The History of Acupressure
The practice of acupressure has been present in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for more than 2000 years and is still in use today. Acupressure is described as a method of sending a signal to the body through the use of fingers, palms, elbows or feet, or special devices to apply pressure to acupoints on the body’s meridians. Meridians are thought to be natural pathways in the body where vital energy, qi (ch’i) flows.
When there is a blockage of this flow or an imbalance in qi, TCM practitioners believe that this can cause illness and pain. Acupressure helps to correct functional imbalances or blockages in a body’s qi to restore the body’s natural energy flow thus returning the body to a more natural state of wellness.
What is a Typical Acupressure Session Like?
Acupressure sessions, like a chiropractic or Bowenwork session is performed on a client while lying fully clothed on a massage table. The Acupressure practitioner presses on points on the body where it is believed that 12 major meridians connect the brain to specific organs or networks of organs, organizing a system of communication throughout your body.
An acupressure session typically lasts about one hour and may require several sessions for the best results.
The History of Bowenwork®
The Bowen technique was developed in the 1950’s by Thomas Ambrose Bowen of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Thomas Ambrose Bowen developed his manual therapy over a period of several decades, working at first primarily with injured laborers and athletes. Oswald (Ossie) Rentsch, took on the task of making Tom Bowen’s work known around the world. Bowenwork® (known originally as Bowtech®) is Rentsch’s interpretation of Bowen’s work. Today, Bowenwork is taught in over 30 countries by instructors trained and authorized by Rentsch’s organization, the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia (BTAA)
What is Bowenwork®
Bowenwork® like Acupressure is a system of touch that has both manipulative and energetic components, but it is neither massage nor energy work. Practitioners perform sequences of small stimulations, called “moves”, on specific points on the body, interspersed with rest periods that initiates a series of responses through stimulation of the nervous, musculoskeletal, fascial and energetic systems of the human body.
The Bowenwork moves stimulate mechanoreceptors (nerve endings) that overlie both muscles and acupoints. The body’s response to this stimulation, which begins during the rest periods, includes a balancing of the autonomic nervous system and changes in the musculoskeletal system in the direction of increased symmetry. From the point of view of complementary health care, when the body’s nervous and energetic systems are in balance, its physical, emotional and mental functions are able to return to a healthy state.
What is a Typical Bowenwork® Session Like?
Bowenwork® session are 30-45 minutes consisting with breaks every 2-3 minutes to help the body fall into a parasympathetic (relaxed) state. In this state, your body’s natural healing abilities are set to work. After a Bowen session, responses in the nervous and energetic systems can continue for up to 10 days, therefore subsequent sessions are scheduled a week or two apart to allow these processes to complete before providing new input. Most conditions respond in 3-5 sessions, while some conditions may require repetition to reinforce.
At the conclusion of a Bowen session the client is given self-care advice about staying appropriately hydrated, performing targeted gentle exercises daily, and seeking advice from other health-care providers as needed.
Source: American Bowen Academy
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