Advanced Bowen Therapy
Applied Myoskeletal Therapy and PASC TMJ Therapy:
quick, versatile, and very effective
What is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is a gentle and non-invasive treatment that uses light touches on the skin, joints, muscles, and organs to change how the body feels and moves. A Bowen move involves a light pull that sends signals to the brain and spinal cord. This can be compared to how a guitarist changes the sound of a chord by adjusting their touch – strong or soft.
This therapy helps the body by releasing tension in the tissues and fascia without causing further injury. The body's sensors, nerves, and reflexes are used to make changes even in areas that are hard to reach, like the neck, skull, and pelvis. The therapist triggers the body's natural contract-relax response to release deep-seated issues without needing to apply heavy pressure.
Fascia is a connective tissue with many layers that, when tight or injured, can limit movement and cause pain. Think of a snag in a sweater or a stiff seam in clothing – it restricts movement. When fascia tightens, it can create a protective layer that eventually becomes stiff and limits our movement. This stiffness can cause nerve pain, poor circulation, and affect posture, organ function, digestion, breathing, and even simple actions like swallowing or turning the head. Bowen Therapy helps to release these restrictions, allowing for better movement and overall function.
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What is Applied Myoskeletal Therapy?
“Applied Myoskeletal Therapy (AMT) is a gentle and effective therapy suitable for all ages. It is said that with the right key the door will open easily, and this is the philosophy of Applied Myoskeletal Therapy, believing that the therapist should work with the body, promoting it to heal, instead of forcefully trying to make a change and risk putting the body into stress.” - John Garfield, creator.
AMT combines techniques from various therapies like Bowen Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Osteopathy, and Massage Therapy. It involves gentle, non-oil treatments focusing on soft tissue injuries, pain, and dysfunction in the muscles and nerves. The therapy uses light, transverse movements and sustained muscle releases to help the body heal.
Developed over fifteen years, AMT includes many safe and gentle methods not taught elsewhere. It's designed for advanced practitioners and complements other therapies like Bowen Therapy, Remedial Massage, Kinesiology, Craniosacral Therapy, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, and Physiotherapy.
AMT works by identifying imbalances in the spine, soft tissues, or dural tube and helping the body realign without forceful pressure. Imagine braces pulling teeth into place – once the braces are removed, the teeth stay aligned. Similarly, reducing tension in fascia and muscles helps realign joints and the spine.
A key aspect of AMT is the relationship between the sacrum (bottom of the spine) and the skull. If the sacrum is misaligned, it can affect a paired bone in the neck or skull, impacting the whole dural tube. This concept, known as the Lovett Brother Principle, states that when one bone in a pair is misaligned, its partner will also become dysfunctional.
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PASC TMJ Corrections with Cranial Considerations
PASC stands for Practitioner Assessment Skills Course. It's an advanced therapy combining principles from Orthodontics, Craniosacral Therapy, Acupressure, and Functional Anatomy with techniques from Bowen Therapy and Applied Kinesiology.
Did you know that non-specific low back pain can often come from the jaw? Each vertebra in the spine is connected to a corresponding partner, much like stepping on one end of a mat affects the other end. When you're stressed and clench your teeth, it affects jaw movement and the corresponding vertebra, L5, which is at the base of your spine.
PASC was developed by Ron Phelan and Brendan C. Stack, known as the Father of TMJ Treatment. The course focuses on aligning the lower jaw (mandible) with the upper jaw (maxilla). Proper alignment, known as the Gelb 4-7 position or Centric Relation, is crucial for the neck, spine, and pelvis to function correctly. When the jaw is misaligned, it can compress important nerves, causing symptoms similar to Parkinson’s or Tourette’s syndromes. Correcting this alignment helps relieve compression and promotes healing of the TMJ disc.
Dr. Harold Gelb emphasized the importance of jaw alignment, famously saying, “If your jaw joint is off, you can kiss your body goodbye!” In his book Killing Pain Without Prescription, he explains how misaligned jaws can affect the entire body, often due to birth trauma. Misalignment can be seen in facial asymmetry, such as uneven eyes, ears, shoulders, and pelvis.
Swallowing activates the TMJ around 2,500 times a day. If you have a tongue tie or an improper swallow pattern, it can lead to pelvic mobility issues.