This section of the site gives a full break down of the entire course of instruction in The Bowen Technique explaining the content of each level. For a quick guide to the format of the ECBS training click here

ECBS courses in The Bowen Technique cover all the introdcutory aspects of the technique and give the therapist a thorough grounding in all the principles of what Bowen is all about. The course is broken down into five modules of contact teaching time, with a requirement for the student to undertake a series of case histories between modules. The ECBS course is taught by specially trained teachers, all experienced and qualified Bowen therapists with at least two years experience.

The courses are all practical based and allow plenty of time for demonstration, practice and question and answer sessions.

The modules are as follows

1 Part One  4 Days £395
2 Part Two   2 Days £160
3 Part Three  3 Days £295
4 Part Four   2 Days £160
5 Part Five   Assessment 3 Days £425

What you need to start training
Although there is no previous experience neccessary for enrolling on an ECBS course we do ask that you attempt to make yourself as familiar as possible with a basic grounding in functional anatomy. The course teaches procedures which are explained and identified by using standard latin names for muscles and a good grounding of these together with basic anatomical terminology will be of great assistance. ECBS stocks and recommends Primal Pictures software and discounted programmes can be purchased from our office.

Part One Introductory Level (Four Days)
This level is the starting point for all therapists and introduces the whole Bowen concept. In addition to the theory and background of what The Bowen Technique is, this is a practical, hands on course which gives the student the ability to perform a complete body treatment. Classes are kept small with a maximum of 14 students, to allow plenty of supervision and opportunity to ask questions.

At each stage of the course, new work will be introduced and charts and notes handed out. The work will be described and demonstrated twice before students then participate in hands on supervised practice.

The areas covered in this level are as follows.

Introduction
The Bowen Technique is introduced and explaines as being a system of bodywork, together with the fundamental principles. This section also covers guidelines for treatment and explanations of how and why Bowen works. The dos and don'ts are covered as well as guidelines for treatment.

Lower Back and Legs
Introducing a comprehensive treatment for lower back complaints, knee problems, hamstring and circulatory symptoms. The initial procedures are also often used as pre-requisites for other procedures and this is explained. The concept of using certain moves to energise and release specific muscle groups is covered, and the procedures are demonstrated twice before practice.

Back and Neck
Again these are often used as prerequisites for other procedures. The upper back moves allow relaxation of the upper erector spinae group, as well as rhomboids. They release the scapula to allow freer range of movement and access other areas, such as accessory muscles of respiration. The neck moves are an effective treatment for a whole range of presentations, including whiplash, migraine, rye neck, shoulder and arm conditions and even facial pain. They help to restore wider range of movement to the entire cervical area and are the starting point for most treatments. These two areas cover the entire system and form the basis for most Bowen treatments. Sometimes referred to as basic procedures, this fundamentally undermines the strength and power of these moves as the whole system is addressed with these few simple techniques

Shoulders, Elbow and Wrist
The Bowen Technique shoulder procedure is one of the most effective moves for the treatment of shoulder complaints currently available in physical therapy. It consists of two simple moves over the deltoid, which when mastered give a very high rate of success. The elbow procedure deals with problems such as tennis elbow, tendonitis and RSI. For more information on the shoulder procedure refer to the shoulder research

TOP

Knees
The knee procedure works the muscular structure around the knee as well as the calf muscles and corresponding nerves into the ankle. Acute knee injuries as well as more chronic conditions can be affected by this procedure.

Ankles
The ankle work gives the therapist a tool to work immediately an ankle that has been sprained or otherwise injured. With many treatments work would not be performed on inflamed or swollen areas, but Bowen is actually at its most effective in these situtations

Hamstrings
Not just for athletes or sporting environments, the hamstrings can have a knock on effect on the lower back, pelvis, knees and ankles. This procedure increases the flexibility of the hamstrings and studies have shown that this is not just the case immediately after treatment, but that the fexibility continues to increase during the course of the week after treatment.

