You gave valuable time and money to a session. What you do at home will help you get the most out of it.
First 24 Hours after Bowenwork
- Hydrate — Drink 2-3 liters of water daily. Drink fluids throughout your day, not all at once. Keep this up for several days for best results.
- Adjust exercise routine – Take a 24-hour break from cardio, weights, stretching or physical therapy routines and walk instead. A temporary pause allows changes to integrate. Return to regular activity on the next day, or as your feel ready.
- Pause hot and cold therapy – Make space for Bowenwork to settle into your body and take a temporary 24-hour break from hot and cold therapy. This includes hot tub sessions, sauna, ice baths, ice packs, heating pads and heating/cooling creams. All of these treatments can be beneficial, but are not recommended the first day after a session.
- Contact your therapist, if needed – If something comes up after a session that is worrying you or doesn’t seem quite right, please contact Patricia. See the section on unexpected reactions below.
For the next 5-7 days
- Walk daily – Walk at least 15-20 minutes every day, with special commitment to this habit in the first 5 days after Bowenwork. If you can, walk without anything in your hands, on your back or across your shoulders. In the first couple days, walk gently and mindfully, seeing what you notice. Walking balances the body and helps with any post-session discomfort.
- Practice at-home exercises – Start practicing any suggested exercise(s) the day after your appointment. Daily practice for 5-7 days will extend the benefit of your session.
- Hydrate — Continue to hydrate so your tissues stay mobile and to move nutrients and waste on a cellular level. Drink at least 2 liters of water daily. Drink fluids throughout your day, not all at once.
For Back Problems
Don’t sit for more than 30 minutes in one stretch for the remainder of the day after your session. This guidance is for those of you who have ongoing low back issues or if your session was focused on the pelvis, tailbone or low back. This advice is for the day of your appointment until you go to bed that night. Every 30 minutes, stand up and walk around your chair or into the next room and back before returning to your chair. No need to take a walk every 30 minutes. You are just taking a break from sitting.
Other Massage and Bodywork
Please schedule appointments so that you don’t receive other bodywork the same week (e.g., chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage or other bodywork). Try to leave 5-7 days between other bodywork appointments and your Bowen session. This gives you a chance to see how each modality affects you and allows each appointment to integrate before asking your body to shift and change with the next work you receive. Spacing between sessions means you will feel better and get more benefit from all of your appointments.
Unexpected Reactions
Bowenwork may initiate a healing response that produces unexpected sensations in the days after a session. Most often, people report relief, mild stiffness or some combination. Some people report fatigue, headache or increased emotions. Occasionally people have stronger or unusual reactions. Such responses tend to be temporary and should not be a cause for alarm. That doesn’t mean you should go through discomfort alone. It is better if you consult your therapist.
If you experience unexpected discomfort, worry or concern, please contact Patricia. Use the icons at the top of this page to email, call or text. Patricia will call you back to give support and guidance.
Be Fluid Bodywork 