Workshop Title

May 1st & 2nd 2010

Randy Barber

SMART BOWEN® THERAPY

SMART BOWEN® Therapy is a second-generation interpretation of Bowen Therapy.  Brian Smart, the principal of Smart Bowen Therapy, and the developer of SMART BOWEN® was originally taught “the Bowen technique” by Oswald Rentsch in 1992.  While using the “Bowtech” model in his clinic, Brian found that there appeared to be many gaps in the system, and began experimenting with moves and procedures that were very different, and covered the areas not addressed in the original courses that he had attended.

It was not long before experimentation began to pay dividends, with some excellent outcomes for his clients.  This encouraged Brian to study more on how the therapy may work.  With a background as an Advanced Life Support Ambulance Officer with the S.A. Ambulance Service, and having extensive studies and professional experience in Remedial Massage and Trigger Point Therapy, Brian began to piece together theories on where he should be doing Bowen’s style of work for a large range of muscular skeletal problems and physical conditions.   Every new procedure was documented and repeated on a number of clients to ensure results were consistent.  During this experimental phase there were many spectacular successes for his clients, problems that had resisted many different therapies in the past were now resolving.

Early in 1999 Brian felt it was time to share what he had learnt through experimentation in Bowen Therapy, and commenced teaching at three different levels.     Level One was the basic Bowen Therapy procedures, Level Two was a consolidation of Level One and some extra procedures, and Level Three being more highly refined, with specific Bowen moves for a vast range of problems encountered in a professional bodywork practice.

The name SMART BOWEN®, is represented by SMART standing for ‘Specific Myofascial Adhesion Release Technique’, and BOWEN which has been defined as ‘Balancing Organics, Water, Energy Naturally.   This clearly identifies this interpretation of Bowen Therapy as being that of Brian Smart and all of this wording is part of the SMART BOWEN® registered trademark. 

The ‘Levels’ of training have been altered to reflect how Brian now uses and teaches Bowen Therapy, moving forward from the early days and how he was originally taught.     The changes in many cases are subtle, but in some areas are quite dramatic, and with the advancement of this modality at large, these changes have become necessary to keep pace with progress.   The application of SMART BOWEN® Therapy from ‘Levels’ has now been renamed and restructured into ‘Stages’.   This school will issue no certificate, until a student completes all of the Stages and requirements in the program they have chosen to study, training in Anatomy and Physiology inclusive.  Our programs take the student through their training to a Professional Therapist Level. These courses are now being taught throughout Australia and overseas countries.

Apart from the ‘Three Stage’ program for students choosing a professional career in human Bowen therapy, we also offer a four-day ‘Post Graduate Seminar in Bowen Therapy for People’ for therapists who have formally trained with other Association recognised schools in Bowen Therapy for People.  Certification in Anatomy & Physiology is required.  This course clearly demonstrates to the participants the many differences and benefits between SMART BOWEN® and other interpretations of Bowen therapy.  The ‘Post Graduate’ course offers information and techniques from all Three Stages of the SMART BOWEN® for People Course in one, along with the addition of the new ‘Advance Lymphatic Drainage Technique’ as developed by Brian Smart in clinical practice over a 4-year period.

Throughout the duration of ‘Post Graduate’ course we look at the theory aspects of SMART BOWEN® Therapy and what effects we may be having on the body during a treatment.   We show the way that Brian has been able to develop his work during 12 years of clinical practice, and how he carries out the evaluation of the client’s body prior to treatment.   SMART BOWEN® is used as a remedial treatment, and the many extra moves/procedures that Brian has developed, are to be used in conjunction with the participants existing knowledge of Bowen Therapy.

The Advance Lymphatic Drainage Technique demonstrates an extremely powerful system of full body or partial body drainage that can benefit many patients with oedema such as those with or recovering from cancer.  This is taking Bowen Therapy to new heights and has proven to be very successful in clinical practice for those Therapists in Australia and New Zealand who have attended this course adding another powerful dimension to their work.