You may want to know this before you schedule an appointment
- Clothing: Please wear loose, lightweight clothes so that my hands can be most precise. (I have more difficulty working through hose, tight clothing made of synthetic fibers, and jeans.)
- Unless we discuss otherwise, please schedule two appointments one week apart. After the second appointment we can assess your improvement.
- Scheduling: Bowen usually will keep balancing your body systems for up to five days. We usually schedule all appointments five or more days apart except if you re-injure yourself after an appointment.
- On the day of your appointment: Plan to take it easy for the rest of that day so that your body can continue processing the session. The next day, go back to your normal life unless we have discussed otherwise.
- Take home exercises: I may ask you to spend a little time each day doing exercises. The more faithful you are, the better will be your results.
- Avoid mixing therapies: Please speak with me before you schedule any other bodywork the week of your session. Since Bowen releases a powerful–yet subtle–force for change, we want to avoid sending conflicting messages by mixing therapies. There are some exceptions, so please ask.
- Ice, hot packs, saunas, hot tubs: Please speak with me if you plan to use these.
What will your session feel like?
In my office, sessions can last up to 90 minutes because I want to give you the opportunity for deep restfulness. A state of deep parasympathetic rest is the optimal condition for healing. I usually walk out of the room after doing a set of “moves” on your muscles. Unlike most other modalities, Bowen actually integrates during the pauses when my hands are not on you.
Although most sessions are as relaxing as a massage, if not more so, this is a minimal touch therapy. A Bowen “move” strums across the belly of a muscle, ligament, or nerve rather than sliding along its length as in a massage. Frequent pauses allow your body to “cook on”, or integrate, this stimuli. As time passes, you experience simple yet profound change. Some clients describe tingling, energy waves, a melting of tension, or a dreamy state of mind.
Even when you feel Nothing, experience tells us that Something is always activated during a session. I frequently hear from clients that they tell skeptical family members that “it works even if you don’t believe in it.” Bowen is actually scientifically sound, even though it can appear too simple to be true.
Many clients find that a small number of sessions have long-lasting effect. Once your condition has improved, you may find it useful to return monthly for preventative maintenance. This can be a gentle way to support your health and lifestyle goals. In my experience, many clients who graduate to monthly tune-ups increasingly celebrate their health as we catch the small stuff that can get in the way of feeling good.
