Bowen Therapy

Dr. Elena Hofmann-Smith is a trained Bowen (Bowtech) practitioner. Bowen is a gentle form of body work which originated in Australia and now has been garnering much praise in America. A gentle and unique form of neuromuscular re-patterning, Bowen works primarily through the nervous system on both structural and energetic levels. It is gentle, noninvasive and can be performed through clothing. It is suited to people of all ages and helps many folks recover even when chiropractic and massage have failed.

Safe for everyone from highly trained athletes to newborns, pregnant women, elderly and the chronically ill, Bowen has been successful in treating musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain, scoliosis, sporting injuries, TMJ alignment, carpal tunnel syndrome and knee pain. It is renowned for its effectiveness with internal conditions such as migraines, digestive and elimination complaints, colic in babies and respiratory problems, including asthma.

It is especially helpful following accidents or where body stresses have caused musculoskeletal imbalances which fail to resolve. Thus it is great for women with pre and postpartum aches and pains. It is a wonderful, relaxing, non-force way to balance the pelvis in preparation for labor, and helps hurting mothers recover during postpartum readjustment. It helps back pain, coccyx pain, aching arms and wrists, and other common problems of new mothers.

It is also very good for babies that have had stressful births, helping them to gently realign themselves. It relieves about half of “colicky” babies in one treatment.

Misalignments commonly right themselves—yet there is not manipulation of joints or bones. Muscle tensions and strains are relieved and normal lymphatic flow is restored—yet muscles are not squeezed as in massage. Meridians show immediate improvements—yet the work is not based on meridians and does not resemble acupuncture or acupressure. Fascia re-hydrated, adhesions release and scar tissue softens—yet there is no heavy pressure as in Rolfing or deep-tissue work. Internal psychological shifts are common—yet it is not necessary to evoke emotional response as in mind-body therapies. Nearly everyone reports a pleasant relaxed state and a deep sense of well being and ease.

A treatment consists of gentle, rolling movements. These stimulations activate a systemic response so powerful that a few minutes’ pause is given to allow it to be integrated. A pattern of movements then pauses continues throughout the treatment. The rhythm is soothing and most patients fall asleep at least once during the session. Benefits are usually apparent within two sessions, even when long-standing conditions are being treated. Bowen results are lasting and profound.