Working with Fascia

The health of fascia has a major impact on the healthy
functioning of all other systems in the body.

During a Bowen Therapy treatment, we enhance the health of fascia in two main ways. The transverse push and pull of the Bowen move releases stuck and glued fibres in the fascia, allowing the fluid transit routes to be reopened. The compression of the move restores the bioelectrical capacity of the tissue, allowing the area to rehydrate and the fluid pathways to remain open. Nutrients and oxygen can be efficiently delivered to the tissue, waste products removed and nerve impulses transmitted more effectively.

When a Bowen treatment is given, the glued fibres are gently pulled apart and released to their natural alignment. As fascia forms a continuous sheath throughout the body, each treatment addresses the whole body, not just the area of injury or pain. Postural misalignments are released, effective movement patterns are restored. Muscles pain, sprain and strain can heal more rapidly.

New research shows that fascia plays a major role in the structure of the body and the maintenance of our posture. This continuous sheath is a large fluid filled sack that holds us upright. Muscles and bones are encased in fascia to provide the energy and direction for movement, but it is the fascia that determines how we move and how easily we move. Misalignments in this tissue, adhesions and gluing patterns cause inefficient and restricted movement and eventually pain and inflammation.

More than releasing muscles and rebalancing posture

Bowen Therapy, however, does more than just allow muscles to heal and rebalancing postural realignment. Because we work on reopening one of the body’s major fluid pathways that deliver nutrients to tissue and removes waste products from the tissue, we are also working on the total health of many systems of the body. Bowen has been shown to help with a large range of health issues such as skin problems, digestive problems and respiratory problems.

The meridian system of Traditional Chinese Medicine also runs through this connective tissue: the superficial and deep fascia in the body, and by releasing restrictions in this tissue we are allowing the energetic pathways to be unblocked and rebalanced. It is now believed that the chemicals that create our emotional responses also travel through the fascia.

“The skin of the spirit.”

Our fascia has been called “the skin of the spirit”; the place of transformation; the medium through which the body and spirit communicate. Realigning the fibres in fascia opens up a window of opportunity for change allowing old patterns and behaviours to be released.

Bowen Therapy balances and stimulates energy flows, resulting in a deep sense of overall relaxation. The restorative process begins once the body is relaxed, and continues as the body allows. The moves bring about effective results by penetrating to a deep cellular level, incorporating the body's unique ability to heal itself.

With the release of toxins and old patterning, the moves begin to accomplish holistic balance almost immediately. Since the Bowen Therapy addresses the body as a whole unit rather than just the presenting symptom, it embraces the physical, chemical, emotional and mental aspects of each person receiving a treatment.

The Fascial Kinetics trained Bowen practitioner works as a catalyst, setting the stimulus in motion for the body to heal itself. The success of the outcome of the treatment is enhanced by the practitioner's experience and assessment skills, and their ability to view the body as a whole unit and understand where the root of the problem lies. By combining moves, both in placement and in combination, the practitioner is able to address the body as a whole or target a specific problem.

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