| "I’m a whore for body work," chuckles Jackie McKay while working on my knee during my first visit to Ki Essentials-Yoga and Massage Therapy. McKay, a certified Bowen therapist, is a rarity in this city. There simply aren’t many therapists who are trained in the Bowen technique and there’s a reason for it. Bowen therapy is a somewhat-protected method of healing – a vibration technique that encourages a mind and body connection. This would be the time for you to reserve any skepticism you may have, as there is nothing "hippie" or "new-age" about the practice.
The technique was developed by Australian native Tom Bowen, who had long been practicing as a massage therapist and found that over time, massage didn’t produce the results he was looking for in the healing of his patients.
"He possessed a gift with his hands," McKay says. "Intuitively, his hands began going to certain points on the body to do very particular movements."
Eventually, Bowen established his technique through trial and error with his clients and, as a result, developed a new form of therapy. Fearing that his newfound method would be stripped of its integrity if poorly taught, Bowen was insistent in his lifetime about who he would allow to practice his technique. Only six people met his criteria and they only did so after three years of studying with him personally.
The procedure is interesting. Lying on the massage table I didn’t know what to expect. We had identified some problem areas for me – neck, shoulders and wrist. McKay said she was going to perform a full body treatment, as she does in every first session, with a focus on those particular areas. She entered the room and started working on my ankles with very succinct and direct movements. It felt like pinches, but wasn’t painful. She then left the room for three minutes.
The idea behind leaving the room is that the body needs time to take in the effects of the therapy. The Bowen movements send neurological impulses to the brain, the brain is then given time to process the information and feed impulses back into the body to achieve realignment. Sounds complicated, but it isn’t.
"The idea behind Bowen is that less is more," says McKay. "The body knows how to heal itself, if you give it the time to heal and the right fine tuning."
The treatment proceeded with McKay working on individual areas of my body and continuously leaving the room. Bowen is not a practice designed for pampering – the intent is to heal, though it does feel good. At the end of the session, my body felt very relaxed. McKay gave me very precise instructions afterwards – no strenuous exercise, heavy lifting or massages for 24 hours. The point is to keep the vibration alive within your body in order for it to continue to heal itself.
Later that night, my wrist was throbbing. McKay indicated that certain parts of my body might "flare-up" and that it was a good sign that my body took in the information.
One week later, I visited Ki Essentials again and the focus of the treatment was centred more on my wrists and arms. McKay recommends at least three treatments ($60 per hour) for the body to feel the full effects of Bowen. After that, most of her clients see her once a month to stabilize chronic conditions they suffer from.
After experiencing Bowen for myself, I believe that this therapy is helping many people and it is evident when trying to book an appointment with McKay. She is a busy woman and is very passionate about her work. My wrist is definitely on the mend and not feeling so troublesome after the treatments. You have to give it time.
If you’re not finding solace at the chiropractor or in a bottle of Robaxacet, you might want to check out the healing effects of Bowen therapy and see if it is the right solution for you.
Ki Essentials is located at 824D Edmonton Trail N.E.; phone, 277-6264. This is the first instalment in a series of relaxation feature stories. |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.