The pros and cons of Bowen Technique

The pros and cons of Bowen Technique

I plan to share some of the many bowen therapy pros and cons. This is based on my experience of receiving Bowen over the past 20 years and practicing it for 5 years. In a nutshell, Bowen therapy is a relaxing alignment technique, providing pain relief and increase in mobility. 

❤ It is sooooooooooooooooooo relaxing – literally it calms down your ANS, er what is this? Part of the nervous system (system of nerves) that takes us out of fight or flight, (too much adrenaline/fight = adrenal fatigue) therefore it supports your digestion, sleep, blood flow and sexual response, oh so now your interested eh?

❤ It can help reduce pain & inflammation – I love working with peeps that are ready to commit to being pain free, you deserve to be.

❤ It can increase your movement in your joints and muscles – yipsters

❤ It provides freedom to do what you love to do, but pain free!

❤ It can support healing of trauma from old & new acute injuries

❤ It can relieve back pain, sciatica and spinal problems, see some of my case studies here.

❤ It can ease joint pain and restrictions

❤ It can ease respiratory conditions

❤ It can help pre and post recovery of an operation

❤ It can ease sports injuries, such as a pulled hamstring, athletes such as Michael Owen, Jonny Wilkinson and Bear Grylls have all received Bowen treatments.

❤ You become more aware of your weaker areas after receiving a treatment and what your body is supported by to prevent injury from happening again.

❤ It improves posture – over time and from repeated moves, fascia becomes sticky and restricted. Fascia is a web like substance which surrounds all the muscles, ligaments and joints. With Bowen Technique, we work to free up fascia, this supports to unwind, restrictions and free up compensation patterns, providing a straighter, freer, lighter you.

❤Its a nice relaxing way to receive alignment as opposed to through strong alignment manipulation – some manipulation therapies require forcing bones back to alignment but often this is stressful and dosent hold, with bowen, your body receives the moves and processes where to make the changes,  realigning itself in a relaxing way.

❤ It encourages the bodies own self-healing mechanism, so your body does its own healing – Bodies are so clever and many of us don’t really understand how they work or how connected they are, in bowen when we make a move all the stretch receptors in the skin tissue and the brain are communicating.

Bowen cons

❤ It is a lighter touch and it’s not hands on all the time, so those used to hands on all the time massage, might feel a bit like they want more squidging. Would you ask your dentist or osteopath for a massage? No, the same with Bowen its a technique to support those that need help and there is no need to fluff it up, however it is still relaxing, I often do some lovely moves around the face and feet for extra relaxation.

❤ Some can find it hard to understand how it works, if its not painful or hands on all the time. A lot of us are used to the idea that you need to feel pain to see an improvement, whilst its perfect to choose what you see best supports you, this is a myth that you need to feel pain to see improvement. Like many of our beliefs and systems in society, they can be a bit out dated. So, I also am very patience to educate and introduce those that are already and wiling to re-education in how we take care of ourselves. 

So, to conclude I hope I explained some of the many benefits of Bowen, its a relatively unheard of treatment, but the effects are so incredible.

Book a bowen treatment here

Fascia Release Technique – What is Fascia and How it Impacts Your Health

Fascia Release Technique – What is Fascia and How it Impacts Your Health

Fascia release technique, otherwise known as Bowen Therapy.

Every cell in our body has its own electromagnetic field and each field pulses at different vibrations. Each cellular structure is surrounded by fascia. Fascia is like a web that wraps around all our cells, organs, bones, muscles, tendons, tissues, vessels. It acts like a telephone with many lines that are constantly transmitting and receiving. It is predominantly collagen, which has a characteristic of toughening when under stress.

Every bit of you is encased in it. You are protected by fascia, connected by fascia and kept in taut human shape by fascia.

Fascia is messy stuff, its hard to study, its so expansive and intertwined it resists the medical standard of being cut up and named for textbook illustrations, its more subtle that that of the other body systems.

Fascia is what composes over 80% of what we consider muscle tissue. Trauma, daily life and repetitive motions or positions can create fascial restrictions in your body. Imagine the amount of time per day we spend badly sitting at our desks or driving, over time this compensation takes hold.

Lack of activity will cement the once supple fibres into place. Chronic stress causes the fibers to thicken in an attempt to protect the underlying muscle. Poor posture and lack of flexibility and repetitive movements pull the fascia into ingrained patterns.

The picture below is taken from the book Anatomy Trains, by Thomas W. Myers. It is a beautiful illustration showing the different colours of fascial lines. You can see that the jaw has a close link to the pelvis and also runs through the digestive meridian. You can also see the knees are connected to the shoulders. This demonstrates why we sometimes have pain, restriction in one area, but it shows in another area. our body is a beautiful connected fascia web.

How to take care of your fascia

♥Move! Sticky adhesions form between fascial surfaces that are not regularly moved and over time these adhesions get strong enough to inhibit range of motion.

♥Drink plenty of water, it is made up of water and is happier when wet, if dehydrated, this will dehydrate. We loose so much water each day through sweat, urine and filtering out toxins.