TOP

Sacrum
This quick procedure is the first aid treatment that can often have an immediate impact on acute lower back pain. There are literally hundreds of cases where people have been imobilised in pain one minute and completely free of pain the next, due to the quick and simple move which is the sacrum. Performed standing the whole thing takes less than thirty seconds to perform.

Review and Practice
Time is built in to each module to allow for practice of the procedures learned and for question and answer sessions.

Case Histories
A home study module of ten case histories consisting of three treatments per client, is required from each student and these must be submitted before the secondary level. Notes on how to take case histories and the forms required, will be handed out at the introductory level. A further ten cases are required between the secondary and final levels and this section is taken as part of the overall assessment mark.

TOP

Part Two (Two days) The two day Part Two review goes over the work learned in the initial four days. Although it can be taken as soon as convenient, it is normally done after a couple of months. This module can be repeated if the student so wishes to. In addition to the reviewing the procedures, there will be time allocated to review any cases and for questions to be answered. Again the time consists of demonstration and practice.

Part Three (Three Days)
The Part Three Level in the ECBS training starts to lift the techinque to a new dimension and includes procedures that are remarkable for their speed and efficacy. Students will have already submitted ten case histories and these will be returned with a written evaluation, giving guidance and suggestions on any improvement. Students are required to undertake a further ten case studies prior to the attending the final level and further forms will be given out. The form is also available vie e-mail from the office or on disc format.

The Part Three level notes are accompanied by a colour photo manual. This consists of over 100 full colour photographs, with directional arrows and simple text. These show not only the position and direction of the move, but help the student to explain the nature of the technique to clients.

Chest and Breast
Moves which encourage lymphatic movement through the breast tissue as well as being assistant moves for the diaphragm and shoulder. Used for breast tissue inflammation as well as for structural problems through the upper outer quadrant of the body.

Diaphragm
An important procedure for the treatment of symptoms associated with respiratory illness, the diaphragm procedure also addresses childhood and infant colic, asthma and when adjusted slightly even structural deformities such as scoliosis. This procedure has also been the subject of researh into its effectiveness in the treatment of asthma. Click Here to read the study

TOP

Temporo Mandibular Joint
One of the most used and dramatic procedures taught within the earlier stages of Bowen study. The TMJ has so many uses that it is almost impossible to list. The most obvious ones are the abilities of the TMJ to start an adjustment of the bite and realign the head and thoracic spine. IN turn this can have a major impact on the whole of the muscular skeletal structure and the TMJ is often the first port of call for even back pain.

The Coccyx
A powerful move which is considered to be one of the big energisers of Bowen. The coccyx has a lot of variations which can be learned at a later stage, but the initial moves work the sympathetic nervous system by working the sympathetic trunk at its base, the coccyx. It also has an interesting effect on the structure of the pelvis, as most of the pelvic floor muscles attach to the coccyx. To this end it can be used for a range of presentations, including reproductive and urinary problems. It is not invasive and again is easily illustrated to the client using the photo manual.

TOP

The Pelvic
The move that quite literally leaves many speechless. Using these four moves therapists can often see even the most entrenched and chronic problems change in minutes. Leg length differences that might have been treated many times by other methods, often resolve immediately with a long term outcome. The procedure also has big implications for pregnancy, general reproduction and sports therapy, groin strain and hamstring problems to name but two.

Kidney
A move to reduce pressure and inflammation around the kidney area, giving relief from urinary tract symptoms as well as mid back pain.

Part Four (Two Days)
Part Four consolidates the additional work which has been covered in Part Three. Again there is a chance to have any questions answered and for the work to be demonstrated and practiced again. With the next level being the Part Five assessment, a short mock written paper is given and a chance to review and discuss case histories is available.

Part Five Assessment (Three Days)
This level brings the whole modular system together and is the ideal opportunity to review all the work which has been learned over the previous modules. The Part Five levels are conducted by senior ECBS teachers Julian Baker, David Howells or Joy West, each of whom have many years of experience. Any questions that students have will be answered in full and all the work previously covered will be reviewed.

The last day will also include a written and practical exam. Students be handed back their case histories which will have been sent to Head Office prior to the final level and will receive a written evaluation of these.