If you are new to Bowen Therapy, the following information will help prepare you for your first treatment session.
What should you wear?
We perform Bowen Therapy through clothes, and so the decision on what to wear is up to you. Your clothing shouldn’t be too thick as this can restrict certain Bowen moves, and above all, it should be comfortable.
Typically, a t-shirt and shorts or leggings combination provides the perfect balance of comfort for you and helpfulness for the therapist.
How long is a treatment session?
Sessions usually last around 45 minutes. As part of the first session, we take a history and carry out an initial assessment, so the first session usually takes about an hour.
What does the treatment involve?
You will be lying on a comfortable treatment table throughout your session. If you are unable to lie down, we can treat you in a seated position, which is particularly helpful for clients with wheelchairs. If lying down, you will start on your front, and during the session, you will turn onto your back.
A vital principle of Bowen Therapy is to enable the body to respond to each move during a treatment session, so a key part of your treatment session is the 2-minute waits between certain moves.
Your History
At your first session, we will take a full history to get some background on your current conditions and any previous operations, illnesses or accidents which may have contributed to your current situation, or which have been left unresolved. It is important to provide as much information as possible so we can ensure that your treatment is fully personalised to you. It is helpful if you can spend some time logging your history before your first session, especially if it is long and detailed, to ensure that as much of the time as possible is available for treatment.
Any information you share with us is confidential.
NB – if you are, or you might be pregnant, it is essential you tell us before a treatment session.
Between sessions
Usually, your treatment sessions will be spaced a week apart, and sometimes slightly longer. It can take up to 10 days for Bowen to have its full effect, although most people tend to experience a noticeable improvement straight away and in the days following. In some instances, clients may experience an increase in symptoms and perhaps feel run down or a little unwell; this is usually a day or so after the first treatment and is likely the result of your body undergoing an adjustment to the Bowen work and even detoxification. These symptoms usually pass within a day or two and are considered a ‘normal’ response to Bowen Therapy. In such cases, resting, ensuring adequate fluid intake and some gentle walking between rests will help your body respond positively to Bowen.
If, however, your situation doesn’t improve after 2-3 days, or you re-injure yourself, we will usually advise that we bring your next session forward and we will try and treat you again as soon as possible.
For pregnant women, your body is undergoing constant change, so if you experience painful symptoms – typically sciatica – between sessions, we will try and see you as soon as possible.
It’s important to remember that your body needs to adjust and respond following Bowen Therapy. Avoiding excessive heat or cold, such as heat or ice packs, saunas and hot baths, in the days following treatment, as well as strenuous exercise or activities, is necessary as these can counter the body’s healing response to Bowen. Most people report only a positive, symptom-free experience following treatment – whatever your experience, we’re here to help you along your healing journey.