Sunday, May 19, 2013

What Is Bowen Massage Therapy?


Bowen massage is probably the safest type of massage therapy that can be used for both the elderly as well as the infants without any fear of injuring the patient. Known as the Bowen technique, this Australian developed massage therapy aims on providing a relaxing and healing effect on the body with the use of gentle yet effective massage strokes and techniques. For this reason, it has gained its popularity as an acceptable type of therapeutic massage that can be enjoyed by elders and infants, both with fragile vessels prone to bone and muscle injuries.

This type of massage therapy was developed by Tom Bowen who had no formal training in any type of bodywork therapy. In fact, he was a school dropout when he was 14 which strip him the privilege of having a formal schooling at any massage school during his time. His talent and ability in treating patients was noticed while he was working as a concrete worker. He practiced on his fellow workers on their spare time and eventually gained knowledge and opened up a clinic of his own. Discouragement didn't break down Bowen's will on developing and popularizing his method with the public.

His therapy is made up of four different principles with one goal. Below are the four essential principles Tom Bowen used on his massage therapy:

The bowen move - it is a method of using gentle rolling movement on the area of the body that needs necessary massage treatment. The main goal of this is to target the soft tissue of the patient in order to relieve pain and make it relax and remove its stiffness. The bowen move triggers the self-healing of the body running. This is an additional aid for the massage therapist as he or she treats the patient to improve his or her condition.

The stoppers - they are like the meridian points where the massage therapist examines the patient in order to get an idea on what kind of treatment is needed on the patient. By there, the therapist can assess the physical condition of the patient and apply the necessary treatment for a faster healing process.

The breaks - these are certain periods of time where the massage therapist pauses for a break leaving the body alone for a while. It is believed that when the body is left to rest for a while after series of treatment, it will need time to recover and treat itself. That is why giving it an ample time to coup up is necessary in order to receive the benefits of the massage therapy.

No other treatments - this is in order to follow the treatment properly without any interference by other treatments. Bowen believes that the healing process of the body in time should be given importance and not to be interfered with other types of natural or modern treatments.

Although it is famous for being safe and effective, a discussion with your doctor regarding the pros and cons of this type of massage therapy won't hurt you, instead it will give you more information regarding the Bowen massage.

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