I have known Chris Kahn for a really long time. We met when I was in the middle of marketing one of the first physical therapy practices I managed at the start of my career. Chris gives an expert, therapeutic, healing massage.
Recently he invited me to come try his new love, Bowenwork. And if you read Bodyworks Tries Bowenwork Part 1, then you know this was something I had never heard of. Bowenwork? I was curious and who doesn’t want to try a new kind of healing?
Turns out a lot of you aren’t sure about trying a new healing modality, and possibly with good reason. Is it the thought of trying something new, venturing into the unknown, with a stranger…touching you? I get it. Since I don’t share that fear, enough to let it stop me anyway, I decided to try some of this stuff, “For you.”
So Bowenwork… You can go Google it if you really want to, but I highly recommend you try it before reading anything, other than this blog of course! For those of you who are body awareness challenged, this will be tough, but so crucial. Because you want elbows into your gluts. I know. And if elbows aren’t in your gluts, you aren’t getting your money’s worth. Yeah, I get it. That used to be me.
Funny thing is, the lighter the touch, the deeper the effect. Problem is, most of us are so numbed out, with a so super-high-Washington D.C.-fixing-the-tragedies-of-the-world, pain tolerance, that we can’t feel a light touch. We have to get the elbows to feel. Listen, my next blog will be on the benefits of Rolfing. I have experienced deep work, I like it, I have nothing against it. However, the day I reaped the deep healing, soul clearing work of light tough, I rarely wanted to go back for elbows.
Bowenwork is a light pressure massage stroke over a specific muscle or point on the body. The points relate to the nervous system, and probably a whole lot of other important inter-related systems of the body and mind, like FASCIA. The autonomic nervous system is stimulated with the specific touch, and reboots your system. This will change chronic pain and tightness patterns. Did you read that last sentence carefully?
My first session felt like a guided deep relaxation and meditation session. No elbows. Since I had been having an involuntary break from my regular marital arts practice, I was already feeling good, joints and muscles rested, regular nagging pain spots absent, so I hadn’t really had anything to test the session against.
Usually if a healing modality allows me to perform at my peak, without forcing me into awareness of my old injury areas, then I know it has worked. In other words, if I can spar with my regular 6 foot tall, 200 lb classmates during the week and kick their ass without thinking about my knee and hip, then, yeah, give me some more Bowenwork.
During my recent second session, I felt different on the table, weird. It was like my body was shifting and unwinding inside, but there was no outward movement or unwinding going on on the table. I could feel my pelvis align, and my legs unwind. Listen, it takes practice to feel this shit. Maybe you are wondering what kind of drugs I am taking. If this was me 20 years ago, I would have been laying there, mind racing, going something like, “Oh my God, if he doesn’t put an elbow in my glut soon, I am leaving.”
This time I was able to test the work because the next day was my favorite Saturday morning 8:00 a.m. Tae Kwon Do class, and one of our new, enthusiastic black belts led it, including a lot more cardio work than we were all used to. I didn’t have to think about my knee or my hip during the fifth repetition of Suicides. Yeah, Bowenwork passed the test. And I will be going back for a few more sessions, so Chris can help me reboot again, cuz, well, I picked a combat sport to be addicted to, and the people who help put me back together between classes earn that right.
Thanks Chris.
Chris Kahn
Certified Massage/Bowenwork Therapist
131 Church Street NW
Falls Church, VA 22180
(703) 855-8360
Tell him Laura sent you.
COMMENTS
This is an interesting modality and sounds like something I would like to try — yes, us liberal,die-hard democrats in San Francisco, California also carry the weight of the world! Ha! And, I’m thinking this would go well with my relaxed, not-so-violent Tai Chi practice! With Tai Chi, it’s all about body alignment; being centered, grounded with the earth. Re-booting my system could only help! Thank you! Tell me where I would find Bowenwork in California.
Thanks for asking Susan. Go here: http://www.BowenworkAcademyUSA.com
Awesome! Thank you!
Also, bowendirectoryus.com and bowendirectory.com. I am a Bowen therapist. When I took my first 4 days of training, I had behind me 17 years of doing deep-tissue massages. I dropped the massages like a hot potato and have done only Bowen since. It blew me away with its ease and effectiveness; I am deeply grateful to know this work.
Inger,
That is awesome….much like how I have felt with techniques like Myofascial Release and CranioSacral Therapy, as well as NeuroKinetic Therapy….now we have to educate about their effectiveness and ask people to try it!! Thank you for your comment!
This is a listing of Bowen therapist http://www.ibowen.ca/
http://www.allbowentherapyworldwide.com/
Thanks much Sally!
