APA Welcomes Lisa Black & Col Murray of the
International School of Bowen Therapy

Tom Bowen
Tom Bowen was a self trained osteopath with the unique ability to develop a form of bodywork that stood him apart from his contemporaries.  His special talents, based on palpation and observation skills, and his exposure to other unique healers of the time (1950s - 1960s), allowed him to develop a technique that is outstandingly simple in form, yet incredibly effective.

His fame as a healer drew people from around Australia to his clinic in Geelong, Victoria.  An official Australian Government inquiry into natural therapies in 1973 identified Tom Bowen as treating up to 100 people per day!

Many practitioners sought to train with him but most were turned away.  The majority of those he allowed to observe him work were asked to leave after a brief time but there was a small group who observed him work for lengthy periods.

As Tom Bowen did not teach in the formal sense, these people had to gain their own understanding of what he was doing.  In this way they developed their own interpretations of his work based on their experience and background.

About ISBT
The International School of Bowen Therapy (ISBT) conducts internationally acclaimed courses in ISBT-Bowen Therapy as approved by the independent, therapist-led, Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia (BTFA).

ISBT was founded in 1998 with the intention of presenting no-nonsense quality courses that were geared towards providing students with the best possible avenue of learning and developing effective skills.

Foundation and Advanced course are presented by ISBT.  The basic principles on which ISBT was formed include:

• High integrity intention to honour Tom Bowen's work - this has been achieved by researching the history of Tom Bowen's work by having extensive contact with those on whom he had the greatest impact.
• A major emphasis on personal tuition by providing a high teacher to student ratio - strict low limits on numbers of students per tutor.
• High comfort factor learning conditions - by providing precise anatomically described and illustrated workbooks, limiting module length to a maximum of two days and including on-going revision components before new work is undertaken.

Recognising from the outset that students' ability to absorb the work deteriorates over lengthy periods, ISBT, set the international standard of teaching in modules of no more than two days.  Dedication to preparing courses for ease of learning, while providing high skill levels, has resulted in better quality training.  Many unique advanced features have been built-in to the Foundation course which places students a step ahead.

The Founders
The school was established by internationally experienced Directors and instructors Lisa Black and Col Murray from Melbourne, Australia.  As of 2004, they have a combined total of 30 years in bodywork, 25 of these with Bowen Therapy.

Their introduction to Bowen-style work came in 1990 when a therapist demonstrated the technique in a private session.  Their interest in this work inspired them to experiment with what they were shown.  This led them to do further training with masseur Oswald Rentsch who has observed Tom Bowen and developed an interpretation of the work.

Recognising that there was more to learn, Lisa and Col carried out intensive and extensive clinical experiments based on the principles of the work.  Their life was a constant 'workshop' of the technique.

Not content to merely accept conventional theories on Tom Bowen's work, they also carried out extensive research on the man and how he operated.  This led them to have contact via treatments and/or lengthy discussions with five more of the small group who had extensive contact with Tom Bowen.  They also held interviews with members of Tom Bowen's family.

They believe this very productive research has served to confirm the concepts and principles on which ISBT-Bowen Therapy is based.  The value of this work is now being recognized throughout Australia and Europe.

Lisa and Col introduced ISBT-Bowen Therapy into Austria and Germany in 1999 and now have regular courses throughout these countries.  Courses are now also run regularly in Switzerland and England with expansion into other European countries planned.

The Therapy
The gentle Australian healing system, ISBT-Bowen Therapy, is applied to treat a broad range of physical ailments including muscular, structural and visceral complaints.

It is a dynamic fascial and muscle release modality, with single, gentle cross-fibre moves being applied to specific muscles, tendons and ligaments to promote improved flow of blood, lymph and energy.  These moves are usually applied in precise Sequences.  When required, these Sequences often create self-correcting structural changes to promote overall body balance.

It is a minimalist approach to bodywork, doing away with the need for repetitive and often invasive action.  It is especially useful with its ability to be effectively applied when many other therapies cannot, such as with extreme trauma, frail, elderly people and very young babies.

The philosophy behind ISBT's modality is based on the osteopathic principle that the structure of the body governs its function.  Correcting the structure to improve overall wellbeing is often the aim.

The visceral impact of correcting basic structural imbalance can, in itself, often be profound.  Add to this, specific ISBT Sequences aimed at visceral dysfunction and an allembracing, holistic approach to health problems results.

ISBT was established to teach this marvellous Australian healing system around the world and is proud to do so under the regulations and guidelines of the independent Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia.

BTFA - is a fully Independent Association
The Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia and its state affiliates represent all approved schools and eligible Bowen Therapists, Practitioners and Students who have achieved or are endeavouring to achieve an approved level of competency such as provided by ISBT.

The BTFA and its state affiliates are fully independent organisations established and operated by independent Bowen Therapists are not 'owned' by any one school.

ISBT is pleased to be a member - school of the BTFA Council of Schools Sub-committee.

The ISBT Foundation Course
The Foundation course consists of five modules of two days each.  This system does away with the information and physical work overload of longer modules.

