Many talented and experienced professional practitioners such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, kinesiologists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and sports therapists have been amazed at the simplicity and efficacy of the Bowen Technique, and have now chosen to use it in preference to or alongside their own therapies.
Frozen shoulders frequently respond very dramatically to Bowen therapy, as do back problems. Bowen therapy often resolves elbow and knee pain very quickly. Bowen can also be effective in relieving stress and tension-based problems such as migraine headaches, as well as emotional and allergic-type symptoms.
Bowen is suitable for all ages. Because it is gentle and non-invasive, it is an ideal treatment for children and babies. However, a parent or guardian must be present throughout the consultation and treatment in the case of a client under the age of 18.
Bowen can be administered through a thin layer of clothing if preferred, with no loss of efficacy.
The Bowen Technique was pioneered in the mid-20th century by an Australian named Tom Bowen. He had no formal medical training and his interest in massage and soft-tissue manipulation started from his love of sport. Working initially on horses and greyhounds, Tom Bowen developed his own techniques to treat colleagues at the cement factory where he worked.
News of his success spread, and in 1957 Bowen set up his first clinic. By the 1970s, Tom Bowen was one of the busiest therapists around, thanks to his continent-wide reputation for exceptional results. In 1974 he invited natural therapist Oswald Rentsch to train with him and document his techniques.
Tom Bowen died in 1982, leaving Rentsch to continue his work. Rentsch taught the Bowen Technique throughout Australia and New Zealand and was responsible for its introduction to America and the UK.
The Bowen Therapy Professional Association (BTPA) is Europe’s largest and only independent Bowen therapy organisation. All registered members are also qualified in Anatomy & Physiology and First Aid. They are fully insured, abide by a strict code of conduct and ethics, and are committed to a programme of continuing professional development.
Stephen Blackwood is a full member of BTPA. For more information about the register, write to BTPA, PO Box 2920, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9ZL, or visit www.bowen-therapy.co
The European College of Bowen Studies (ECBS) is where Stephen Blackwood trained as a Bowen Technique practitioner. The ECBS provides one of the most widely recognised Bowen qualifications in the world and is the only private training organisation recognised by the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT), the UK’s largest therapist body.
The ECBS has been training therapists in the Bowen Technique since 1994, and ECBS training is fully accepted for membership of leading bodies such as:
For more information about the ECBS visit www.thebowentechnique.com.