What is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen is a soft tissue remedial therapy, which is non-intrusive and very effective.
A “Bowen move” is a gentle cross-fibre movement performed on specific body areas, to relax connective tissue and allow the body to regulate and heal itself.
A Bowen treatment affects the body in many complex ways promoting healing, pain relief, stress relief and recovery of energy.
The experience of the treatment is typically gentle, subtle and relaxing and it is these features that make Bowen Therapy unique.
Bowen therapy addresses the body as a whole unit, rather than only addressing symptoms.
It can be used on new-born babies to the frail elderly.
Patients typically start seeing results after one or 2 sessions.
A “Bowen move” is a gentle cross-fibre movement performed on specific body areas, to relax connective tissue and allow the body to regulate and heal itself.
A Bowen treatment affects the body in many complex ways promoting healing, pain relief, stress relief and recovery of energy.
The experience of the treatment is typically gentle, subtle and relaxing and it is these features that make Bowen Therapy unique.
Bowen therapy addresses the body as a whole unit, rather than only addressing symptoms.
It can be used on new-born babies to the frail elderly.
Patients typically start seeing results after one or 2 sessions.
New Beginnings with Barbara Swiatkiwsky Bowen
If you've heard of Bowen Therapy but aren't sure what it involves, this blog (written by one of my clients) provides the perfect introduction! Whether you're a practitioner, recipient of Bowen therapy or new to the whole thing - Leah's story proves that Bowen is for everyone. Read on for a unique insight from someone that had never experienced Bowen, and how it helped her achieve her wellness goals
As a self-confessed workaholic in my mid-twenties, I’m probably not the healthiest of clients to walk through the door of Barbara Swiatkiwsky’s Bowen practice in West Preston. My Brunswick diet involves a fair few burgers, I enjoy a drink here and there and my fitness regime is limited to taking leisurely walks. I’d been struggling to improve my wellbeing when I heard about Barbara through some shared networks, and after watching some of her vibrant videos, I decided to give Bowen therapy a go.
Getting to the crux of the issue
I’d opted for a five-session package because I was looking for some long-term solutions, and let’s be honest – if you’re going to do something, do it right.
Barbara took some time to get a good understanding of my lifestyle and health goals. It really boiled down to two main things: I was starting a new exercise regime with a goal of walking 5km, three times per week, and I didn’t want it to hurt. I also wanted to improve my posture, as I was developing some pretty bad back strain due to my desk job.
I got some good advice about the way I sit and move at work, then Barbara provided a ‘foundation’ treatment, testing certain muscles and focusing on my hamstrings and sacrum to relieve lower back aches. It felt great! My walks following the treatment were comfortable – I didn’t experience the usual pain in my calf muscles, so I was excited to see what the second session could do.
A definite improvement
I was pleased to inform Barbara of my improvement, small though it was, as I wasn’t expecting any signs of change until further into the treatment. I’d even chucked an extra kilometre on my last walk for the week, and was more conscious of my seating position at work. Keeping in the region of the lower back, Barbara extended my Bowen treatment to the pelvic area, with particular attention to my hip flexors. She would occasionally type out notes – I could tell that she was closely observing my progress and tailoring her approach based on the results she was seeing.
OK, so why doesn’t everyone know about Bowen therapy?
When I came back for the third session (I really could get used to weekly treatments!) Barbara asked me if I’d noticed anything about my body, and come to think of it, I hadn’t. ‘Nothing?’ she asked, ‘no pain, no strains?’ and the answer was no! I hadn’t noticed that I was feeling fine. That’s when it struck me – I’d only been listening to my body in a negative way, when it was experiencing difficulty. That’s when I allowed myself to start feeling great.
Session four arrived and I was pleased to report that I’d clocked 12km walking around Moomba Festival and not even noticed. Sure, I was tired, but my legs had simply carried me around all day without complaint. I thought that was pretty cool. Barbara did some specialty work on my TMJ (that’s my temporal mandibular joint) because I was getting a few headaches, probably from staring long hours at a screen. I’m a creative consultant and I love my job, but I still get a bit carried away sometimes.
Final session
I was still getting a few headaches, so Barbara decided to whip out the big guns. Intra-oral TMJ work is a form of Bowen therapy that is performed from inside the mouth – but it’s not as unpleasant as it sounds! Wearing gloves, she was able to conduct a few short, expertly-planned manouvers around my jaw area. They didn’t hurt, and while I experienced a slight clicking in my jaw the next day – my headaches went away within three days and I haven’t experienced them since (its been quite a few months).