♥Stretch for 1-3 minutes and relax into the stretch. When muscles are chronically tight, the surrounding fascia tightens along with them. Over time the fascia becomes rigid compressing the muscles and the nerves.

♥Epsom salt baths for up to 20 mins can loosen up tight muscles and fascia.

♥Use a foam roller to help free up tightness, take it slowly and gently.

♥If you are not seeing improvements or have a niggling injury, new or old, then see a therapist that can deliver fascia release technique, like a Bowen therapist, which is what I love to treat with. This will uncoil, relax fascia, soothe pain and provide more mobility. 

Bowen work is a gentle but powerful technique that works by balancing the ANS, which controls more than 80% of our bodily functions.

Bowen technique realises it is also working with our energy systems, not just the central nervous system but our meridians, which are like rivers that dissect our fascia, organs and all body matter.

♥Listen to your body, if you have an injury perhaps best to not push yourself but to do gentle exercise that benefits, rather than harms further.

Contact me here to book a fascia release technique treatment.

 

Loss of Libido in Menopause

Menopause and Hormone Balancing

I share an introduction to hormone balancing, including offering support with loss of libido in menopause.

During menopause there is an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone, both of these need to be balanced in equal amounts in the body, as they support each other (although have very different roles).

When menses stops, the GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) located in the brain’s hypothalamus can become overactive, producing symptoms, as the ovaries are not doing their usual job of producing estrogen and progesterone, as part of menses. Therefore symptoms occur and yes you can feel irritable, miserable, depressed, strange, cranky, grief, loss of libido in menopause and many more stories spiral out in the mind and body.

It’s important to know you are not alone, you never need to collapse in to any stories, your body is in need of some support, so reach out.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) the most conventional method of treatment, doesn’t always work for everyone and can have side effects. 

Hormone balancing or hormone release technique works naturally without synthetic hormones through relaxation, nudging the body gently into harmony.

Alignment takes place over the coccyx and TMJ, which support the pituitary gland & hypothalamus to soften & regulate. The ovaries & uterus are also worked over to provide a balanced happy body (these points are accessed over the abdomen in a non-invasive way) 

Bowen works directly over fascia, a web like substance that surrounds all tissues, cells, muscles & joints.

I would advise asking your doctor for a salivary hormone test, to detect which hormone you are deficient in. Very few western women are deficient in estrogen, at menopause estrogen levels reduce from 40 to 60% but progesterone falls to zero! Both of these are needed to be addressed. Symptoms are also a great way to detect hormone balance:-

Estrogen Deficiency Symptoms

Vaginal dryness

Hot flushes

UTI

Small doses of estrogen may help

Estrogen Excess Symptoms

Weight gain

Water retention 

Breast swelling

Headaches 

Hypertension 

Insomnia 

Mood swings

Anxiety 

Symptoms supported with Bowen Technique are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, mood swings, tender breasts, insomnia, anxiety, migraines, bladder weakness and incontinence.

Typically treatments are 1 week apart, with a reduction of symptoms this then is 2-4 weeks apart.

Contact me to schedule a free consultation to see if this is the right programme for you.

 

I just want to be taken care of

How do I care for you?

Yep, you’ve guessed it, I love caring and I would love to break down all the ways I care for you during a treatment with me.

Aroma diffuser – I always hand pick an essential oil to create a relaxing, amazing smelling therapy space for you.

The music I play is super relaxing as it is created by a pianist for relaxing treatments, but the pianist is meditating whilst playing, so that carries a soothing relaxing power, yeah.

I have an extra wide comfy high grade couch for you to recline on or zzzzzz on.  Often people say, “I could just fall asleep already”

The therapy room has a chilled ambience carefully created to be super cosy and relaxing.

Eco friendly treatment space

I ask direct and clear questions in the consultation to look together whats needed to fully support you.

I have an understanding of many therapies, which means I can bring all different skills to the table.

I have a natural healing gift – (received from my nan)

I aim to reply to you within 24 hours

From the moment you walk through the door, throughout the treatment and after you leave, I am totally present and focused on supporting your health with all of my skills. (kind and caring are my big strengths)

I practice an ancient mind relaxation technique from a guru, so I hold a stable mind and presence and can see things clearly and that helps others to relax too.

Happy being with guru

I take time to care for myself to be the best therapist – (reading up, evaluating, upgrading, spas, pilates, fresh air, dancing, sleeping, good food, hydrated, receiving treatments myself)

I only offer bespoke treatments just for you.

I love caring and treating people.

I do all that I can to support someone, yet I encourage self care empowerment. 

I am very in tune with people’s bodies (feedback from clients)

I’m happy to share that I treat in an eco-friendly home, see my green policy here.

I have amazing listening skills, and I truly love to meet you where you are at, understand and support you.

Caring for you listening

I have a BSc Health Sciences degree in Complementary Therapies (hons) now I’m just showing off, but this is more for you to understand, how much I value my work and would love to support you. 

