Bowen Therapy is a healing technique that sits amongst massage, physio, chiro and accupuncture but is far less well known to most of us. It's a technique that has been around for more than 45 years and was developed by an Aussie bloke named Bowen who gave the therapy his name but kept the rest of us guessing exactly what is was ... until now.
Caroline Culleton recently opened the doors to her Bowen Life practice in leafy Hawthorne and is the first to chuckle that the name doesn't give much away:"Bowen Therapy does sometimes feel like one of the world's best kept secrets and many people stumble upon it as a 'last resort' when all other pain relief has failed but it's surprising how often even the sceptics find that it can make a profound difference to pain that has been niggling for years and severely impacting quality of life and movement."
So what exactly is Bowen Therapy? It is a holistic therapy that focuses on the soft connective tissue (fascia) of the body. A Bowen treatment consists of sequences of small moves, each at a specific site on the body, and is more of a 'press and roll' than a long stroke that you might be familiar with through massage. The movements are quite exact and after each movement is performed the therapist leaves the room to allow the body to re-settle, which is quite unique to the practice.
“Most of us today, in this new Covid world, live in a constant state of fight/ flight; we are busy, always rushing from A to B leaving us exhausted, feeling on-edge or anxious and this is reflected physically, mentally and emotionally. This is our new norm.” explains Caroline. “As Bowen Therapy puts us into the parasympathetic state, the body has the chance to mend on every level. Basically, it re-sets and re-balances our body’s natural equilibrium, re-charging and repairing us to tackle another day. When I leave the room after each sequence of moves, I am simply allowing your body to do what it does naturally when given the right tools – the chance to heal.”
Caroline sees Bowen as a gentle approach to treat pain in new born babies though to old age as there is no force used and very few contra indications. It is particularly useful for joint pain and is often used for treating back and neck pain that can affect the quality of life of the sufferer through impairing freedom of movement and therefore inactivity making the situation increasingly worse. Sports injuries can be treated too by reducing recovery time as Caroline discovered first hand after she fractured her patella. She credits Bowen with reducing swelling enabling her to move more freely facilitating a speedier recovery than expected.
Bowen Therapy is also very popular for treating hormonal imbalance. The lymphatic drainage that it effects can ease hot flushes and emotional imbalances often associated with menopause. The relaxation it provides at the very least is calming for most modern women juggling careers, families and raging hormones on top.
Caroline herself is a busy mum with two boys who lead busy sporting lives as well as studying. She was a remedial massage therapist before she began the 18 month Certificate 4 Course required to practice Bowen Therapy. She instantly radiates calm professionalism when you visit her in her very private practice that feels like an oasis of calm as you approach through her lovely garden.
If you'd like to find out more about Bowen Therapy you can call Caroline on 0411 520 005 or you can make a booking here.