Most of the work is taught in Sequence Form, with each move a progression of the previous move and each Sequence a progression from the one before.  This helps develop a clear understanding of treatment strategies.  Full explanation of the work concepts adds to the students' understanding of this remarkable therapy.

Each two day module includes extensive personalised revision components to enable students to have the best opportunity to grasp the work before further training. 

All work is anatomically described in the extensive course manual and surface location points are also explained in layman's terms.

Course Content

Module One
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Sequences include:

• Lower Back 
• Middle Back
• Upper Back
• Neck
• Sacrum
• Hamstrings
• Shoulders

It also covers:

• After Treatment Care Strategy
• Patient History Card
• Pre-activity Warm-up Strategy
• Shoulder Rehabilitation Activities

Module Two
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Sequences include:

• Arms
• Carpal Tunnel
• Coccyx
• Pelvis
• Knees
• Thighs
• Ankles
• Toes
• Feet

It also covers:

• Treatment Aids for Bruising and Swelling
• Rehabilitation Strapping for Ankle and Foot Problems
• Patient Communication Strategies

Module Three
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Sequences include:

• Headache
• Asthma/Abdominal
• Kidney/Spleen
• Anterior Neck Release/Lymph
• Breast Lymph
• TMJ/Jaw
• Plus - Additional work for Problematic Leg, Chest, Upper Back and Neck Complaints
• Full-body Lymph Drainage Strategy
• Sequence Combinations
• Patient Treatment Strategies

Module Four
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This module has a strong tutorial aspect, including group 'workshopping' of case studies with fellow students in addition to a one-to-one case study session with instructors.  Extensive full-course revision is also undertaken on the first day prior to the Competency Level written and practical Assessment on day two.

Module Five
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Module Five completes the Foundation Course training.  It enables students to increase their understanding of ISBT-Bowen Therapy while ensuring they are maintaining mastery of the work.

Tom Bowen was renowned for his exceptional palpation and visual diagnostic skills.

Module Five seeks to further develop these skills with students to enable them to gain greater understanding of patient conditions so they may increase their treatment effectiveness.

Additional Sequences include:

• Forearm/Hand
• Shin
• Lower Leg/Ankle
• Dorsal Foot
• Rhomboid/Shoulder
• Bladder

Then, The Next Step
ISBT's Advanced course, The Next Step is aimed at experienced Bowen practitioners.  Its unique design makes it suitable for practitioners who have trained with any approved school.

With this course ISBT has again dispensed with conventional thinking by presenting a course which deals directly with the realities of clinical practice.  The course includes many advanced Sequences and additional moves for chronic or difficult cases.  It covers advanced work for:

• Full Back
• Neck
• Abdomen
• Pelvis
• Coccyx
• Sacrum
• Arms
• Hands
• Legs
• Feet
• TMJ/Jaw
• Sinuses

Also included are:

• Advanced Assessment Procedures
• Pain Management Strategies
• Strengthening and Rehabilitative Activities for Specific Ailments
• Advanced Treatment Strategies
• Intuitive Healing
• Patient Communication Strategies

The course also covers advanced development of palpation skills to enable practitioners to gain an even greater understanding of patients' ailments.

An extensive range of finished artwork, featuring instructions and diagrams for rehabilitative strategies is included with the course document.

For international ISBT course information

Australia
ISBT Head Office
Email: isbt@bigpond.com

Austria
Andrea Leb
Email: isbt_oesterreich@nusurf.at

Germany and Switzerland
Tobias Hauser
Email: dzbt@bowentherapie.de

Portugal
Asas e Raizes
Email: asas@asaseraizes.pt

United Kingdom
Phill Stapely
Email: info@bowentherapyuk.com

ISBT-Bowen療法是利用温和的手法而效果顯著的治療系統。
ISBT-Bowen療法的中心思想是啟動身體治療反應,方法主要是透過和緩地調控結締組織。
這是一種軟組織療法,可達到最有效的結構性調整。
ISBT乃基於骨療法的原則發展,旨在達到盆骨平衡,啟動體內康復功能。
此療法可醫治各種背部,頸的病痛及內臟問題,如哮喘及腸失常;亦發現
對神經肌肉問題,如柏金遜症和多發性硬化症(MS)具出色的效果。

 Bowen Class BT0405; BT1205; BT0906; BT0207 (9am - 5:30pm) -  Completed:

Introduction / demonstration evening on
Coming soon

Bowen Class BT0907 (9am - 5:30pm) - Information:

• Module 1 on 1st & 2nd September 2007 - completed

• Module 2 on 8th & 9th September 2007 - completed

• Module 3 on 15th & 16th December 2007 - completed

• Module 4 on 5th & 6th April 2008 - completed

• Module 5/Level 1 Advanced Course on 30th & 31st August 2008

Bowen Class BT0408 (9am - 5:30pm) - Information:

• Module 1 on 12th & 13th April 2008 - completed

• Module 2 on 19th & 20th April 2008 - completed

• Module 3 on 6th & 7th September 2008

• Module 4 on 13th & 14th December 2008

• Module 5/Level 1 Advanced Course on 11th & 12th April 2009

Bowen Therapy Course next intake :
Coming soon

ISBT's Advanced Course - The Next Step:  coming soon

For enrollment or more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 2882 2444