I love working with clients who are:

  • tired, stressed out, in need of some pampering and relaxation.
  • have back, neck or shoulder pain/injury/restriction and need some realignment.
  • struggling with menopausal symptoms and would like some hormonal balancing.

Contact me here for more information or to book a treatment.

Caring for you, an A to Z guide

Caring for you, an A to Z guide

In case you didnt know, caring for you, is one of my biggest passions, relaxing, squidging, aligning and supporting people to take good care of their health is soooo important. 

A – AROMATHERAPY I love essential oils, their unique aroma & powerful health properties. I create a tailor made blend & place them in an oil to soothe your aches & pains with the benefits of massage or place them in a moisturiser.

B – BOWEN TECHNIQUE an amazing realignment technique to support posture, free up tension, muscular restrictions, support healing injuries & pain reduction. It is very relaxing & can support with stress & wellbeing too.

Bowen technique back care

C – CARING my biggest strength, I love, caring for you & I am totally here to support you with any health & wellbeing needs you have.

D – DETOX Bowen Technique can support to detox & de-stress. Reflexology can ease up uric acid & calcium deposits, which are natural waste products in the forms of crystals which are deposited on the feet.

E – EARS support our respiratory system, hearing & balance. Bowen can ease congestion symptoms & relieve blocked sinuses with amazing lymphatic drainage moves around the ear, jaw, forehead & neck.

Caring for you listening

F – FASCIA an amazing web like substance that surrounds all our muscles, ligaments, cells & organs. Bowen works over fascia, when a move is made, the stretch receptors send impulses to the brain which communicates to the specific muscles, resetting them to an original blueprint & providing realignment.

G – GALLBLADDER in Bowen Technique there is direct move over this super fat digesting organ, freeing up restriction & supporting with gallstones. I also support with diet/lifestyle tips such as reducing a fatty diet.

H – HOT STONES they are hot & get in nice & deep to the muscles. They also are great for supporting with detoxing the body.

I – INSOMNIA which happens to all of us & I would love to support you to ensure you have a nice bedtime routine. A relaxing treatment can ensure your body is in a balanced state.

J – JOJOBA OIL a great oil for oily skin. My fav is to combine it with Patchouli & Geranium, which balances the natural sebum production that the skin produces.

K – KIDNEYS Bowen Technique has an ace Kidney procedure which works directly over this incredible filtering organ to support with stress reduction & lower back pain. Reflexology can work over the Kidney/adrenal glands to support you working at your best.

L – LIVER get your Milk Thistle in pre & post drinking to cleanse your liver with any toxins. PS don’t drink more, this is a support as well as moderate drinking & drinking water into between alcoholic drinks.

M – MOISTURISE no matter what treatment you book in for, I can check out your skin & create a tailor homemade natural moisturiser for you with SPF 25 in whooo, go skin go!

N – NATURAL, O ORGANIC OIL whoo natural and organic oil benefiting our skin, reducing the impact on our liver has in detoxing products & supporting the environment. Orange flower facial oil, get a load of that rubbed into your skin smells so good!

P – PELVIS often this can be misaligned from poor posture, accident/injury or even childbirth. This often goes hand in hand with jaw misalignment & lower back pain. Bowen technique has a great move which can support alignment, also benefiting your knees & ankles too, as well as supporting the lymphatic system to flow freely.

Q – QUALITY from the towels, the treatment bed, the music you hear, the products you smell, the colour scheme, the health questions asked, the picture on the ceiling as you like back, all is considered to support you fully & provide a quality treatment & experience.

Relaxing eco-friendly treatment room

R – RELAXATION plays an important part in health & wellbeing, being able to relax with all thoughts and emotions is something that has greatly enhanced my health. Bright.how is an amazing support network, which I highly recommend. Relaxation & taking time out for you to support your body is such a support to you and to everyone else.

S – SUPPORT I am here to support you with your health & wellbeing using all my tips and tricks that I know. It might be Bowen Technique, Aromatherapy, Hot Stones, Reflexology, Reiki, or a Luxury Facial.

T – TMJ an amazing move in Bowen Technique that can support with pre/post dental surgery, dizziness, colds/respiratory problems, releasing stress in jaw, providing realignment in the body, especially to your pelvis, as the jaw is connected to the pelvis via fascia.

U – U BE YOU I love to encourage you to be as you are & focus on your loves.

V – VERY NICE TREATMENTS 🙂

W – WATER which hydrates fascia to stay fluid & provide mobility, often after a treatment you feel thirsty because it’s like having a workout & allows toxins stored in the body to be eliminated. Your body loses up to 2 litres of H20 a day with very little expenditure, so that’s a reason to drink H20.

X – XMAS GIFTS get your gifts here, for you or a friend, go on treat yourself & de-stress.

Y – YOU I love caring for you & tailoring the treatment to you so you can receive the best care to support your health.

Z – ZZZ relaxing treatments aid the body being in a balance & support you to sleep better.

Contact me here to book a treatment.