FAQs

Answer: The Bowen and Emmett techniques are a form of hands on bodywork which works on muscles and soft issue to release tension and strains around the body. In general the body has the ability to heal itself. By stimulating the nervous system and encouraging circulation in an area, this can result in muscles and soft tissue releasing and the body’s own healing system being triggered. Based on the concept that Structure Governs Function, by releasing areas of strain within the body, the posture can improve which will allow the body’s systems to balance and work more efficiently. Because of this the therapy works on a wide range of conditions.

Answer: It is gentle, non-invasive and performed through light clothing. The therapist applies a rolling movement over muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, depending on the area under treatment. This stimulates energy to move through the body and, in most cases, provides significant relief to both recent, acute and chronic conditions. The treatment itself comprises of a series of moves over precise anatomical points through the body followed by rest periods of 2-5mins. This is very unique to the therapy and allows the body to take the instructions from the moves and apply the necessary response before receiving the next set. The treatment is very subtle, gentle and relaxing, without prolonged or intense pressure. Bowen encourages and enables the body to provide its own healing and realignment, restoring normal balance and function to achieve long-lasting results.

Treatments can be as short as 10-15mins for pain relief or could last up to 40mins in total. Please allow 55mins for combination treatment  which cost €60. All other treatments are €40 per session. For more information refer to Treatment Options

The Emmett technique is results based so effects are usually felt immediately. The Bowen technique can give some relief at the time of treatment and will continue over the following 3-4 days for full effect

Anyone from new-born babies to the elderly and everyone in between can benefit from these techniques, both of which can be combined very effectively in a single treatment. The Emmett in particular can be very beneficial for sports people to help prior to and post competition.

It is perfectly safe for anyone including throughout pregnancy and has proved very successful in at least helping if not entirely alleviating back and hip pain, SPD, poor energy levels, morning sickness and helping the body to cope with pregnancy. I have had many positive results with infant colic and poor sleeping patterns with infants and small children.

You may read on other Bowen websites about not ‘mixing' Bowen with other therapies. In my opinion, the best explanation for this applies to any treatments you are going to. Firstly, every therapy will stimulate the body in different ways.  The analogy I use, it's like getting a set of directions to go to a place you don't know from a few different people. Everyone has the same intention to get to your destination but if you are given more than 1 way to get there it is much easier to get lost and not arrive at your destination as planned. Again, personally I don't have a problem of someone using different therapies but would recommend to wait at least a week before trying something else to give the body time to adjust between any treatments, including my own. Also to gauge if the work I do is working for them, I would ask not to mix for 2-3 sessions to assess the initial pain condition. Even with general wellbeing or lymphatic drainage I would recommend approx 1 week before any other types treatments. For chiropractic or more physical type work, I would recommend waiting 2 weeks after your treatment to allow the body to settle again.
One last point, by attending different therapists for different therapies, the client is reporting on the work of the last treatment. It can be very hard to gauge what is and isn't working for someone as a therapist if you don't get to assess the client after their previous treatment.  How do you know what is or isn't working?  If you are unsure, just ask and we can discuss your own personal case privately.

Both the Bowen and Emmett are pretty unique as a therapy and differ greatly from the likes of massage in that moves are on specific points on the muscle to gain a release and take only 5-20secs, not massaging the whole muscle for several minutes. Also these points can effect very deep muscles that can't be accessed any other way from the surface of the body. Both techniques very gentle which makes them very safe yet can have instant and very effective results almost immediately. Due to this gentle approach makes them ideal for use in chronic or severe pain cases where pressure could not be tolerated. Damaged/injured tissue will of course need time to heal but in general some difference will still be felt in the session.
Another difference is that only 2-3 sessions are required for lasting effects even for chronic pain. For less severe cases often only 1 session is all it might take.

While is may seem like the therapies treat loads of different conditions, the basis behind most conditions is pain. While there maybe different causes of pain, the pain mechanism is similar therefore reducing pain and releasing tensions will help the majority of conditions. When pain and tensions which are both stress on the body are released, the body's systems such as digestion, circulation, etc can settle back to a more normal state.

The treatments stimulates the regenerative phase of the nervous system (ANS). This part of your nervous system (Autonomic Nervous System, ANS) dictates involuntary functions within the body such as our heart, lungs, digestion, kidney, etc and has 2 phases, the symapthetic or ‘Adrenaline' phase which allows our bodies to function under stress and the parasympathetic or ‘Rest' phase which allows our bodies to regenerated and recover.

With our bodies constantly under stress either by daily lives or by pain, the body can tend to stay in the ‘Adrenaline' phrase for too long periods. Certain functions predominate in each phase and the ‘Rest' phase is required for tissue repair along with lower intestinal digestion, heart slows when we are resting, etc. This phase usually will predominate during quality sleep but if this phase has been limited over a period of time, the body has some catching up to do which result in a heavy tiredness after treatment. This does not always happen but if it does, the advice is going to bed early or for a nap (even for half an hour) to allow the process to continue and ensure the full benefit of the treatment.

If you are taking any form of medication please list your medications at the consultation.  There are no contra indications with medications, under no circumstances should you alter or change any medication without consulting your GP or pharmacist.  Even if you feel a great improvement, certain medications cannot be ‘just stopped' and advice from a medical person is essential for your wellbeing.

Taking medications will not stop you from gaining the benefits of your treatment. I am happy to work in conjunction with your G.P. or other medical professionals.  These treatments not a substitute for medical advice.  Advice will also be given on a personal level during your treatment session.