Bowen: Eating disorder case study

Lady Gaga has posted pictures of herself on her blog following media criticism of her weight gain. With these photos, she revealed to her fans that she has suffered with anorexia and bulimia since she was 15.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are defined as psychological disorders characterised by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. Although more common in females, it is thought that 10-15% of people with eating disorders are male.

There is one case in which Bowen has helped a person who had been suffering with an eating disorder for nearly 30 years.

‘Mrs K’ said: “I have been having Bowen Therapy now for about 18 months after a chance meeting in the local health shop.
At the time I was searching for remedies in a very depressed state and finding it difficult to establish which one of my ailments was causing me the most distress at that time! I had been having very painful periods, lots of migraine type headaches and IBS.

I felt in my own mind that the root of all my problems lie in my emotional state.”

Although Bowen is known for its physical benefits, it is mentally relaxing and very effective for any stress management and frustration.

She said: “I was very stressed and at the times when I seemed to have little stress in my life, I would soon find something!

I had suffered from an Eating Disorder from the age of 14 and, at 43, despite recently having effective counselling for the first time, still felt that there were areas where I was ‘stuck’ emotionally.”

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can be a gentle yet effective release of pain.

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires. It works ‘with’ the body as opposed to working ‘against’ it.

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.

Mrs K continued: “Bowen, although a physical therapy, has helped me more in an emotional way, to cope with my Eating Disorder.

"I am learning to see life as more of a series of challenges rather than problems, and I try to applaud myself for trying something even if it doesn’t work out, rather than feeling a constant failure.

"I am happier to ask for help if I need it, rather than feeling that is another admission of failure and most of all, I can love and respect myself.
I no longer have an Eating Disorder dominating my life.
Yes – it is still there ‘waiting in the wings’ but I am in control of it.
It is safe to be ME without hiding behind it.

"It is safe to slowly let it out of my life and to allow myself to be happy and live a fulfilling life with fun, laughter and enjoyment.”

 

Read the rest of Mrs K’s testimonial here

 

If you are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help with physical or mental stress visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

Featured Therapist: Agatka Warsza

“I have always had a firm belief in the natural healing ability of the body and an innate desire to help others.

“I remember as a little girl placing my hands on my mum's aches and pains and bringing her relief.

“In my early teens, I came across a book called "Hands of Light" which confirmed scientifically, as well as spiritually, everything I had believed to be true about sickness, health and healing.

 

“I knew very early on that I wanted to practice some form of natural therapy.”

Agatka Warsza qualified in the Bowen Technique with the European College of Bowen Studies in 2009 and is registered with the Bowen Therapy Professional Association and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council.

She is also a certified and registered practitioner of massage and Reiki and holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematics and Psychology.

Whilst at university, Agatka trained in Reiki and massage during holidays and began working for a mobile massage company.

“Since my mother, wherever possible, had always chosen natural therapies for me and my sister, I had experienced quite a few by the time I came across Bowen in my early twenties.

“For me Bowen was one of the most effective therapies I had received.

“I knew then that this was a therapy I wanted to specialise in; Bowen was the therapy I wanted to help people with.”

Agatka’s clients range from those with musculoskeletal complaints (back pain, frozen shoulder, RSI, sciatica) to those with conditions related to emotional stress (headaches/migraines, insomnia, high blood pressure, indigestion/IBS, depression, frequent colds/infections, allergies, skin conditions).

They also include those seeking support managing conditions such as post-stroke, cancer, cerebral palsy and expecting mothers to alleviate symptoms associated with pregnancy.

“Using Bowen, I work with clients to help trigger their body’s own restorative and healing mechanisms.

“Through my study of Maths and Psychology, I developed an analytical mind and an insight into the human psyche.

This, combined with a sound knowledge of anatomy and physiology and intuition and sensitivity in my hands, allows me to choose and apply the techniques most appropriate to the needs of each individual.”

Agatka is also regularly involved in charity and community events and provides massage to inpatients at the Royal Free Hospital on a weekly basis.

In most cases, clients report improvements not only in the presenting condition but also experience a mental shift; feeling calmer, happier, clear mind, motivated, energised.

Agatka is a member of the Bowen Therapy Professional Association (BTPA) who provide standards of professional excellence and a code of practice for the protection and benefit of the public and members.

