Tom Bowen

TombThe Bowen Technique was pioneered by Tom Bowen in the 1950’s and 60’s.

He was born in 1916 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia into a working class background.

His first job was as a manual labourer, however he was fascinated by the different postures people had, and how this related to their symptoms of ill health or muscle pain. He had an uncanny ability to observe how people walked, sat and moved and drew remarkably accurate conclusions as to the cause of their pain.

His fascination with bodywork was born out of a desire to help people who were suffering. A deeply religious man, he would often say that the development of his theraputic work was a ‘Gift from God’.

He had a deep interest in anatomy and spent much time with well known manipulators of his day. However, it is clear that early in his career, his approach took on a whole new dimension and he began working in a radically different way. How this came about, or what instigated it, is difficult to say, but there is no doubt that it was truly inspired and a very gifted healer.

Tom Bowen was a very quiet man and did not promote or teach his approach, and he allowed only a very small number of therapists to observe him working. He was dedicated to helping the poor in the local community, setting up a free clinic for disabled children, and helping out with injuries at the local football club. As well as helping people, he had a keen interest in helping animals, especially horses.

Oswald Rentsch worked with Tom Bowen, and spent many years refining and documenting his work but it was not until 1986, four years after Tom died, that Oswald Rentsch began to teach the therapy.

The Bowen Technique only came to the UK in the early 1990’s, but it is fast becoming one of the most popular complementary therapies available.