Capping all this off, it should be noted that not everyone will experience Bowen Therapy as I did. Some people will become tired after a session, others invigorated! My advice is to trust Barbara to strategise the best treatment for you – her pragmatic approach is great for people that don’t pay a lot of attention to their bodies but need professional advice to take some positive steps toward improvement. Her way of communicating, along with her general demeanor, is very amicable. You can tell that she likes people, and is very accepting of everyone. She’s also highly experienced with treating a range of body types. If you’re curious about Bowen therapy and think it could help you, I urge you to give Barbara a call! She’s super passionate and I’m sure she’ll be happy to provide a simple introductory session and overview if you’re not ready to opt for the five-session package. Good luck!
Leah Morris, April 2016
As a self-confessed workaholic in my mid-twenties, I’m probably not the healthiest of clients to walk through the door of Barbara Swiatkiwsky’s Bowen practice in West Preston. My Brunswick diet involves a fair few burgers, I enjoy a drink here and there and my fitness regime is limited to taking leisurely walks. I’d been struggling to improve my wellbeing when I heard about Barbara through some shared networks, and after watching some of her vibrant videos, I decided to give Bowen therapy a go.
Getting to the crux of the issue
I’d opted for a five-session package because I was looking for some long-term solutions, and let’s be honest – if you’re going to do something, do it right.
Barbara took some time to get a good understanding of my lifestyle and health goals. It really boiled down to two main things: I was starting a new exercise regime with a goal of walking 5km, three times per week, and I didn’t want it to hurt. I also wanted to improve my posture, as I was developing some pretty bad back strain due to my desk job.
I got some good advice about the way I sit and move at work, then Barbara provided a ‘foundation’ treatment, testing certain muscles and focusing on my hamstrings and sacrum to relieve lower back aches. It felt great! My walks following the treatment were comfortable – I didn’t experience the usual pain in my calf muscles, so I was excited to see what the second session could do.
A definite improvement
I was pleased to inform Barbara of my improvement, small though it was, as I wasn’t expecting any signs of change until further into the treatment. I’d even chucked an extra kilometre on my last walk for the week, and was more conscious of my seating position at work. Keeping in the region of the lower back, Barbara extended my Bowen treatment to the pelvic area, with particular attention to my hip flexors. She would occasionally type out notes – I could tell that she was closely observing my progress and tailoring her approach based on the results she was seeing.
OK, so why doesn’t everyone know about Bowen therapy?
When I came back for the third session (I really could get used to weekly treatments!) Barbara asked me if I’d noticed anything about my body, and come to think of it, I hadn’t. ‘Nothing?’ she asked, ‘no pain, no strains?’ and the answer was no! I hadn’t noticed that I was feeling fine. That’s when it struck me – I’d only been listening to my body in a negative way, when it was experiencing difficulty. That’s when I allowed myself to start feeling great.
Session four arrived and I was pleased to report that I’d clocked 12km walking around Moomba Festival and not even noticed. Sure, I was tired, but my legs had simply carried me around all day without complaint. I thought that was pretty cool. Barbara did some specialty work on my TMJ (that’s my temporal mandibular joint) because I was getting a few headaches, probably from staring long hours at a screen. I’m a creative consultant and I love my job, but I still get a bit carried away sometimes.
Final session
I was still getting a few headaches, so Barbara decided to whip out the big guns. Intra-oral TMJ work is a form of Bowen therapy that is performed from inside the mouth – but it’s not as unpleasant as it sounds! Wearing gloves, she was able to conduct a few short, expertly-planned manouvers around my jaw area. They didn’t hurt, and while I experienced a slight clicking in my jaw the next day – my headaches went away within three days and I haven’t experienced them since (its been quite a few months).
Capping all this off, it should be noted that not everyone will experience Bowen Therapy as I did. Some people will become tired after a session, others invigorated! My advice is to trust Barbara to strategise the best treatment for you – her pragmatic approach is great for people that don’t pay a lot of attention to their bodies but need professional advice to take some positive steps toward improvement. Her way of communicating, along with her general demeanor, is very amicable. You can tell that she likes people, and is very accepting of everyone. She’s also highly experienced with treating a range of body types. If you’re curious about Bowen therapy and think it could help you, I urge you to give Barbara a call! She’s super passionate and I’m sure she’ll be happy to provide a simple introductory session and overview if you’re not ready to opt for the five-session package. Good luck!
Leah Morris, April 2016
Marie speaks about living with ongoing pain
"Having been diagnosed with a degenerating spinal injury and told that it is not a matter of if but when I would end up in a wheelchair I had to find something or someone to help prolong this outcome and relieve some of the pain I was in, I found that when I went to see a few Chiropractors and Physiotherapists to discuss any treatment their reply to me was that they can’t risk working on my back, it is too dangerous, so the soreness and stiffness got worse and the strength of pain got stronger, until one day out of the blue I discovered Barbara and Bowen therapy at a women’s festival and from the first treatment I knew I was on to something good.
