WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A TREATMENT
Water
Please ensure that you drink at least 5 glasses of still water each day. Water is essential following a Bowen Technique treatment. After your treatment the body starts to increase blood supply to nerve endings which in turn affects the movement of lymph around the body. The effective functioning of these systems is entirely reliant on water and on average the recommendation is that everyone should drink at least two litres of water per day.
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Moving
In the days immediately following a Bowen Technique treatment, try not to sit still for more than 30 minutes at a time. A little walk around the room to have a stretch is all that is required to keep things moving.
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Responses
Responses to Bowen treatment may include hot and cold flushes, headaches, emotional release, thirst, tiredness and body aches and pains. These are all positive signs that the healing process is working. These responses usually clear after a few days.
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Exercise
Continue with any comfortable and gentle exercise regime that you already have, unless otherwise advised.
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Medication
Do not alter any medication or diet that has been prescribed for you.
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Heat/Cold
Do not use ice packs or heat pads during a course of Bowen treatment.
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Other Therapies
During the course of treatment with the Bowen Technique, do not receive another physical therapy such as reflexology, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture etc. for seven days before your Bowen Technique treatment, or within seven days of finishing Bowen Technique treatments. This is to ensure that the body is not overloaded with information or given differing therapeutic information to deal with at the same time.
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Questions
If you have any questions or wish to discuss anything, before or after your treatment,
WHY PERIODS OF REST
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The therapist starts the treatment by making a series of gentle rolling moves over soft tissue around the spine. In between these series of moves the client is left resting, for a few minutes, with the therapist outside the room. This allows the body to absorb the gentle moves that have been performed, giving the body time to make the subtle and fine adjustments which promote the healing process.
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The responses of the brain are central to understanding how the Bowen Technique works. The basic function of the brain is to receive information from our sensory organs and interpret this information. Well over half a million signals travel between the brain and the body every second. Whenever our senses are triggered, the brain reacts and creates an appropriate response.
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In the case of the unfamiliar moves made during a Bowen Technique treatment, the brain is unable to do this instantly and needs more information to form a response. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, is when the brain makes new neural connections in response to new stimuli. Which is why the therapist leaves the room to allow the body to rest as the brain decides how to react. The response is nearly always rapid and deep relaxation as the brain sends out a healing response.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A TREATMENT
The Bowen Technique is often referred to as a ‘fascial release technique’. This means that it works by stimulating the body’s fascia. The fascia is made up of the connective tissue which surrounds the muscles, organs and bones, which in turn facilitates movement and flexibility.
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Trauma, tension, scar tissue and dehydration can all inhibit free movement between the various parts of the body, and this can cause pain and discomfort. It is important to remember that it is the fascia, along with our muscles, tendons and ligaments, that holds our skeleton in place and not the other way around. Essentially, we are able to remain upright not because of our unstable skeleton, but because of the complex combination of soft tissue acting on the skeleton.
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The fascia helps support the spine and therefore has a direct effect on our posture. By stimulating the fascia to let go of abnormal tension, the muscles and fascia can work together more effectively, encouraging the spine to adopt a better position, improving posture and eliminating pain.
It is interesting to observe that at the end of a Bowen session, many clients comment on how much taller they feel. This is as a direct result of the Bowen moves, which have released tensions in the body.