. We are trying to reset your body, walking keeps the messages sent to the brain during your Bowen session active. To encourage looseness after a session, just do a little WALKING every 30-60 minutes. eg get up and walk around your chair or go and put the kettle on 🙂
  • Water “the elixir of life”.   Water is needed to flush out toxins that have been released during treatment and hydrate the body to allow proper circulation of body fluids. Therefore it is important that you drink only PURE WATER!
  • Wait… Your mind/body needs time to reply to the messages we have sent during treatment.  Often smaller conditions are resolved before the major condition as the body/mind works through its blue-print.
  • Exercises are often given to try and help the body strengthen that area and reteach the body what the preferred condition is.  They are considered part of the treatment and put the emphasis on the client trying to help their condition.  Exercise usually commences the day after treatment.

Clinic Paperwork

Prior to any treatments, you will be asked to complete a detailed and confidential questionnaire about yourself and your health concerns so that we can determine the best course of treatment.

You can download a copy of the Client Questionnaire as a PDF file:

Client Questionnaire PDF file

It is also important for you to observe a few simple Do’s and Don’ts after Treatment. So please download and read the Treatment After Care information:

Treatment After Care information

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