Barbara and I worked together initially to discover what works the best for my body, we have discovered that a combination of Bowen and Remedial therapies brings about the best results. I now see Barbara for maintenance treatment, and find that an hour every 4 weeks keeps me moving, I must admit the next day sometimes feels like having gone 10 rounds in a boxing ring but within 2/3 days I feel like a new person, It is not only me that feels the difference but family and friends will often comment on the difference in my posture from walking in a stooped position to walking up straight.
There is definitely a difference with this treatment and I rarely need to take any pain relief.” Click to read another.
"Having been diagnosed with a degenerating spinal injury and told that it is not a matter of if but when I would end up in a wheelchair I had to find something or someone to help prolong this outcome and relieve some of the pain I was in, I found that when I went to see a few Chiropractors and Physiotherapists to discuss any treatment their reply to me was that they can’t risk working on my back, it is too dangerous, so the soreness and stiffness got worse and the strength of pain got stronger, until one day out of the blue I discovered Barbara and Bowen therapy at a women’s festival and from the first treatment I knew I was on to something good.
Barbara and I worked together initially to discover what works the best for my body, we have discovered that a combination of Bowen and Remedial therapies brings about the best results. I now see Barbara for maintenance treatment, and find that an hour every 4 weeks keeps me moving, I must admit the next day sometimes feels like having gone 10 rounds in a boxing ring but within 2/3 days I feel like a new person, It is not only me that feels the difference but family and friends will often comment on the difference in my posture from walking in a stooped position to walking up straight.
There is definitely a difference with this treatment and I rarely need to take any pain relief.” Click to read another.
Conditions that Typically Respond Well to Bowen
- Sports and accident injuries
- Clicking jaw/grinding teeth
- Headaches, migraines and dizziness
- Back/neck pain
- Leg, ankle and foot problems
- Organic complaints including respiratory, digestive, menstrual and hormonal
- Sciatica
- Shoulder & arm problems (including carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Hamstring/knee problems
- Most pain disorders including fibromyalgia
For more information on Bowen Therapy please see the
Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia
Demonstration of Bowen Therapy in Action
Learn Bowen Therapy
with Barbara Swiatkiwsky
If you are an experienced therapist seeking to add a new technique to your tool kit OR an interested amateur with a desire to explore the world of manual therapy, I invite you to check out my 1 and 2 day Intro to ISBT Style Bowen Therapy.
Watch this short video to hear from 4 women who completed my training....
If you are an experienced therapist seeking to add a new technique to your tool kit OR an interested amateur with a desire to explore the world of manual therapy, I invite you to check out my 1 and 2 day Intro to ISBT Style Bowen Therapy.
Watch this short video to hear from 4 women who completed my training....
Links to Research
What is fascia?
Fascia refers to the 3D web of connective tissue that holds all our muscles, bones and organs in place and allows us to move. Thomas Myers gives a great description - click on his youtube video to listen yourself.
Fascia refers to the 3D web of connective tissue that holds all our muscles, bones and organs in place and allows us to move. Thomas Myers gives a great description - click on his youtube video to listen yourself.
Bowen & Fascia
Bowen Therapy is a cross fibre technique that initiates a reaction in the subcutaneous structure called Fascia. Under our skin there are no spaces, except the windpipe that is held open by cartilage for the purpose of breathing. Potential spaces exist such as the vagina or the bowel that have the capacity to expand and contract when required. There is space between the skin and the muscles, and the organs and the muscles, which is filled by fascia.
Fascia is the subcutaneous interstitial ‘sea’ through which hormones, nutrients, water and minerals are distributed around the body in response to the moment-by-moment requirements of homeostasis. Understanding how fascia works is the key to understanding the subcutaneous molecular biology that occurs during a Bowen treatment. Fascia is a protein substance that closely resembles the white of an egg and is made up of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. If the egg is fresh the egg white has a ‘plump’ appearance and when the egg is ‘old’ the egg white appears to run freely in the pan, coating the pan with a thin clear layer of protein. Fascia follows the same aging pattern and it behaves similarly to egg white albumin. When we are healthy and young fascia has a plump appearance that prevents lines from forming in the skin. Aging is a dehydration process affecting the way the body manages the lipid layer of the cell membrane and how the fascia hydrates.
