Frequently Asked Questions

Bowen College is a school whose mandate is to offer courses from a variety of perspectives covering different interpretations of Tom Bowen’s practice for the benefit of practitioners and their patients. It also offers a directory stating the specific training of the therapist without prejudice toward their training or affiliation. Bowen courses offered by other recognized schools are accepted for CEU, as well as courses offered by the Bowen College. Practitioners will be listed by name and the level of experience and exposure they have had to Bowen for the benefit of the patient seeking treatment. Bowen College is accredited by the Canadian Examining board of Natural Health Care Practitioners. Bowen College Inc. was founded in 2008 by Dr. Manon Bolliger who is a Naturopathic Doctor. It was the study of healing systems during her Masters in Law at McGill, which greatly influenced her present direction in healing therapeutics. She has taught well over 100 classes for Bowtech, and through her years as a naturopathic physician, she has contributed much to the heart and soul implicit in healing. Influenced by the work of Byron Katie and her extensive study of Hahnemanian homeopathy, she has developed profound insight into patient – doctor relationship, has become a promoter of self-enquiry and kindness to oneself – all necessary components to the healing process. Through her extremely busy practice of 70-90 patients a week, she has developed many procedures of her own to add to the body of "Bowen moves".

Bowtech®, also known as Bowen Academy of Australia, was founded by Ossie Rentch, one of Tom Bowen’s ‘boys’. The perspective offered is that from Ossie Rentsch’s two years spent observing the work of Tom Bowen. Bowtech is largely responsible for spreading the Bowen technique around the world. Their "recipe" approach to ailments, has allowed for its quick spread. Currently their basic Bowen training program is based on 7 modules, an advanced/specialized class & a master’s class (formerly also known as Level System).

For more visit: http://www.bowtech.com

Neural Touch™ is a system of Bowen created and taught by its founder Gene Dobkin in San Jacinto, California. Gene has taught in the past for both Bowtech and NST and has added a depth of personal knowledge in cranial technique, myofascial technique, neuro-lymphatic technique, neuro-muscular technique, polarity therapy and positional release technique giving birth to his own creation of Neural Touch™. He has been an inspiration to all Bowen students wanting to understand the whys and hows of the work and to gain their own intuitive knowledge of healing.

For more visit: http://www.usbowen.com/element.html

Raymond Augustiniak is the founder of Bowen Healing System™ Center and the Natural Healthcare Institute™ in California. He is the author of the book "Awaken the Doctor Within!" which explains what Bowen is and how it works in detail. His contributions in developing and expanding Tom Bowen’s work has led to the discovery of many Bowen Releases that directly address very specific conditions such as heart attack, stroke, bi-polar, epilepsy, thoracic outlet syndrome, etc. The numerous Sports specific Bowen Releases that were developed to greater assist athletic performance, stamina and rapid recovery from overexertion and injury have served countless Professional, Olympic, Collegiate, high school and amateur athletes for over 8 years.

For more info see: www.BowenHealingSystem.com

In 1991, practicing Applied Physiologist, Michael J. Nixon-Livy, from Australia, commenced the challenging task of unraveling Tom Bowen’s later, more advanced principles, at that time known only to a handful of individuals. By 1995 he had completed his research and choreographed Bowen’s advanced principles into a system, which is now being taught by his organization.

Since its launch in 1996 in France, NST continues to make a significant and positive impact on health care systems throughout Europe, USA and Australia.

For more info see: http://www.nsthealth.com

Romney Smeeton, one of Tom Bowen’s boys has entrusted Ross Emmett with his understanding of the work he observed from Tom Bowen in the later years of Tom Bowen’s life.

The technique can be used as an effective adjunct to enhance the treatment value of other types of muscle release and neuro-musculoskeletal therapy, or may be used as an effective therapy on its own. Practitioners are taught ways to more accurately assess client status and to apply techniques derived from NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) for better client outcomes.

For more visit: http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au

The European College of Bowen Studies is an organization instrumental and responsible for the widespread success of The Bowen Technique in the UK and Europe. In 1994 the ECBS was established, and been run by Julian Baker and Louise Atwill. Julian Baker is the popular author of book entitled, The Bowen Technique.

For more info see: http://www.thebowentechnique.com

Fascial Kinetics, researched and developed by Russell Sturgess, looks at the various relationships that exist within the body, and demonstrates how Bowen technique is able to assist in bringing harmony to these mechanical and physiological relationships. Russell Sturgess studied with Ossie Rentsch, one of Tom Bowen’s students, in 1987 and was given the opportunity to begin teaching overseas in 1989, which he continued for six years before commencing his teaching in Australia. Russell’s course honors the tradition of Bowen, is grounded in science and balances it with the art of healing.

In 2006 Russell stepped down from teaching, but the responsibility for continuing the Fascial Kinetics education process is now shared by a cooperative of teachers mentored by Russell.

