About BTPA

We are a non-profit organisation run by Bowen Therapists for Bowen Therapists. We outline standards that need to be met by members to work professionally within new legislastion and regulations.

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Prevent pain in your Olympic and Paralympic-inspired sporting quest!


The Olympics may seem like a distant, happy memory, but fear not, the Paralympics start today, hurray! Olympic fever is once again gripping the world, seeing us all glued to our television sets for more inspiring sporting endeavours, and glued to our computers as we frantically refresh the Paralympics website in an attempt to get our hands on an illustrious ticket to cheer on Team GB at the Olympic village.


With all this sport around, and with even more inspirational sporting stories to come, we are all no doubt feeling inspired to get active ourselves! Whether you aim to become a Rio 2016 gold medal hopeful, leader of your local gym floor, lose a few pounds or just get a little bit fitter, the incredible successes of the Olympics, and the inspirational stories of Team GB’s Paralympic hopefuls have inspired a nation to take up sport. However, with all this sport comes the possibility of sports injuries; not ideal as you start off your burgeoning sports career! With the top sporting heroes of team GB even experiencing the wrath of sporting injuries, the women’s hockey team and men’s basketball team to name but a few, the possibility of sports-related injury is one that you cannot ignore in your quest to get active.



Why not let Bowen sort out your sporting injuries and ensure that your quest to get fit isn’t hindered by pain. Bowen therapy is a technique that treats deep muscular stresses by encouraging the body to recognise its injury and heal itself, as opposed to manipulating an unnatural muscular change. This ensures that injuries are treated efficiently, and is a treatment that is a lot more effective in the long-run.

A footballer that chose to have Bowen therapy for ongoing sports-related injuries to his back, groin and leg noted how beneficial Bowen has been to his sporting performance, stating “From the time I started having treatment until the end of the season, I scored 10 in 12 and from my point of view that says it all! I also didn’t miss a game through injury.”

So why not let Bowen help you in your sporting quest? To find out more about the treatment, and how it can help not only your sports-related pains, but many more complaints, visit their website: http://www.bowen-therapy.co/

Wednesday 22 August 2012

A word of warning for Catwoman: your heels are causing Osteoarthritis!


A recent article in The Guardian had a stern word of warning for Gotham City’s leading siren, Catwoman: your sky-scraper heels are damaging your health! Partaking in causal every-day mortal combat in six-inch heels in cartoon world may all be well and good, but when transferred to the real world (and maybe removing the ‘mortal combat’ element), regular wearers of high heels may be inflicting serious damage upon their knee joins in the long-run.



Research carried out by Dr Casey Kerrigan for a Lancet study on the affects heels have upon leg joints has found links between prolonged wearing of high heels and the development of Osteoarthritis in the knee joints. Who would have though that a woman’s staple shoe for centuries could have such damaging affects on our health?! These findings were even shocking for Dr. Kerrigan herself, stating “I had no idea how shoes could have such a huge impact on knee-joint torques.”

Wearing high heels regularly over a period of time puts added pressure upon the knee joint, speeding up the wear-and-tear process that might usually occur much later in life. This degradation of the knee joint, or indeed the development of Osteoarthritis, causes pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and effusion, which leaves sufferers in a great deal of constant discomfort and unable to mobilise with ease. As The Guardian’s article suggests, Catwoman should possibly reconsider her sky-scraper heels, as soon she’ll be swapping them for a walking stick…


The Guardian’s advice to Cat Woman is to swap her signature heels in favour of a more practical pair of Doc Martins, however, if you’re not quite ready to ditch your feminine heels in favour of a clumpy pair of the Punk staples, but are worried about the damage this is doing to your knee joints, why not book yourself in for some Bowen Therapy? Bowen is a technique that releases muscular stress at a deep level, teaching the body to heal itself rather than manipulating unnatural change, meaning that the treatment is much more efficient in treating problems in the long-run. Bowen is proven to treat not only general muscular problems, including in the knee area, but is also incredibly affective in the treatment of Arthritis. This makes Bowen perfect for sorting out the stresses that heels put upon the knee joint!

For more information on how Bowen Therapy can help you, not only for Arthritis but for much much more too, visit their website: http://www.bowen-therapy.co/

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Have you inherited the insomnia gene?

Doctors have identified a new group of people born without the ‘comfort’ genes needed for easy sleep.

This means they are immune to the feeling of warmth and relaxation which sends an average person off to sleep within 15 minutes.

Their genes are designed instead to maintain a state of mental alertness.

This makes normal, prolonged sleep impossible so they sleep fitfully, in only short bursts.

Even then, their lack of ‘comfort’ genes may mean they struggle to get comfortable, fussing about the bedding or finding their sleeping position.



There are other so-called insomnia genes — some cause repeated periods of wakefulness in the small hours of the night or at the slightest disturbance, or drive an affected person to leap out of bed raring to start the day at 4am, but leave them exhausted by 4pm.

Until recently, insomnia was considered a purely psychological complaint triggered by stress, grief, or sleep disruption as a result of shift work or jet lag.

