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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Bowenwork Answer Book
1. What is Bowenwork? Bowenwork is hands-on healthcare. It consists of sequences of rolling movements of the practitioner's thumbs or fingers over precisely located sites on the body. These movements serve to signal the body to remember how to heal a variety of health issues.
2. Where did it originate?
Bowenwork came from Australia. Tom Bowen developed it over a period of several decades by working with athletes and injured laborers. It arose from his study and profound understanding of the structural and healing mechanisms of the body and his interest in osteopathic principles. Tom Bowen practiced in Australia from 1958 until his passing in 1982.
3. What brought Bowenwork to the world?
Oswald (Ossie) Rentsch was one of a handful of people chosen to study along side Tom in his work. After he, along with his wife, Elaine, developed a thriving practice, Ossie asked Mr. Bowen if he could "keep the work alive" It is from their tireless efforts that “the Bowen technique, an interpretation by Oswald Rentsch” was developed as a curriculum. It was taught first in Australia and New Zealand and then around the world. The names Bowtech® and Bowenwork® are registered trademarks of their company, Bowtech Pty, which does business as The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia (BTAA). The United States Bowen Registry, Inc. (USBR) is the United States affiliate of Bowtech Pty.
4. What does it do?
Bowenwork provides gentle and profoundly effective signals to the Brain for healing and recovery through the stimulation of special receptors in the tendons, muscles and ligaments of the body. These stimuli can result in deep relaxation, resetting of muscular tension and range of motion, lymph drainage, pain and inflammation reduction and pain
relief.
5. How long does a session last?
A Bowenwork session lasts from 15 minutes to an hour with the client resting comfortably on a massage table.
6. How often and how many times will I need to come?
Initially two Bowen sessions are scheduled a week apart. Clients usually see significant improvement within these two sessions. Additional sessions are scheduled at least a week apart as needed, with most conditions resolving within 3-8 sessions.
7. What are the main objectives of Bowenwork?
Bowenwork helps the Body remember how to heal. The specific objectives may vary, but there is always focus on relaxation, reduction of the "fight or flight response", and engagement of the body's perfect pattern memory for the area that is in pain, contracted or otherwise out of healthy balance.
8. Is Bowenwork safe?
Bowenwork is appropriate for all ages and stages of health from babies to the most frail and elderly, for the extremely fit and the sedentary or debilitated. Bowenwork is so gentle in application, partnering with the body for healing, that there is no possibility of harm.
9. How is Bowenwork different from traditional massage and bodywork?
Bowenwork is distinguished by its effectiveness over in very few sessions. It does not hurt and can bring permanent relief rapidly. The work is performed with the client lying on a table or sitting in a chair. The client remains clothed, and no oil or lotion is used.
10. Why does Bowenwork succeed where other therapies do not?
Bowenwork is effective because, with a minimum of stress on the body, it focuses the innate healing capacity of the body exactly where it is needed to facilitate speedy recovery, pain relief and healing.
11. What is the innate healing capacity of the body?
The innate healing capacity is the powerful combination of body systems responsible for tissue repair, nutrition, waste disposal, muscle length, nerve health and blood flow.
12. What does the innate healing capacity do?
The innate healing capacity takes care of the traumas and injuries, renewing injuries, recovering lost function, feeding and cleansing the body, relieving pain and regenerating tissue. This is done constantly throughout the body to keep us healthy.
13. Why hasn’t this capacity worked on my problem?
The innate healing capacity can be sidetracked due to injury, overuse, stress or continuing imbalance in the body. This can result in a local "disconnect" from normal healing and recovery functions.
14. How does Bowenwork know where to work?
We don’t know how Tom Bowen discovered the precise locations and sequences of “moves”; but we, and millions of clients around the world, are glad he did! It uses minimal intervention to bring the body’s attention to the area needing help. When the body has been alerted to the problem, it can use its healing capacity to the fullest in that situation.
15. What is a Bowenwork “move”?
Bowenwork uses specific sequences of short, gentle, precisely located rolling motions of the thumbs or fingers over specific structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves) of the body. Each series of movements is followed by "quiet periods" that allow the body to integrate each stage of the work.
16. Why are there so few touches to the body?
Bowenwork uses fewer touches because of the precision used with their application. Like a diamond cutter using one blow to create a gem out of a stone, Bowenwork gets the most out of each touch.
17. Why is such light pressure used?
Less really is more in this case. Less pressure brings more results than heavy pressure. That Bowenwork works with such light pressure follows a physiologic law, the Schulze law, which states that the body responds more deeply and positively to low level stimuli than it does to painful strong stimuli. Tom Bowen discovered the principle long before Schulze formulated his law.
18. Do all Bowenwork practitioners work the same way?
Yes, although practitioners may vary some in their technique, all accredited Bowenwork practitioners use the same protocols and address problems in the same way. In fact there are ongoing continuing education requirements including practitioner reviews.
19. Is Bowenwork practiced in American medical institutions?
Yes Bowenwork is being used in some American hospitals. Some physical therapists in Kaiser Permanente in CA and in Ann Arbor, MI have learned the work and apply for their patients. In the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, WA, some occupational therapists are now incorporating Bowenwork in their practice, too. There are several medical doctors who have taken the training and incorporate Bowenwork into their practices.
20. Are the Bowenwork effects due to hypnotic suggestion?
No, the effects of Bowenwork are based solely on the action of the innate healing capacity of the body. No other kind of suggestion or stimulus is needed.
21. Will I have to hurt more before I feel better?
In most cases, pain is not a part of Bowenwork. Bowenwork does not have to cause pain to relieve it. If the problem is of long duration or there has been extensive weakening of the area, there may be discomfort from new movement in a previously "rusty" area or from using a muscle that has decreased strength and stamina.