This means that she is fully insured and abides by formal codes of ethics and conduct, as well as updating her knowledge and training regularly.

If you are interested in trying out Bowen, visit their website to find out what else it can help with.

If you are interested in experiencing a Bowen treatment with Agatka, contact her directly on:

 

T: 07904630780

 

E: a.warsza@hotmail.co.uk

Puppy Awareness Week: is your dog barking for Bowen?

It’s currently Puppy Awareness Week, which ironically creates the acronym PAW.

This week aims to celebrate the joy that puppies bring to our lives while also informing potential puppy owners about the responsible way to buy and care for them.

They may look cute, but puppies can be very hyperactive and hard to control.

Behavioural problems can include biting, barking, jumping and urinating.

Sometimes it’s hard to know how to calm them down.

 

 

Why not try Bowen!

 

That’s right; the work of Tom Bowen has been developed in a number of ways to apply to animals.

 

Dogs and horses respond particularly well to the treatment, aiding any muscular or seasonal problems they may have.

 

However, it also works wonderfully in helping animals relax and can just be a nice calming treat for them.

 

We’re finding that people who have never had a Bowen treatment themselves are bringing their pets to try the technique.

 

The practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for the animal.

 

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

 

 

Between each set of moves, your pet can rest for a few minutes, to allow them to absorb the information they have received and initiate any healing or calming processes.

If you want to see if Bowen could help your pet, get in touch with the European Guild of Canine Bowen Therapists  on 01728 621 488 or info@caninebowentechnique.com. You can also visit www.caninebowentechnique.com

Tired of fatigue or fibromyalgia? Try Bowen...

We are at the end of Fibromyalgia Awareness Week; a disorder of which awareness seems to be low.

Many people may know the symptoms of Fibromyalgia but may not have heard of the condition.

Fibromyalgia is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the fibrous tissues in the body.

Most patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all over and are tired a lot of the time. Their muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overworked and can sometimes twitch and at other times they burn. More women than men are afflicted with fibromyalgia, but it shows up in people of all ages.

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can help with fibromyalgia, chronic pain and fatigue.

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.

One client who used Bowen for Fibromyalgia said: “I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2008, after suffering for 2 years with chronic pain and fatigue.

“I had been for massages, which hurt so much afterwards and only really helped for about a week before the pain returned.

“One day I went for a massage and the masseur told me about something called Bowen.

“On my first appointment, I was asked about my health and the list of problems was long… I sounded like a helpless case!

“I didn’t know what to expect, but my first treatment was so relaxing. I was a little unsure how effective it would be as it was so gentle.

“At first I was having treatments every week, then every two, then less frequently, I now go about 6 weeks between treatments.

“After the first few weeks I was amazed that my levels of pain had dropped by about 50%, at first I thought it was maybe a coincidence, and maybe I was just going through a good spell, but almost 10 months later, I swear by it.

“I have taken leaflets to my doctor’s surgery for them to recommend it to other sufferers, and tell everyone how amazing it is.”

Read testimonials from people who have used Bowen for help with Fibromyalgia, fatigue or chronic pain here

If you have arthritis, or are caring for somebody who has, 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.

Migraine Awareness Week

Yesterday saw the beginning of Migraine Awareness Week; seven days dedicated to a neurological condition that affects over eight million people in the UK.

This makes it more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined.

Migraine is one of the top 20 causes of disability, and the World Health Organisation recognises it as one of the most disabling lifetime conditions.

However, awareness and understanding is low.

Migraine headaches result from a combination of blood vessel enlargement and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around these blood vessels.

During the headache, an artery enlarges that is located on the outside of the skull just under the skin of the temple (temporal artery).

This causes a release of chemicals that cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery.

The Bowen Technique has had some great results with migraine sufferers.

Bowen is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires as opposed to ‘forcing’ the body change.

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.

One Bowen client said: “I just wanted to let you know how grateful I was for the kindness you showed me when I had a migraine.

“I slept really well on the night of the treatment and haven’t had a headache since!!

“Thanks again!”

Another said: “Bowen has helped to reduce the frequency of my migraine headaches.

“I have slept better and feel more relaxed generally.

“I understand the trigger for the headaches and Bowen has helped me to adjust my lifestyle accordingly (preventative measures).”

If you are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you, visit http://www.bowen-therapy.co/ to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.