Read more on this topic here: www.australiandoglover.com.

What is Bowen?

"The gentle Australian healing system, ISBT-Bowen Therapy ... is a minimalist approach to bodywork, doing away with the need for repetitive and often invasive action... During a treatment the practitioner applies gentle rolling moves on very specific points on the muscles, tendons and ligaments... These initiate relaxation of the muscles, flexibility of the fascia and increased circulation of essential fluids."bowen-therapy.com

"the Bowen technique involves a gentle, rolling motion, with very light touches involving the skin and superficial structures... A treatment session frequently results in a deep sense of relaxation, allowing the body to recharge and balance itself... The practitioner stimulates sets of points, then often pauses to allow the body to compute neurologically what has been stimulated" - ROBERTSON J, MEAD A. Physical Therapy and Massage for the Dog.

In short, the Bowen therapy is a soft tissue manipulation. It is (minimalistically) targeted on known areas of common problems. Increasing circulation of oxygen, blood and lymph, toxins are assisted out of the body, and hence the immune system of your dog is stimulated, and their general well-being is increased. Some have their dogs treated with Bowen for this sole reason only! The therapy also helps in relieving (not always apparant) tension in tendons, ligaments and muscles. A therapy session can look like this video clip (1.5 minutes).

The more I hear and see of Bowen, the more of a miracle I find this therapy.

• Improved immune system, general well-being and skin condition.
• Before and after surgery, speeding up recovery time.
• Easing digestive and/or urinary problems, even incontinence!
• Preventing injuries in working, competing or otherwise physically very active dogs.
• All forms of mobility issues; acute injuries as well as chronic conditions (neck and back problems, gait problems, arthritis, dysplasia, lameness).
• Emotional states like stress, anxiety and fear; excellent for rescue dogs!

To illustrate more serious cases of mobility, and how Bowen helps, even when vets have diagnosed things like permanent paralysis and recommended euthanasia, have a look at the following video clip (5 minutes).

Google "canine Bowen" for more examples and witness reports!

If you have tried everything else, and are about to give up, TRY BOWEN!

A Bowen session can last as short as 5 minutes, to a maximum of 20 minutes. In fact, what usually takes most time, is giving your dog time to get used to me being close and touching it. I may need you, its owner, to be present for your dog to feel extra safe and calm. If your dog is very fearful, and if you agree, I would like to use a muzzle. This is mostly for insurance reasons, and to ensure I can keep practising what I love.

For me to treat your dog, I have four conditions:

• Consult your veterinarian first, make sure YOU feel comfortable with me treating your dog.
• Keep your dog as calm as possible for THREE days after treatment. Ideally walk it on leash. Do not throw it any toys to chase. Do not let it play exuberantly with other dogs. The full effect from treatment tends to show on day 2. Until the body has re-stabilised itself, rushing about may cause overstretching and subsequent INJURIES.
• During those three days, pet/stroke your dog to a minimum, and in particular avoid the area that has been treated. This to not mix up the signals the treatment has started in your dog's body.
• Make sure your dog has ample of water available.

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About Mi

My name is Minna. My ancestors originate from the deep forests of Karelia in Finland, and nearly ended up becoming Russians as part of the Moscow Peace Treaty in 1940. Twisty paths of life got me born in Sweden, and grown up to a Swedish mother tongue. In 1998 I moved to Belgium, and a whole new chapter began.

These days I am a nomad, and friends of mine think of me rather as "European" than of any particular nationality.

Dogs have had a special place in my heart and life ever since I was little. They are so much fun that it never occurred to me to look for a career working with them. I stumbled into this new career, almost by surprise.

Having been practised on humans since the 1950s, the Bowen therapy changed my life. I was desperate to relieve year-long excruciating pain in my left shoulder as well as recurring migraine attacks. Traditional medicine was at a loss. The Bowen therapy healed me! In less than 8 weeks I could come off ALL my painkillers! In addition, I also recovered full sensation in my left leg, something traditional medicine also had given up on ever solving, and which was something I was supposed to "live with", as part of "natural" ageing.

I had always been a bit doubtful of traditional medicine, and the all so often way of treating symptoms rather than the underlying problem. My experience with the Bowen therapy confirmed it.

When I saw that the Bowen therapy had started courses on treating dogs, there was only one thing for me to do: sign up!

Working towards my certification, to be allowed to the last level of training, I must produce study cases. Would you let me practise on YOUR dog?

So far I've treated a dog for fluid in its lungs: medication could be decreased, and the dog seemed much more comfortable. Another dog's pain due to hip dysplasia was alleviated. And two other dogs, fully healthy, were more supple in their movements. All dogs, once they had had their first treatments, would stand very very still the next session, giving sign of KNOWING that I was going to make them feel better. They would sometimes sleep at my feet, while waiting for the next session.

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