So if you’d like to take advantage of this then start chatting with your acquaintances.  They will thank you for helping them with their aches and pains and you will benefit too.  If you aren’t currently a client, then as soon as you have had your first session you may also start referring people.  With events such as the Bath half marathon coming up, you could build up quite a few free sessions.

Terms and conditions:

1. Referral must be new clients to NGBowen clinics (but may have received Bowen from elsewhere).
2. New referrals must make their appointments in January, February or March 2012.
3. Free treatment for referrer must be used by end of April 2012.
4. Referrer please say who you have referred whilst booking your free treatment.
5. The more clients you refer, the more free treatments you may accrue (max of 1 free treatment per week).
6. New clients may also refer once they have made 1 standard fee paying booking.
7. This offer is for human treatment in the Bath clinic; home visits will be accepted subject to discretion and will still be subject to travel fee.
8. If you can refer equines that would be greatly appreciated also and will be rewarded according to further conditions. Please call to discuss.

Sam’s horse, Happy Times, had been feeling some stiffness before this year’s Badminton so Neil was called in. Well placed after dressage, ‘Happy’ was the stand-out horse on the XC and was still feeling fresh and loose at the end despite a gruelling weekend of competition; demonstrated by a foot perfect clear round show jumping. This is what Sam had to say afterwards about working with Neil:

” I have worked closely with Neil for a number of years and have found his work incredibly beneficial for both myself and my horses. In particular, he worked with us throughout Badminton 2011 and I have no doubt his treatments helped us achieve an optimal performance. Coming 4th place at Badminton puts us in contention for London 2012. Throughout the build up to London I will continue to work with Neil on a regular basis as he has become an integral part of my team.”

For more on Sam Griffiths and Happy Times go to www.samgriffithseventing.co.uk
Sam’s wife Lucy (also an advanced eventer) who is instrumental in Sam’s success is a fantastic photographer; you can see her work at www.lucygriffithsphotography.co.uk

Now that we seem to be over the worst of the cold and snow, everyone is able to get back out on their horses; bringing them into work for the new season, which will be coming around before we know it.

It is at this time of year that we expect a lot from our four legged friends. After a winter break, starting work again can be quite an effort for a lot of horses, as their muscles are asked to remember what to do. To equate it to us; when we start up a new exercise regime, we often go at it with gusto but then pay the price with stiffness.

We see a lot of horses who come back fresh and rejuvenated from their holiday, but then tire quickly. This is an important time to look after your horse and Bowen can give them the kick-start they need to pick up the work rate.

A professional event rider recently commented that, after 2 treatments, their horse is back on track; feeling great and able to push on, ready for the demanding season ahead.

“He was going really well the first week back but hadn’t been right the following two weeks.  After his treatments he is going really well again and feels great to school. The owners will be thrilled too.”

The benefits of having Equine Bowen at this time of the year are really noticeable. Not only does it ease the aches and pains of starting work again, but it helps to iron out any imbalances that have been embedded over the winter.  Starting the season on a balanced and level horse allows for better training and better performance.

Start the year on the right foot and get the most out of your horse. To book in for a ‘pre-season service’ call Neil on 07774 010963 to arrange an appointment.

Neil will be holding clinics for both human and/or equine treatments based in the Alton and Petersfield areas of Hampshire.  For you horse Neil will travel to your yard on these days.  The next clinic days will be:

23rd March 2012

To make an appointment with Neil please call 07774 010963.
If you have trouble with this date but would like an appointment please get in touch to see what other options there may be.

If you are further afield please get in touch to see if arrangements can be made for a visit.  If you wish to set up a clinic where you are, Neil is prepared to travel subject to numbers.

“Bowen is being used as an effective treatment during pregnancy for the aches and pains that are associated with this exciting event.  With the body changing shape so dramatically over a relatively short period of time, it is hardly surprising that some mothers-to-be experience quite a lot of discomfort.  This need not be the case though; anecdotal evidence shows women receiving Bowen treatment experience fewer symptoms of pain during the pregnancy, often have easier births and have more relaxed and contented babies after.  This post was inspired by a letter received from a client recently.  Here is what she had to say:

Since you helped me so much I thought I would just write you a little something to tell to your other clients.  I started getting very bad pelvic pain when I was 26 weeks pregnant.  It was really affecting my everyday life: household chores, getting in and out of bed, even sitting and walking were really difficult and painful.  I contacted the midwife and she said that it sounds like SPD (Symphysis pubis dysfunction) and that she could give me a referral for a physio and it could get better, but might get worse or just stay the same.  Not a very optimistic diagnosis.  I decided not to wait for the referral and saw Neil straight away after seeing how well one of his other pregnant clients looked.  After two sessions I was so much better.  I went back to doing all the things that were previously causing me pain and it made such a difference.  I’ve been able to stay active and am so much happier in my pregnancy without the pain.  Thank you.

Liz Seymour, Bath

The Bowen Technique allows the body the opportunity to adapt to the big changes that are taking place.  Apart from SPD, some of the other common complaints which respond well are sciatica and pain in the lower back, ribs, hips or legs.  Call Neil if you have any of these symptoms or something else you would like to discuss.

Neil did treatments for 7 different horses over the first two weeks of the January this year. Here are a selection of photographs from the visit. The day these photos were taken the temperature exceeded 42 degrees, a slight contrast to the big freeze that we missed.

Pelvic misalignment is very common and can be the cause behind a large array of problems, ranging from back pain, knee pain, ankle and groin strains, to complaints as far ranging as digestive disorders and fertility problems. If the hips are out of line then the strain placed on the back, abdomen and muscles of the pelvis region, and also down the legs, can vary dramatically from one side to the other, resulting in such issues.

Sports men and women’s performance can suffer as a result of pelvic misalignment, with extra strain placed on the ITB (ilio-tibial band) and major leg muscles. Resulting problems can occur in areas such as the back, hips, TFL (tensor fascia lata) ITB, leg muscles, ankles and feet and even the shoulders. If there is not integrity between the two sides of the body then biomechanical efficiency can be compromised, which can affect performance.

The Bowen Pelvic procedure is relatively simple and usually corrects a leg length discrepancy in as few as 2 sessions, as with the example below. This is from an ex professional footballer, who played for Cardiff City. These photos were taken at his second treatment. Photos to come.

A tilted pelvis (where one side is ‘dropped’) is often misdiagnosed as an actual difference in leg lengths with a common solution being to give the patient heal raises or special orthotics/footbeds.

The only accurate way to measure leg length discrepency is by x-raying both legs and measuring them from the film. Placing a heal raise in when there is just a pelvic misalignment can result in serious problems ranging from foot problems to herniated discs. I have seen this in clinic on a number of occasions. Unless the difference is an actual difference between the two legs, a heal raise will just be cementing the problem.

It is always worth getting treatment for pelvic misalignment before having any form of orthotic made. This could save you hundreds of pounds on unnecessary or incorrect footbeds and could save you from pain, serious injury and ultimately surgery.

With my background as a professional sportsman, I understand how important it is for the body to be in the best condition when putting it through the rigours of sport.  If there are imbalances then biomechanical efficiency is compromised, meaning you have to put in more effort to achieve the same results. It also makes you more susceptible to injury.

As we all know one of the most frustrating things is to be sidelined through injury and it is often preventable. A course of 3 Bowen treatments should improve your structural integrity and put you in the best condition for getting the most out of your sport.

I am offering a special price for a general conditioning programme for the Autumn/Winter of £30 per session when you book 3 or more sessions up front at my clinic at Widcombe surgery.
When booking please mention this offer.