But doctors are now unravelling the genetic explanation of why at least one-third of us have intermittent or constant sleep problems.

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can help stress and sleeping problems.


Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.


During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.



No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.


Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.


Bowen is known for its soothing qualities for physical complaints; however it is an extremely relaxing experience that can have many emotional benefits too.


One client said: “I heartily recommend the Bowen Technique to anyone who wants to remember how it feels to wake up refreshed; looking forward to the new day knowing you can deal with whatever it may bring.


I am now feeling much better, fitter and younger than pre-treatment. Thank you for revitalising me!”


Read more testimonials from people who used Bowen for insomnia and grief here


If you suffer with sleep problems and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

Monday 13 August 2012

Is maintaining your allotment leaving you as stiff as the scarecrow?

Tomorrow sees the end of National Allotment Week (8th-14th August), a celebration of the allotment movement across the UK.

It’s an opportunity for those with plots to show off their hours of hard work and those without allotments to put pressure on local authorities to supply further plots.


Those of you that are green-fingered will know that gardening and tending to an allotment can be tough on your muscles and joints, causing strain and excess muscle tension.


Back pain is a common problem for keen gardeners and allotment-keepers.


Bowen Therapy is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that has had some marvellous results with back-pain sufferers.


A national study, carried out by The Bowen Therapy Professional Association (BTPA) in the summer of 2006, showed that 95 per cent of back pain sufferers experienced either complete relief or a marked improvement, after a series of no more than three Bowen treatments.





As it prides itself on being able to trigger the body’s own healing systems, you wouldn’t suffer any of the side effects that you may with prescribed drugs.



Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires. With primarily fingers and thumbs, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.




No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used. Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.



If you suffer from back pain and want to try Bowen therapy, visit www.bowen-therapy.co



Monday 6 August 2012

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1st – 7th August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

Many new mums attempt to breastfeed but it can be a difficult time, especially if the mom is experiencing tiredness or stress following birth.



Bowen is a drug-free, non-invasive complementary therapy that can ease some of the problems associated with pregnancy and prepare you for an easier birth.


Trials in the UK, Australia and New Zealand using Bowen Therapy on infertile couples for whom no other obvious reason for being unable to conceive has been found, have also met with remarkable success.


With primarily fingers and thumbs, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.


No hard-tissue manipulation or force is used and between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.


Bowen prides itself on being able to trigger the body’s own healing systems. Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires.


The advantage of the Bowen Technique over most other alternative therapies is that pregnant women can be treated in the sitting position or lying on their side.



When receiving a Bowen treatment, it is also common for the mum-to-be to say that she can feel the baby moving about in response.


One client said: “I felt that Bowen helped me throughout my pregnancy in many ways and enabled me to have such a positive experience of giving birth. My proudest moment is giving birth to my beautiful healthy little girl Jessica, who may not have been with us had it not been for Bowen or Fiona.”


Another client added: “My husband and I tried for approx. 1 year to conceive. The month following my first treatment I became pregnant and had a successful pregnancy. The treatment itself brought on a release of emotion and an instant feeling of calm. The results speak for themselves. For my case I found Bowen nothing short of miraculous.”


If you’re suffering with pregnancy, post-birth or infertility problems and want to try Bowen therapy visit the website or call 0844 561 7173.



Wednesday 1 August 2012

Another victory and another injury for Team GB's women's hockey


Yesterday saw yet another glorious victory for Team GB’s women’s hockey, the girls winning 5-3 over South Korea, following on from the epic hands-down 4-0 victory over Japan on Sunday. Well done girls!



But another great victory saw yet another damaging injury for the team, leaving Britain speculating whether the girls can sustain this level of success with these continual injuries cropping up. With the team’s captain, Kate Walsh, already recovering in hospital from surgery to place a metal plate into her jaw after a blow to the face in Sunday’s match against Japan, last night saw top GB scorer, Alex Danson, stretchered off the pitch in agony 3 minutes from time after sustaining a twisted ankle in a tackle. Although the girls appear to be unfazed by these injuries, failing to let it beat their great record of victories so far in the 2012 Olympic Games, it appears that the team are dropping like flies!



The girls could really benefit with a few sessions of Bowen Therapy to ensure that these injuries are treated efficiently, and that they do not affect our great chances in getting the gold! Bowen therapy is a technique that releases muscular stresses from deep within, and encourages the body to recognise its injuries and heal itself, rather than manipulating an unnatural change. This means that Bowen Therapy treats muscular injuries from deep within the muscle, leading to an efficient treatment for injury not only in the short term, but also in the long run, meaning that out injured Olympic hopefuls have a greater chance of getting back to the competition, whilst ensuring that their sustained injuries do not cause any problems in the long run.

To find out more about Bowen therapy, and to see how it can help you and your own sports injuries and much much more, visit their website: http://www.bowen-therapy.co/ Their long list of glowing testimonials speak for themselves!

We wish both Walsh and Danson a speedy recovery, and wish the girls good luck and to keep up the good work- GO TEAM GB!