Bowen Therapy
for Pre-conception, Pregnancy and Postnatal care
The Bowen Technique is a gentle and complimentary, non-invasive, soft tissue remedial therapy. It facilitates the body’s healing process to help relieve physical dysfunction and pain.
Bowen Therapy targets the level of the superficial fascia and affects the relationship between fascia and the nerves, muscles or tendons being mobilised. Fascia plays a major role in muscle co-ordination, postural alignment and overall structural and functional integrity.
Maintaining flexible fascia is key as your body undergoes major changes during pregnancy, labour and birth.
What Can the Bowen Technique help with?
Pre-conception:
Bowen may help by regulating the menstrual cycle and enhancing fertility in both men and women. It brings about a state of balance in the nervous system and may release areas that are blocked or unable to function optimally.
Pregnancy:
1st Trimester
It may help with fatigue, anxiety, nausea, morning sickness and the emotional fluctuations associated with hormone changes, assisting the body to adapt to this new and fast-changing state.
2nd and 3rd Trimester
Pregnancy not only create new issues within your body, but can exacerbate existing ailments or injuries. As the body changes throughout your pregnancy added stresses to the neck, spine, pelvic area and your circulation system often occur and result in nausea, emotional stress, pain, discomfort and swelling. Most of these more common pregnancy related conditions may be easily, and gently, relieved by Bowen Therapy.
Working on your pelvic and spinal alignment throughout your pregnancy will help alleviate back and sciatica pain and headaches and tension in the neck and shoulders.
Whilst working on your circulatory and neurological systems helps reduce blood flow restrictions and neurological restriction to the digestive system, the uterus which helps reduce digestive problems such as reflux, heartburn, nausea and constipation and help nourish the baby within.
As the pregnancy nears the end, Bowen sessions can relieve the discomfort of pelvic pressure, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, aching feet, legs and groin. It can also help in optimising foetal positioning prior to birth.
Common conditions you may experience as an expectant mother that may be relieved by Bowen Therapy:
•Backache/ Hip pain / Sciatica
•Fluid retention / Aching legs
•Headaches / Dizziness
•Emotional fatigue / Stress / Anxiety
•Nausea / Heartburn
•Tender breasts
•Breathlessness
•Decreased energy levels
Postnatal Care and Healing:
As the Bowen Technique stimulates the body’s own innate ability to heal itself and because it is so gentle and non-invasive it can be used after labour, after caesarean or for perineal healing and pain relief post-delivery.
The process of childbirth puts tremendous stresses and strains on the supporting muscles and ligaments of the pelvis which can result in post pregnancy pain and pelvic instability; continued post natal Bowen Therapy treatments can help reduce these problems and significantly aid post delivery recovery and may help the uterus to return to its normal position.
Breastfeeding:
Bowen therapy impacts the function of the breast on a number of levels.
The systems that run through the fascia each has an impact on the function of the breast, particularly the endocrine system in breastfeeding.
Bowen moves performed along the clavicle, the intercostal spaces of the first 4 ribs, the armpit and the fascia of the pectoral (chest) muscles directly impacts the nerves and blood vessels that supply the breasts.
There are specific moves to promote lactation and it is a very effective tool for helping relieve upper back, shoulder and neck pain often experienced during breast-feeding.