For more info see: www.fascialkinetics.com.au

SMART BOWEN® Therapy is Brian Smart’s expanded interpretation of the Bowen technique he learnt in 1992. As far back as 1975, Brian has worked with the human body as a Football Trainer, volunteer then Advance Ambulance Officer, Remedial Massage and Bowen Therapist, learning Trigger Point Therapy, Stretching Techniques and Aromatherapy along the way.

He and his wife, Leah are also behind the development of the equine and small animal Bowen delivering courses throughout Australia.

For more info see: http://www.smartbowen.com

VHT (Vibromuscular Harmonization Technique) was developed in 1997 by Jock Ruddock after reading and researching into the writings of Dr Kevin Ryan, the last person trained by Tom Bowen, who had worked in his clinic until Bowen's death in 1982.

Though some practitioners have described VHT as "advance Bowen technique", its developer, Jock Ruddock prefers it to be regarded as a separate modality, though it does still retain the basic unique style of the 'Bowen move' at its core.

For more information see: www.vibromuscularharmonization.com

ISBT-Bowen Therapy® was founded in 1998 by Lisa Black and Col Murray in Australia. They first received their training from Oswald Rentsch of Bowtech® in 1990. In 1999 they introduced their courses in Austria and Germany and now have regular courses throughout these countries. Their foundation (basic training) courses consist of five modules of two days each. They teach their courses in Switzerland, England, New Zealand, Portugal and Hong Kong. They are a member of the BFTA (Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia).

For more information visit: www.bowen-therapy.com

Legally in Canada, no registration is required at this point. It is the practitioner’s choice regarding their training, and marketing of their services, provided they comply with the rules of each organization.

In the meantime since there is no independent association in Canada. Bowen College is offering both the practitioner a chance to expose their practice in Bowen, and the client seeking treatment, a complete list regardless of affiliation.

Bowen College would greatly encourage the creation of a practitioner run association in the same spirit as the BTFA (Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia). This would be an association run by practitioners to support the needs of the Canadian Practitioners.

Bowen Therapists Associations were formed by groups of devoted practitioners in Australia who wished to have a voice in the future of their own profession and the BTFA was formed as a national body to represent them collectively at the national level.

The BTFA is a non-profit organization run by an elected executive committee from the state and territory membership body. The Federal body’s main role is to advise and formulate new policies, teaching training standards, course education standards and to promote the awareness of Bowen throughout Australia and the world. Some of the BFTA goals are:

• To provide an effective voice for Bowen Therapy and Bowen Therapists with government, health funds and the general public our clients.
• To increase public awareness and understanding of Bowen Therapy, its history and its success in treating a wide range of musculo-skeletal and associated problems afflicting many individuals from infants to the elderly
• To promote confidence in Bowen Therapy as a primary choice in the field of complementary, natural and traditional therapies
• To develop increasing professionalism and high standards of professional practice among its members through formal studies and continuing professional education requirements
• To provide inputs in the development of relevant legislation affecting complementary health, particularly Bowen Therapy, that is in the public interest, including the opposition of legislation which, for any reason, is considered inappropriate or against the public interest in this field
• To ensure that the public, have access to a body that has a vested interest in their welfare when using the services of registered Bowen Therapists and to emphasize the importance of checking that practitioners or therapists are registered with the BTFA

The Bowen Directory is an online directory of any Bowen related organization or practitioner who wish to be listed. They are not affiliated with any therapeutic or teaching organization or Bowen systems. The company is run by Dave Bean and partner Ananuwa in Denver Colorado. They only provide a directory where Bowen practitioners can be listed and viewed for a fee.

For more information see: www.bowendirectory.com

Bowen Canada is an affiliate organization to Bowtech® running as a registry for practitioners trained by Bowtech® in Canada. It offers a directory for patients looking for Bowtech® practitioners. Currently, to belong to Bowen Canada, you must pay a $90 yearly fee and continue to take courses offered only by Bowtech.

For more info see: http://www.bowenworkregistry.ca

You can do this in 3 places: Bowen Canada, Bowen Directory or Bowen College Inc. There are some significant differences in who can join and what information is presented on each.

The only people who can be listed on the Bowen Canada’s directory are those who have ONLY done Bowtech® training. To appear and remain on their site there is a $90 annual fee, plus a 48 hour CEU requirement of Bowtech® courses only (to be done every 2 years). They will list first and last name, city, and phone # of the practitioners, and a checklist of if they have attended a course called Specialized Procedures twice.

The Bowen Directory is for any Bowen related organization or practitioner who wish to be listed. They are located in Denver Colorado and not affiliated with any therapeutic or teaching organization or Bowen systems. Their fee is $20 USD for practitioners and they list names, designation, address, email, and website.

Bowen College Inc. offers a directory stating the specific training of the therapist without prejudice toward their training or affiliation. It is free to appear on our listing, and there are no CEU requirements until the Diploma Level. Practitioners will be listed by name, designation, level of experience and exposure, their emails, websites and a photo.