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History of Bowen

Originating in Geelong Victoria, Australia in the 1950s, the Bowen Technique was conceived and developed by Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916-1982).  He held the premise that the human body has an innate capacity to repair and heal itself, given the right resources, without invasive therapy, such as medication or surgery.  Essentially, Mr. Bowen possessed a genius-level of understanding and knowledge about how the body works to heal itself. 
 

Mr. Bowen operated an extremely busy practice from his Geelong clinic.  He performed about 13,000 treatments per year as verified in 1975 by the Victorian government inquiry into alternative healthcare professionals in Australia. 
 

Thomas Ambrose Bowen

Lisa Bryant, Foundations for Healing

In 1974, Mr. Bowen invited Mr. Oswald (Ossie) Rentsch to study under his guidance.  Ossie meticulously documented Bowen's work, which was later termed “The Bowen Technique”.  Ossie and his wife Elaine conducted the first Australian Bowen training seminar in 1986 to honor Mr. Bowen’s request to refrain from teaching this method until after his passing.  Ossie and Elaine continue to devote their lives to actively instructing and inspiring practitioners and instructors in The Original Bowen Technique around the world.

                                   

  

 

Bowenwork was brought from Australia to the United States by the late Milton Albrecht of Auburn, California.  As America’s first Bowen Practitioner, Milton and his wife Deni sponsored the first U.S. Bowen Technique training seminar in 1989.  In 1994, Milton was requested to serve as the first American Instructor for the Bowen Technique and subsequently taught throughout the U.S.  Bowen Therapy International was founded by Milton and Deni in 1997 to “study, instruct, promote and further develop the philosophy of Tom Bowen’s innovative discoveries”.  Since then, various training facilities for practitioners and instructors, including research institutions, have evolved in the United States. 
 

Currently, The Bowen Technique is taught in at least 30 countries and is utilized as a viable healing modality globally.  The number of newly formed Professional Bowen Associations and Official Registries gradually expands worldwide.

bowen-instructor-ossie-and-elaine-rentsc

Ossie & Elaine Rentsch

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