Bowen therapist takes her healing hands to Bosnia

Bowen Therapist Louise Harris is taking her healing hands to Saravejo to help victims of war and disaster. Next Year, Louise is going out to Bosnia with the Healing Hands Network, who take holistic approaches to healing, helping clients from the Association of Concentration Camp Victims, the Association of Civil War Victims and the Centre for Torture Victims.

Members of the Healing Hands Network are qualified and experienced therapists, offering a range of treatments including massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, reiki and other mainstream complementary therapies.

Louise said: “I was dubious when Julie Farmer, a fellow Bowen Therapist friend of mine, asked me if I would consider volunteering with her in Bosnia.
“She came armed with facts and figures about the charity Healing Hands Network and the work they were doing to help the people of Sarajevo, and she had lots of stories about the cruelty and hardship they had faced.
“It didn’t take a lot of persuading and she only told me two stories before I said ‘OK, OK! Yes!’.”

Louise is due to leave in July 2013 and needs £750 to fund the trip. Julie and Louise have been fundraising by selling cupcakes and holding a Christmas Fair.

Louise said: “The one thing that is really clear from everyone is that, despite their hardship, the people we will be helping are extremely grateful and gracious.
“I am sure that it will be a privilege to meet and help people who have really known true suffering and an experience we will never forget.”

Louise has already had many offers of help for charity events and some donations but if you would like to contribute, visit Louise and Julie’s charity.

Stop the cries of infant colic

It is thought that colic affects around 1 in 5 babies.  Colic is the medical term for excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy and well fed. It is a poorly understood yet common condition, and can be very strenuous for parents coping with new-born babies.

It generally disappears when the child is around 4-6 months old, but can last for up to a year.

There is currently no known cause or cure for colic, which makes it all the more frustrating for parents.

 

There are some techniques that may help, such as bathing your baby in a warm bath and preventing your baby from swallowing air by sitting them upright during feeding.

 

Another technique worth trying is Bowen. Bowen is a drug-free, non-invasive complementary therapy. 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.

One mother that used Bowen for her daughter’s colic said: “Grace used to scream in pain, clench her fists, bring her knees to her chest and become rigid.

 

“She would cry every evening from around 8pm until midnight or after.

 

“After two sessions of Bowen she became so much more relaxed.

“The touch involved in Bowen was so gentle, but effective. The therapy has enabled Grace’s personality to shine through the tears. I would recommend Bowen to any parent whose baby is suffering from severe colic.”

 

If your child suffers from colic and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help, visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

BTPA's tribute to Bill Tarmey

Bill Tarmey, who played Coronation Street’s Jack Duckworth for over 25 years, sadly passed away last Friday.

Aged 71, Bill died at his home in Tenerife after years of ill-health.

He regularly used Bowen therapy to ease intense pain in his shoulders, arms and hips.

He had tried all the conventional treatments for his pain and was “desperate to find an answer.”

He didn't want any more surgery, but he was willing to try anything else.

He went to see Bowen therapist Hadden Todd and, by his third visit, Bowen had achieved wonders. "The difference for me was enormous, really enormous," said Bill.

He continued with Bowen for many years and even recommended it to anyone who was experiencing pain. "The point is, Bowen is so gentle in comparison to other hands-on treatments: no one is going to throw you around the room by your legs – so at the very least it can't do any harm."
 

"I say give it a go before there's any talk of surgery or other more drastic treatment. Try Bowen … and like me, you may get one heck of a surprise."

We were so sad to hear that Bill lost his battle with ill-health, but we are glad that he found some relief in Bowen.

He will be missed.

National Stress Awareness Day

Women between the ages of 25 and 34 are said to be the most stressed.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day and, according to a survey carried out by Kalms, climbing the career ladder, being a parent, paying the mortgage and trying to maintain a social life all trigger higher stress levels in women aged 25-34.

The study also concluded that, over a year, the average Brit gets stressed 208 times and men and women tend to worry about different things.

Neil Shah, Director of the Stress Management Society said: “Women worry more about bills and finances, and juggling their time, but men are more concerned about working long hours and debt.”

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

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: “It is exactly what I needed at a time when stress in my life has been at a peak and for quite some time now. The results I am experiencing are beyond my expectations, as I find old injuries are eased out and movement in my neck, jaw, legs releasing into some kind of freedom for spontaneity such as I felt in my mid-20's.”

Read the rest of the client’s testimonial here.

If you are stressed, or are caring for somebody is, 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.

Bear Grylls claims Bowen is “vital support”

Bear Grylls, the valiant adventurer and TV presenter, was one of the guests on Saturday night’s Jonathan Ross show.