22. What conditions does Bowenwork address?
While Bowenwork cannot be said to “cure” any condition, many therapists have been successful in addressing problems relating to these and other conditions:
2. Where did it originate?
Bowenwork came from Australia. Tom Bowen developed it over a period of several decades by working with athletes and injured laborers. It arose from his study and profound understanding of the structural and healing mechanisms of the body and his interest in osteopathic principles. Tom Bowen practiced in Australia from 1958 until his passing in 1982.
3. What brought Bowenwork to the world?
Oswald (Ossie) Rentsch was one of a handful of people chosen to study along side Tom in his work. After he, along with his wife, Elaine, developed a thriving practice, Ossie asked Mr. Bowen if he could "keep the work alive" It is from their tireless efforts that “the Bowen technique, an interpretation by Oswald Rentsch” was developed as a curriculum. It was taught first in Australia and New Zealand and then around the world. The names Bowtech® and Bowenwork® are registered trademarks of their company, Bowtech Pty, which does business as The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia (BTAA). The United States Bowen Registry, Inc. (USBR) is the United States affiliate of Bowtech Pty.
4. What does it do?
Bowenwork provides gentle and profoundly effective signals to the Brain for healing and recovery through the stimulation of special receptors in the tendons, muscles and ligaments of the body. These stimuli can result in deep relaxation, resetting of muscular tension and range of motion, lymph drainage, pain and inflammation reduction and pain
relief.
5. How long does a session last?
A Bowenwork session lasts from 15 minutes to an hour with the client resting comfortably on a massage table.
6. How often and how many times will I need to come?
Initially two Bowen sessions are scheduled a week apart. Clients usually see significant improvement within these two sessions. Additional sessions are scheduled at least a week apart as needed, with most conditions resolving within 3-8 sessions.
7. What are the main objectives of Bowenwork?
Bowenwork helps the Body remember how to heal. The specific objectives may vary, but there is always focus on relaxation, reduction of the "fight or flight response", and engagement of the body's perfect pattern memory for the area that is in pain, contracted or otherwise out of healthy balance.
8. Is Bowenwork safe?
Bowenwork is appropriate for all ages and stages of health from babies to the most frail and elderly, for the extremely fit and the sedentary or debilitated. Bowenwork is so gentle in application, partnering with the body for healing, that there is no possibility of harm.
9. How is Bowenwork different from traditional massage and bodywork?
Bowenwork is distinguished by its effectiveness over in very few sessions. It does not hurt and can bring permanent relief rapidly. The work is performed with the client lying on a table or sitting in a chair. The client remains clothed, and no oil or lotion is used.
10. Why does Bowenwork succeed where other therapies do not?
Bowenwork is effective because, with a minimum of stress on the body, it focuses the innate healing capacity of the body exactly where it is needed to facilitate speedy recovery, pain relief and healing.
11. What is the innate healing capacity of the body?
The innate healing capacity is the powerful combination of body systems responsible for tissue repair, nutrition, waste disposal, muscle length, nerve health and blood flow.
12. What does the innate healing capacity do?
The innate healing capacity takes care of the traumas and injuries, renewing injuries, recovering lost function, feeding and cleansing the body, relieving pain and regenerating tissue. This is done constantly throughout the body to keep us healthy.
13. Why hasn’t this capacity worked on my problem?
The innate healing capacity can be sidetracked due to injury, overuse, stress or continuing imbalance in the body. This can result in a local "disconnect" from normal healing and recovery functions.
14. How does Bowenwork know where to work?
We don’t know how Tom Bowen discovered the precise locations and sequences of “moves”; but we, and millions of clients around the world, are glad he did! It uses minimal intervention to bring the body’s attention to the area needing help. When the body has been alerted to the problem, it can use its healing capacity to the fullest in that situation.
15. What is a Bowenwork “move”?
Bowenwork uses specific sequences of short, gentle, precisely located rolling motions of the thumbs or fingers over specific structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves) of the body. Each series of movements is followed by "quiet periods" that allow the body to integrate each stage of the work.
16. Why are there so few touches to the body?
Bowenwork uses fewer touches because of the precision used with their application. Like a diamond cutter using one blow to create a gem out of a stone, Bowenwork gets the most out of each touch.
17. Why is such light pressure used?
Less really is more in this case. Less pressure brings more results than heavy pressure. That Bowenwork works with such light pressure follows a physiologic law, the Schulze law, which states that the body responds more deeply and positively to low level stimuli than it does to painful strong stimuli. Tom Bowen discovered the principle long before Schulze formulated his law.
18. Do all Bowenwork practitioners work the same way?
Yes, although practitioners may vary some in their technique, all accredited Bowenwork practitioners use the same protocols and address problems in the same way. In fact there are ongoing continuing education requirements including practitioner reviews.
19. Is Bowenwork practiced in American medical institutions?
Yes Bowenwork is being used in some American hospitals. Some physical therapists in Kaiser Permanente in CA and in Ann Arbor, MI have learned the work and apply for their patients. In the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, WA, some occupational therapists are now incorporating Bowenwork in their practice, too. There are several medical doctors who have taken the training and incorporate Bowenwork into their practices.
20. Are the Bowenwork effects due to hypnotic suggestion?
No, the effects of Bowenwork are based solely on the action of the innate healing capacity of the body. No other kind of suggestion or stimulus is needed.
21. Will I have to hurt more before I feel better?
In most cases, pain is not a part of Bowenwork. Bowenwork does not have to cause pain to relieve it. If the problem is of long duration or there has been extensive weakening of the area, there may be discomfort from new movement in a previously "rusty" area or from using a muscle that has decreased strength and stamina.
22. What conditions does Bowenwork address?
While Bowenwork cannot be said to “cure” any condition, many therapists have been successful in addressing problems relating to these and other conditions: