The Bowen Technique

I’m sitting in a living room just metres behind Parsons Green station. It’s cosy and I’m stroking a grey Burmese cat called Teddy who’s sitting on my lap. This is my first experience of the Bowen technique – and it promises to get even more relaxing.

The Bowen technique is a type of non-invasive massage where the practitioner uses a series of rolling movements on the skin. It’s a holistic way of healing the body’s aches and pains, and is typically used to treat musculoskeletal and respiratory issues – it can even be used on animals.

Practitioner Catherine Ford practises the Bowen technique from her home on Epple Road. Her background isn’t in massage or homeopathy – it’s in events organising. Ford had Bowen herself for sciatica, and when she was made redundant after 9/11, she decided to become a practitioner herself.

I’ve always been slightly suspicious of homeopathy, ever since realising arnica tablets don’t cure bad skin (I was 14). But Ford thinks differently. ‘The rolling movements send an electrical charge to the brain,’ she says. ‘It allows the body to heal itself holistically.’

The first move is a strange pulling motion on my back. It feels like my skin is being tugged one way then pushed back the other. Ford continues this set of movements on one side, then crosses the bed to do the other. It takes about two minutes. After this she leaves the room for same amount of time, and I listen to Teddy mewing outside.

The ‘essential’ pauses are to allow the body to respond to the movements. Traditionally, clients fall asleep during the second pause because it’s so relaxing.

Ford re-enters and works on my legs, again gently pulling at my skin and springing it back. She does this twice on either leg before leaving the room again. This time I can smell her dinner cooking and it smells good.

I’m dimly aware of her coming back into the room and working on my back, my legs and my neck – like she warned me, I’ve fallen asleep. While this might seem counterproductive to the treatment, Ford tells me the body heals faster when in slumber – so actually I’ve done myself a favour.

Ford finds that most problems may be resolved in two to three sessions – it’s that effective. I certainly feel a lot lighter and my back is straighter. Ford warned me I would be stiff, as my body has effectively ‘re-set’ itself. She’s right: the next day at work I’m rubbing at my back like a woman three times my age. But I can feel my head is straighter and I sleep a lot better that week. I’m not exactly a convert, but I’m not as sceptical about homeopathy as I once was either.

This Bowen technique treatment took place at:

Catherine Ford
Epple Road
Parsons Green
London
SW6 4DH

Tel: 020 7731 4720