My Journey

My Bowen story …… how I became interested in Bowen Therapy

Shortly after I left school I began nursing training at the Geelong Hospital.  I enjoyed this work immensely, and to complement my work, ten years later, I completed a massage course. While nursing, I suffered a nasty back injury which meant I could not practice massage. 

It took a year for my back pain to settle, although I was left with constant sciatic pain. I also had a tethered (thickened) nerve that would catch randomly, causing full numbness in my leg. If this happened while I was walking, my leg would drag, causing me to stumble and thus re-injure my back. 

This became my frustrating pain cycle.

Around this time, I was helping a friend who suffered painful back spasms. His injuries had occurred at work eight months earlier. Under the care of specialists, his improvement had plateaued at 50%. He was extremely frustrated because he couldn’t participate in the triathlon competitions he previously enjoyed. 

His approach to treatment was the “no pain no gain” model, expecting that any treatment to be affective must be painful. I would help him out with a massage where I could, but his disappointment that I was not able to go as firm as he wanted (because of my own back care), was very evident.  

One day, his friend recommended he try Bowen therapy with a local woman…. he went, not really knowing what to expect, except that she had a great reputation for helping many people find relief from various conditions.

During his treatment, it was fair to say he was not impressed….. 

“The moves were too soft, I hardly felt them! She didn’t seem to do anything much!!  What a waste of time and money!!”

He was told to take things easy for a few days, drink plenty of water, and come back in a week.

He felt cheated, very skeptical, didn’t expect results, and did not intend going back for a follow up treatment.

The following day he felt very tired and a bit achey. This lasted several days, and by day five he was surprised to notice his back had improved to about 80%. 

He did go back for that second treatment, and had such an easing of pain that he was able to return to his work and sports soon after. 

I was intrigued. I knew my friend to be opinionated, skeptical, and had strongly discounted the treatment after one session…….only to be dumbfounded at the results he witnessed for himself. How did this work?

I was interested to learn more. I went along for Bowen treatments of my own.  Bowen Therapy eased my ongoing back pain and sciatica with only three treatments. Such relief from a subtle, yet profound soft tissue work that stimulated my body to relax and heal.  

I was hooked, and eager to learn Bowen Therapy to help others as we had been helped.  I began my training in the year 2000….. the start of my Bowen education which continues to this day. I have never stopped learning.

I find great pleasure in helping people ease their discomfort, so they can approach their lives more positively and with improved quality.