With mainly the fingers and thumbs, the Bowen practitioner performs small swinging movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues at precise points. Equine Bowen therapy works on the same principles as human Bowen therapy. It is a practical technique of muscles, nerves and connective tissue that allows the body to regulate itself, allowing many symptoms that were the result of trauma or injury to resolve. What is the Bowen technique? The Bowen technique is a gentle corrective therapy that stimulates the body to rebalance and promotes healing, pain relief and energy recovery.
Bowen therapy was developed by Tom Bowen in the 1950s and is now taught and practiced in more than 30 countries. A Bowen session involves a series of gentle soft tissue movements with your fingers and thumbs over muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It is neuromuscular reprogramming that works through the Central Nervous System. People undergoing Bowen therapy report a deep sense of general relaxation after treatment, which can persist for days or weeks afterwards.
When people talk about “Bowen therapy for horses,” they usually describe a gentle bodywork technique that sends messages to the horse's nervous system with the goal of restoring balance within the body. Realizing that this modality would be highly beneficial to animals, Bennett spent the next two years studying the human Bowen Technique and becoming a certified practitioner, adapting the movements to animal anatomy with the input of several veterinarians and, finally, writing a manual. Bowen can be a useful therapy option when the horse suspects or is defensive of bodywork due to the presence of pain or fear. Bowen's combinations of “moves” are interspersed with short breaks, giving the body an opportunity to process and respond.
Instead of “causing” the body to change, Bowen “asks” the body to recognize and make the changes it requires. Invasive adjustments aren't necessary to elicit a powerful response; in fact, the term “less is more” can often be applied to Bowen therapy. Equine Bowen Therapy is a safe, smooth body shape that is suitable for all types of horses in a variety of situations. As a therapist, Jayne is professional, knowledgeable and kind, and horses are treated calmly and competently.
Thinking that others might have the same experience, I decided to chat with Gill to get a summary of what Bowen Therapy is and how it can help you and your pets. However, Bowen therapists always advise people to consult their doctors if there is any question about whether it should be treated or not. During the 1970s, the Webb Report (Australian Government Report on Complementary Therapies) found that Tom Bowen treated 13,000 people a year. A research project on the application of the Bowen Technique in TMJ anomaly was initiated in Durango, CO by Dr.
Most light touch modalities, such as Equi-Bow (Canada) and Equine Touch (New Zealand), combine Bowen-based techniques with principles from other forms of body work. Bowen-based techniques send messages to the nervous system using a powerful tool called piezoelectricity.