Bear was promoting his new book – A Survival Guide for Life, and also spoke a little about the kind of things he does to keep himself in shape and healthy. We know one thing that helps Bear when he returns from his worldwide exploits – and that’s Bowen.

Bear appeared alongside Kylie Minogue, Russell Howard and Muse

Bear has regular treatments with Sussex based Bowen therapist Sarah Yearsley, and now regards these as an essential part of his preparation and recovery. “Bowen has helped keep my body together despite the continual bashing it takes,” he explains: “It’s a vital support in putting right a whole range of new aches and pains, making sure that old injuries don’t cause me problems, and helping me fight stress and fatigue.”

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.

On his Channel 4 show, Born Survivor, Bear performed freefall parachute jumps into extreme terrain -- including landing in trees, glaciers, and sand dunes -- back flips from a helicopter into a lake, abseiling down sheer cliffs and a range of other acrobatic activities.

He has also been under great stress from the many different environments -- including jungle, desert, mountains in winter and summer, open sea -- and has had to tolerate extreme heat, cold, dehydration and fatigue. He usually has only a few days to recover from each episode, while the pressure is increased still further by a very demanding travel schedule.

So it’s fair to say that Bear’s body has taken a thrashing. And this is not aided by niggling old injuries like a broken back from a parachuting accident and a bad foot injury from a motorcycle accident.

Bear learned about Bowen therapy from his wife Shara, who herself contacted therapist Sarah Yearsley after hearing about its positive effects in treating chronic back pain.

The specific conditions Sarah has helped Bear to overcome include a rotated pelvis, tight and shallow breathing, a strained calf muscle, extreme exhaustion and stress, and a toe injury.

“Bear provides a perfect illustration of the amazing versatility of Bowen,” she comments; “It helps him across a full range of conditions – not only alleviating pain but boosting his immune system and helping minimise fatigue. Of course, he isn’t a typical patient, but most of his problems are no different from those I treat in people with normal lifestyles.”

Read Bear Grylls’ Bowen testimonial in full here

If you are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you, visit the website, or call 0844 561 7173.

Bowen at the Mind London Parks Half Marathon

On 7^th October, the mental health charity Mind attended London Parks half marathon.

A few Bowen practitioners went along to the event to offer drained runners some Bowen treatment to relieve their tired soles.

Mind offers information and advice, training programmes, grants and services. They want to make it possible for people who experience mental health problems to live full lives, and play their full part in society.

Mind runs off public donations, which is why they hold runs up and down the country throughout the year.

At this particular run, participants were happy to see Bowen practitioners.

One Bowen practitioner that was there, Rebeccah Steele, said: “It made such a difference having 2 massage tables as the inclination of most of the runners was to head for a massage table.
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“So as it was very busy and we had a good number of Bowen therapists on hand, we also started using the ordinary chairs to offer the mini tasters.

“I must say I had a couple of people who were quite sceptical that sitting straddled on a chair for Bowen would help relieve their hurting muscles.

“So they were pleasantly surprised that they felt much better after 10 minutes.

“One person commented mid-way through the session that it was amazing that the pain and discomfort they had been feeling had more or less gone!

“This was what so inspiring for us to know and that we as Bowen therapists were on hand and able to help with relief from the pain and discomfort they were feeling.

“I also had comments of 'I feel much calmer' which was also good to hear.”

See footage of the race and interviews with runners from 1Extra and Glamour Magazine here

Try Bowen to help you stomach IBS and other digestive problems

Yesterday was ‘Apple Day’, and as the saying goes ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’.

 

However, even the healthiest of people can be prone to digestive problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Acid Reflux.

 

IBS is a common digestive condition that can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. The cause is unknown; however stress, certain foods and hormones are said to play a part in the development of the condition.

As the cause of the condition is relatively unknown, some treatments may not be effective. Bowen Therapy is one alternative treatment that can help IBS and other digestive conditions.

Bowen is a drug-free, non-invasive complementary therapy. 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.

One Bowen clients said: “I initially saw Jen (Bowen practitioner) when my doctor said I had IBS and it couldn’t be treated.

After 3 sessions I had no symptoms and IBS has never returned.

That was 11 years ago and I visit Jen whenever I have a condition that needs treating. Jen’s work goes beyond the treatment that any doctor can give me.”

Another said: “Bowen is a truly amazing treatment, I cannot praise it enough!

It cured me of an illness that hospital consultants only scratched their heads at. I still use Bowen to keep me in check. Love it.”

Read more testimonials from people that have used Bowen for digestive problems here.

If you suffer from back pain 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.