POSTURAL assessment is a key tool for Bowen therapists, especially with a first-time client, to help identify any movement or muscle dysfunction.
When training new therapists, we also point out the importance of good posture for the practitioner, to protect their own musculoskeletal health and avoid causing back and shoulder problems.
Standing for long periods combined with repetitive movement can adversely impact the therapist’s own posture leading to long-term problems. The height of the couch is critical, and if the client is being treated while seated then it is safer for the therapist to also sit rather than leaning over at an awkward angle.
Instructor Helen Perkins, who qualified as a Bowen Technique therapist in Australia in 1994 often brings in a Pilates instructor to her classes to demonstrate the importance of maintaining proper alignment of neck, spine and feet to ensure they carry out treatment comfortably, without undue strain.
“When standing, we explain to students they should keep their back straight, bend from the hips and depending on the procedure being carried out, perhaps bend their knees slightly,” says Helen.
“Maintaining proper alignment enables the therapist to work more efficiently and effectively while also reflecting the basic principles of Bowen therapy… an understanding of how the body’s structure impacts its function.”