Bowen Technique - Ireland

The Bowen Technique is an holistic therapy that consists of a series of gentle moves over muscles and tendons on specific areas of the body. This very gentle therapy provides a distinct sense of relaxation. Bowen works on the basis the energy within the fluid content of the body is changed. It is believed that this disturbance of energy provides a boost to the body’s own inbuilt healing system.

The Bowen Technique takes it's name from Thomas Bowen who developed the technique in the 1950s in Geelong, in Australia. Bowen developed his technique without having previous formal training and frequently attributed to a God-given gift. Bowen continued to develop and refine the technique throughout his lifetime until his death in 1982. It is said that Bowen performed up to 13,000 treatments per year in his Geelong clinic.

Oswald Rentsch, and his wife Elaine, studied the technique under Bowen's guidance and documented it for the first time. In 1976 Oswald and Elaine began using Tom Bowen's methods in their own clinic in Hamilton in Victoria. Respecting Bowen's request to teach the work after his death, Oswald and Elaine named it The Bowen Technique and held their first seminar In Perth, Australia in 1986. By 1990 Oswald and Elaine were teaching full time throughout Australia and had begun introducing it to other countries right across the World. The representative group the Accredited Bowen Therapists of Ireland was established in 1998 with membership open to all Bowen Therapists throughout the island of Ireland.

What Happens During a Bowen Treatment ?

Typically a Bowen treatment session lasts for about 30-45 minutes. The majority of the work can be done through light clothing and no oils are used during your treatment.

During your treatment session your Bowen practitioner will use his/her thumbs and fingers to make rolling type moves on different muscles in the body. There are times when the therapist actually leaves the room. During these breaks in the treatment your body has time to make its own adjustments, which help to relieve tension and to reduce pain.

Many people experience pain relief after a single session. Usually it only takes two or three sessions to achieve long-lasting relief and in some cases long standing conditions may respond very quickly.

When trying the Bowen Technique for the first time it is recommended to try three sessions, one per week, without having any other kind of bodywork in between.

On the day of your treatment you should:

• Right after your session, go out and take a 15-20 minute walk. For the rest of the day, do not sit too long. Get up about every 30 minutes and walk around a bit.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water to flush the toxins out of your body.
• Avoid heavy lifting or exercise.
• No heating pads, ice packs, hot showers or hot baths.
• Put your weight on both feet when you stand up, get out of bed, a chair or a car.

Recommended Bowen Therapists in Ireland

Irish Representative Body for the Bowen Technique