Bowen Technique
I don't really understand it, but it makes me feel better. No other body work gives me treatment fatigue. This does. The therapist was upfront about it, saying it was unlikely that it would improve things but it would probably halt the decline.
"Bowen Therapy is a subtle muscle/nerve/connective tissue technique developed in Australia by Tom Bowen . The work is gentle, non-invasive and performed through the clothing. It consists of a specific sequence of gentle, rolling "moves" done across superficial muscles, tendons and nerves.. The results are profound and lasting, and usually apparent within two or three sessions.
"Bowen Therapy is a completely new concept in bodywork. It is neither derived from nor similar to any other physical modality. Unlike massage or other manipulations that try to force a change, Bowen simply resets your body to heal itself.
"Although extremely gentle, these stimulations are so powerful that it's necessary to let the patient rest and "cook" a few minutes between segments in order that they completely integrate the neurological changes. The entire process is so soothing that most patients will fall asleep at least once during the session."
(from Bodywork & Somatic Therapies Guide: B)
But now I’ve stopped having Bowen Therapy! It was the last treatment I had: it essentially immobilised me for 2 – 2½ days afterwards. Treatment weariness is one thing, but this was ridiculous! I rang the therapist and told her what I’d decided, and she was cool about it, didn’t try to ‘sell’ more (or more effective) treatments.
But there’s a lingering doubt in my mind: surely, if Bowen can stop me in my tracks with a few gentle manipulations, surely it has the power to do the opposite, to get me going! But for the moment, I don’t want to lose a day a week, life is hard enough anyway. I’ll just file it away in the recesses of my mind for future investigation.
Links - these don't actually add much, but here they are anyway:
© Australian Philosophical Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge 2001
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