Bowen therapy is performed with the clothes on, [loose fitting, or shorts and tee-shirt]. It is best done with the client in a prone followed by supine position, but it can be done sitting or standing. A series of “moves” are made over the muscles in certain locations with the fingers or thumbs. The moves are made in a specific order, in designated places, and in the best direction to obtain maximum results. The moves are very much like plucking a guitar string. Once plucked, the muscles and tendons vibrate from one end to the other, and from outside to inside. Subsequently, the muscle – tendon releases its holding pattern. Holding patterns occur in order to protect us from further injury. If you had a whip-lash injury once upon a time, chances are, when you look in the rear-view mirror and see a car coming upon your rear end while stopped at a stop light, you will instinctively tighten you neck to brace yourself from another injury. Those of us who have never experienced a whip-lash, in the same scenario, hopes that the guy stops in time. We remain en’guarde to protect against further traumas, which in turn is detrimental to our health. Additionally, many of the moves are made over many “extraordinary” and “main meridian points”, and along the meridian pathways. A group of moves make up a procedure. Most procedures contain a part “A” and a part “B”. There are “rest periods” between moves, or parts A & B. These rests allow for the release of the primarily tightened muscles, the compensated muscles, the fascia, and the energy released from the entrapped compartments to do their thing. Since many of the “moves” are along the meridian pathways, obstructions which were removed by the “moves” allow for the free flow of Qi, [life force]. The basic relaxation procedures are located in the lower back, the upper back and shoulders, and the neck. Theses moves over the nodal points probably release endorphins. Endorphins have been discovered by a researcher, Candace Pert, PhD., to be the connecting link between the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems. Tom Bowen concluded that 80% of the people 80% of the time would improve with these 3 simple procedures. These procedures are imperative to perform prior to any other procedures.

 Upon the passing of Tom Bowen, as the family was cleaning out his office, they found a well worn Eastern Medicine book with the meridian and meridian point pages dog-eared. When the Bowen “moves” anatomical diagrams are superimposed with the meridian charts, you can see that many “moves” are over main and extraordinary points, and along the meridian pathways. These moves over the nodal points release endorphins among others. This could explain why many patients return a week or two later and comment, “I had a feeling of euphoria all day following the treatment. And, ever since, I’ve had a sense of well being”. Also, I have many students who have a treatment a day before an exam because they do better in testing recall and have better composure.

Basic Bowen procedures include:

• Lower back

• Upper back / shoulders

• Neck

• Kidney

• Hamstrings

• Respiratory

• Sacral

• Coccyx

• Knee

• Anterior pelvis

• Ankle

• Hay fever / allergy

• TMJ

• Shoulder

• Arm

• Headache

Advanced Bowen procedures include:

• Standing “Optional”

• Posterior pelvis

• Deep posterior tibial

• Sciatic

• Breast

• Cervical release

• Deep shoulder

• Anterior tibial

• Bunion

• Hammertoe

• Pudic and Vagus nerves

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