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No Razzle Dazzle
This is what you can expect at a Bowen session, just the facts, mam. Appointments are prompt and first visits are scheduled for an hour and a half so that all your questions can be answered with plenty of time for a relaxing session. Spouses or parents are welcome to sit in as part of the consultation process if the client wishes.
You will be asked to go through a checklist form for areas and conditions that are currently problems (x) or were significant in the past (o). It takes people about five minutes to complete because it is just a checklist, and does not require a list of medications or detailed information. It is divided into these sections.
Musculoskeletal: Neck, shoulders, arms, hips, knees, etc.
Systemic: Arthritis, dyslexia, skin disorders, fibromyalgia, etc
Head: Dizziness, vertigo, headaches, migraines, ear, teeth grinding etc.
Reproductive / Urinary: Bladder, incontinence, PMS, menopause, etc.
Circulatory: Blood pressure, heart, kidneys, varicose veins, etc
Digestion: Constipation, heart burn, weight issues, IBS, etc.
Respiratory: Asthma, allergies, cough, lung congestion, etc.
Spirit: Depression, emotional overload, energy stimulant, etc.
(See Health Intake for the full version)
Your x’s and o’s are entered into a computer program that I developed to cross reference these issues with Bowen procedures that are known to have positive effects. I have you pull up a chair next to me as we prioritize your primary concerns and talk about what is going on with you, answer your questions, and decide what approach best suits your needs. Assessments of structural conditions are then done if necessary but much of that information comes out during the procedural process.
With Bowenwork™ the procedures are like puzzle pieces to the problem. In the first session the basic three balance the system and put the edges around it. This alone may be all the body needs to swing into the desired action. This full body balancing approach not only opens the conversation gently but it lets the body prioritize its own needs. In a second session obvious choices are used to focus into areas of high need, all with no harm or pain. If results are limited then additional choices are directed at areas where the body may have changed to accommodate injuries. These areas could be anchoring the apparent problem and not allowing it to resolve.
Once a plan has been developed you move into an adjoining room where you lie face down on a soft, wide table. Special cushions are used if you have a problem with turning your head from side to side to stay comfortable. The work is done through your clothing but shorts should be worn and are provided if needed.
I will allow you to settle in for a minute or two, return to the room to start a series of four gentle, rolling moves with my thumbs on your low back that follow your breathing pattern. The first set activates a parasympathetic response that relaxes your whole body. It is not necessary that you feel anything during the work for it to be successful and some people simply fall asleep. If there are sensations anywhere in your body, including emotional ones, then it is best to allow them to play through before we add more information. Too much information or adding it to fast can cause the brain to be overloaded and resist the process, with no harm but also reduced benefit.
After each set of moves I will leave the room for a couple of minutes so you can assimilate that phase of the process, undisturbed. This routine continues after you have rolled to your back. I will then assist you to a seated position and we will make sure that you are stable before putting your weight equally on both feet to get up. In some cases procedures continue when you are seated or standing.
If the shoulder or hip procedure has been used I will give you a handout and demonstrate the movement series that you will be asked to do daily to enhance the work, free up and align those areas. These movements are only one set of six repetitions that are done in the pain free range.
I will then review a handout that covers the do’s and don’ts after the session. The do’s and don’ts involve walking, drinking water and waiting before using heat or ice or receiving any other type of bodywork that could disrupt or stop the Bowen process.
For the next five to ten days your body will be resetting and “remembering how to heal”.
There are many subtle nuances in both intuitive and operational skills as a Bowen therapist and health educator. That’s my job and I love it. Your part in the process is 80% showing up and 20% giving it a chance. You will find Bowenwork™ a healing and rewarding experience that improves your quality of life. Call 707-447-5696 for a free consultation or visit Bowenwellness.com for information including testimonials from your neighbors.
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