How Many Treatments Might I Need?
Treatment wise.......everyone is different.
Initially, once assessed, we might suggest booking in for 3-4 treatments a week to 10 days apart or maybe just 1 or 2 more. For those that have chronic conditions it may take a bit longer, but that is always addressed on a case by case basis.
It may be that you receive one treatment and feel it has helped, others may take 2, some 3.....we will discuss this during your session. On a personal note, one of the therapists had three treatments before the pain from her ankles disappeared completely and four treatments before the pain and mobility felt normal again. She now gets maintenance "top ups" every 4 months or so . Others get treatment and then never need it again!!
There is no ideal time for a Bowen or EMMETT Therapy session, but if you can get a treatment immediately after an injury, it can provide a huge benefit due to its natural effect to reduce inflammation and pain. It can also help your body overcome the trauma before it begins to compensate for it (which often creates more problems in the long run than the initial trauma itself). It also promotes blood flow so is also beneficial after operations, sprains and tears.
From a sports performance/management perspective, Bowen is great as a maintenance treatment as it increases hamstring flexibility, and helps open up the diaphragm, there is research away to take place into Bowen and increased V02 max !!
Sports teams that regularly use Bowen are : (some of the) GB triathletes and cycling team, Leeds Rhinos (Rugby) and many others,
Before a Bowen or EMMETT Session
To get the best results prior to your treatment........
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Don’t have any other forms of bodywork (e.g. massage, acupuncture, chiropractic or physiotherapy) for at least five days beforehand (and a week after the treatment).
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Avoid heavy exercise on the day of your session.
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Don’t use ice , heat or foam rollers on the site of injury
Also if you can increase your water consumption, a well hydrated body is a great receptor for the treatment. Think of your body like a sponge, when dry it can crack and is immobile, when wet it is pliable and can be moved with ease.
The Session
A treatment can typically last between 45 mins - 1 hr, the intial consultaion will be around 1hr-1hr 15 mins.
The initial treatment will give us a chance to look at your medical history, and for you to ask any other questions you may have before commencing the treatment.
For the treatment we will ask the client undress to their underwear or loose fitting shorts if preferable (we will cover you with a blanket throughout the treatment) and usually the client will start off lying face down on the couch. For those with mobility issues and cannot lie, please let us know ahead of time and we can do a seated treatment if more suitable.
We will apply a series of gentle rolling type movements on your body and then at set times, leave the room. This break lets the body process the treatment (It is strange at first but after the client gets used to therapist leaving, they tend to just relax or even fall into a light sleep).
It is during these waiting periods that clients have reported tingling, hot, and cool feelings in their body and sometimes twitching effects. Others report nothing at all.apart from a deep sense of relaxation...... Each individual has a different response to treatmentso do not worry either way.
Each session is different based on the individuals needs, and the therapist can asess and change the treatment accordingly.
Don't be at all surprised if you come along with a sore neck and shoulder and we start treating your back or knee!! :0)
The body is an amazing thing and its connections and how it compensates is what we are looking to treat (the body as a whole). It may just be that you have had a tight back that has tightened and then restricted movement, then day to day you have just 'got on with it', and now your neck is sore as a result of this.
It's great to have an open mind when you come for a treatment.
Most people say after a treatment they feel very relaxed, however, on occasion, it may feel like you have the onset of a headache coming on, or your body feels a temperature change. This is all perfectly normal. We will discuss aftercare with you, but please refer to our after care guide on this website if you need to for best results.
A typical Bowen Technique session generally lasts from 15 to 45 minutes. Clients usually lie on a massage/bodywork table or bed, or may be seated in a chair if required, for comfort. A 'session'
involves one or more 'procedures', each of which consists of several sets of 'moves'. The moves
are gentle, but purposeful, and can be done through light clothing. Between each set of moves, the practitioner pauses for as many minutes as are needed for the client's body to begin responding.
As the nervous system begins to adjust the tension level in the muscles, the practitioner senses
when the client is ready for the next set of moves. A common approach in a session is to balance the entire body by addressing the lower back, then the upper back, and then the neck. To minimize the need for disturbing the client's rest, all procedures that address the back of the client are completed before turning over for procedures that are done with the client lying on his/her back.
In contrast to other hands-on modalities, where the practitioner imposes correction on the client through manipulation, Bowen Technique facilitates the body in healing itself, with minimal intervention. Because of the subtle nature of Bowen Technique, and the body's continuing response to it over several days thereafter, other forms of manipulative therapy are discouraged for up to five days after a session, as they may interfere with the efficacy of the work.