Bowen on animals

Bowen Therapy can benefit us in one way or another. However, not only can it help humans, but animals also! Yes, that’s right! You’re furry, animal friends can also benefit from the wonders of Bowen Therapy. So I would like to share with you some of the experiences I have had with treating animals.

When I started my first Bowen course I was at the vets for my own pet dog. While I was there I was looking at the anatomy chart for dogs and took note of their muscle structure. A couple of weeks later, I dropped into a friend’s house had run over his dog with the ute. Since the accident the dog wasn't coping too well in the hind legs. From memory of looking at the anatomy chart at the vets I performed some Bowen moves on the dog. As soon as I had done so she jumped straight up and ran off. According to my friend, he hadn't seen the dog move that quickly for months! So it had obviously done some good and both my friend and I assume the dog were pleased.

Another example of how Bowen Therapy can benefit animals is when I went over to a farmer’s property to treat one of his bulls. The bull walked with a limp and they didn’t know what he had done to himself. The bull was standing there in front of us, all tense and when I did the first two Bowen moves, he let out a deep breath and his whole body just relaxed. It was so funny we had to laugh! After the treatment the bulls step had lengthened by 6 inches! Over the next few days it improved even more and he ended up walking without a limp altogether. He only had the one treatment, but I’m sure if he had follow up treatments he would have improved even more.

Bowen works really well on animals and also baby’s because their minds are open. They don't have worries that can get in the way and block the healing process.

This coming August I finish the 2 year study of becoming an Equine Bowen Therapist.

Better known as EMRT.

As with humans with the equine you also have to do case studies.

Lucky I had some human clients who let me treat their horse and there have been some real good results.

One of the pony’s I treated will be competing in the Brisbane ekka again. They competed with him last year and he was in top form. Afterwards he kept going backwards for some unexplained reason.

After the 1^st treatment the owner told me she lounged him and he was moving again like he did in the show last year.

After the 2 follow up treatments he only got better and they are looking forward to competing with him again.

The trainer from Brisbane was very impressed.

So if you think your animal/pet could do with some Bowen, please give me a ring.

Martine you’re therapist

Mothers and babies

As the centre of gravity changes during pregnancy, so do the stresses on the spine. Many problems suffered during pregnancy may be directly related to the health of the spine. Common pregnancy pains are easily and gently relieved almost immediately with Bowen Therapy and is very relaxing for the expectant mother.

The spine and pelvis of an expectant mother are particularly vulnerable because of the stress of carrying an unborn baby. Hormonal changes make the pelvis suppler during the latter part of pregnancy. This is when the terrible back aches seem to not only intensify, but also appear more frequently as the baby gets heavier. The instability of the pelvis can lead to other strains being felt in the spine and supporting muscles and ligaments.

The process of childbirth puts tremendous stresses and strains on the musculoskeletal system.

Most procedures of Bowen Therapy can be performed on an expectant mother almost up until labour begins. After the mother has given birth. Bowen can be performed with a few hours. It helps to calm the body and aid the body in returning to its natural state, prior to pregnancy. 

The birth is one of the most traumatic processes a child will go through. The child is able to have bowen therapy within a day or so after birth. As it is so gentle, the child is barely aware of being treated. 

Bowen Therapy has proven to work wonderfully with Colic babies, it has helped treat Blue babies and it can help relax hyperactive children.

INFERTILITY

The Bowen Technique has an infertility programme for those couples trying to conceive who have had other problems ruled out. The success has been phenomenal with trials in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Bowen and Respiratory problems

 

Bowen Therapy is well known and documented for its efficacy in relieving pain and regaining function after sport injuries, computer related injuries, frozen shoulder and back pain – but there is a side of Bowen Therapy that few are aware of – its ability to shift and drain fluid in the body including the sinuses and the respiratory system.

The Bowen Technique is a gentle, light-touch therapy developed by Tom Bowen. Originally intended to help people suffering from muscular-skeletal problems, it has been shown to be very successful with many other conditions as well. It has proved to be very effective, on many occasions, for both adults and children suffering from asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Tom Bowen’s own wife suffered from severe asthma and was often hospitalised so he developed procedures that combat symptoms of congestion and restriction in the respiratory system. The seemingly subtle moves help to eliminate waste from the organs by stimulating innate healing mechanisms in the body. People often leave the sessions breathing more easily and comfortably, with symptoms subsiding within 2 days of the session.

Whatever the level of asthma, or similar respiratory problems, Bowen often seems to reduce the level of attack very quickly, and effectively.

As Bowen is both very gentle and non-invasive, there is no danger in using it with asthma and other respiratory conditions. The many cases treated have shown often to produce results very quickly which last. Often just a very few sessions will change the situation for the sufferer. As with any allergy, the avoidance of contact with the allergen is an essential part of the treatment. However, what Bowen does achieve very often is the release of tightness in the chest which aids both asthmatics and other respiratory sufferers.
Emergencies
The Bowen Asthma Release Move can help relieve attacks by releasing the diaphragm and easing tight chests and wheezing.

I often show clients how to perform this move it’s very easy and helpful when someone is having difficulty breathing or experiencing an asthma attack.

Sciatica

So what is Sciatica?

Sciatica is the general term for the pain involving the sciatic nerves. This pain can be caused by irritation or pressure on the nerve often near the base of the spine.

The sciatic nerves run all the way from the base of the spine to the foot in each leg and as such any associated pain can vary in its location ranging from the lower back all the way down to the foot.

The pain can be mild that comes and goes from the buttocks to your feet to being in constant agony that affects the ability to walk and stand properly. It may also cause a feeling of weakness in your legs and be worse moving about.

The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated (slipped) disc. The change in position of the disc presses on the sciatic nerve and is the beginning of the pain.

Temporary sciatica can be triggered by bad posture for example: by sitting incorrectly for long periods of times.

Sciatica is also quite common in the later stages of pregnancy when the increasing baby size puts pressure on the nerve.

The treatment of sciatica with the Bowen Technique has shown great improvement with most clients.  Many patients respond well in 3 – 4 sessions.

It’s worth trying Bowen because in many cases it has been known to trigger surprising and unexpected recoveries when nothing else has worked

Martine your Bowen Therapist

Psoas

It’s also called the Iliopsoas, but let's keep it simple so everyone understands.

 Tightness and swelling of the Psoas can cause pressure on the Sciatic and Femoral nerve which causes pain that can be felt in the low, mid back, pelvis, buttock, thigh, groin and genitals.

It is attached to the last 6 mobile vertebrae also called T12 to S5. Together with the Trapezius muscle that is attached to the spine from the Thoracic 12 (T12) to the base of the skull, these two muscles attach to and span the entire spine.

If the Psoas is tight it has a downwards pull so the vertebrae’s are being slightly pulled down, because the Trapezius shares the T12 with the Psoas it automatically gets pulled downwards as well and thus can cause problems in upper back and neck.

A short tight muscle that runs over a joint creates compression or pressure. The thinnest and weakest part of the disc is most likely to be damaged.

This weakening of the disc structures can cause a bulge or rupture, the so called slipped disc.

This slipped disc can then put pressure on the Sciatic nerve which is what we call that Sciatica.

So a problem with the Psoas can cause a bunch of problems from back, hip to neck and shoulder.

With Bowen we have a special procedure for the Psoas that can help relax the muscle.

Give Bowen Therapy a try and find out for yourself how it can help you and your wellbeing.

Martine your Bowen Therapist