Fascia is also made up of collagen, elastin and reticulin fibres that look like ‘fibre glass’ fibres, a mat of thin strands that overlap. If we move the skin gently over specific areas, across the muscles rather than along muscle fibres, as is done in massage therapies, fascia changes consistency. Fascia is thixotropic and this ability to change consistency influences tensegrity between the muscles, bones and connective tissue. During this process the body has an opportunity to bring in water and move fascia into or out of an area that may have been ‘glued’ due to friction, injury or, most often, by heat. The process of cooking the egg protein allows us to see the protein molecules fusing together and the fibres binding into a solid mass. This is what happens when we overheat our bodies or they are injured in some way. Any heat that turns our body pink is ‘gluing’ fascia and blocking channels for hydration in the body.
Printed and published by The International School of Bowen Therapy (ISBT) ©Copyright Eleanor Oyston
Bowen Therapy is a cross fibre technique that initiates a reaction in the subcutaneous structure called Fascia. Under our skin there are no spaces, except the windpipe that is held open by cartilage for the purpose of breathing. Potential spaces exist such as the vagina or the bowel that have the capacity to expand and contract when required. There is space between the skin and the muscles, and the organs and the muscles, which is filled by fascia.
Fascia is the subcutaneous interstitial ‘sea’ through which hormones, nutrients, water and minerals are distributed around the body in response to the moment-by-moment requirements of homeostasis. Understanding how fascia works is the key to understanding the subcutaneous molecular biology that occurs during a Bowen treatment. Fascia is a protein substance that closely resembles the white of an egg and is made up of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. If the egg is fresh the egg white has a ‘plump’ appearance and when the egg is ‘old’ the egg white appears to run freely in the pan, coating the pan with a thin clear layer of protein. Fascia follows the same aging pattern and it behaves similarly to egg white albumin. When we are healthy and young fascia has a plump appearance that prevents lines from forming in the skin. Aging is a dehydration process affecting the way the body manages the lipid layer of the cell membrane and how the fascia hydrates.
Fascia is also made up of collagen, elastin and reticulin fibres that look like ‘fibre glass’ fibres, a mat of thin strands that overlap. If we move the skin gently over specific areas, across the muscles rather than along muscle fibres, as is done in massage therapies, fascia changes consistency. Fascia is thixotropic and this ability to change consistency influences tensegrity between the muscles, bones and connective tissue. During this process the body has an opportunity to bring in water and move fascia into or out of an area that may have been ‘glued’ due to friction, injury or, most often, by heat. The process of cooking the egg protein allows us to see the protein molecules fusing together and the fibres binding into a solid mass. This is what happens when we overheat our bodies or they are injured in some way. Any heat that turns our body pink is ‘gluing’ fascia and blocking channels for hydration in the body.
Printed and published by The International School of Bowen Therapy (ISBT) ©Copyright Eleanor Oyston
Fibroblasts & Bowen
Fibroblasts are connective cells in the fascia. They can contract and to communicate with one another. They are a source of nociceptive (pain information) and proprioceptive (where you are in space) information which is useful for proper functioning of the body system.
First: When we apply mechanical tension to fascia, for example we apply a Bowen move, the fibroblasts can rapidly remodel their cytoskeletons - in just a few moments - flattening themselves, which leads to a lengthening of the tissue we call fascia.
Result: We move more comfortably.
Secondly: When the fibroblast flattens, water is squeezed out. When it returns to it's original shape it draws in more water than before. This changes the flow of liquids in the fascia. Which leads to the pressure around the nerve endings (in the fascia) becoming less.
Result: We feel less pain.
Thirdly: Fibroblasts produce hyaluronic acid. Although that sounds dangerous, HA actually ensures an optimal viscous and elastic environment in the fascia. It's a natural lubrication.
Result: We move more comfortably.
Summary of review article by Barbara Swiatkiwsky
Full Review Article
Fibroblasts are connective cells in the fascia. They can contract and to communicate with one another. They are a source of nociceptive (pain information) and proprioceptive (where you are in space) information which is useful for proper functioning of the body system.
First: When we apply mechanical tension to fascia, for example we apply a Bowen move, the fibroblasts can rapidly remodel their cytoskeletons - in just a few moments - flattening themselves, which leads to a lengthening of the tissue we call fascia.
Result: We move more comfortably.
Secondly: When the fibroblast flattens, water is squeezed out. When it returns to it's original shape it draws in more water than before. This changes the flow of liquids in the fascia. Which leads to the pressure around the nerve endings (in the fascia) becoming less.
Result: We feel less pain.
Thirdly: Fibroblasts produce hyaluronic acid. Although that sounds dangerous, HA actually ensures an optimal viscous and elastic environment in the fascia. It's a natural lubrication.
Result: We move more comfortably.
Summary of review article by Barbara Swiatkiwsky
Full Review Article
