Welcome to our new spotlight series where we explore inspiring Bowen stories from our students, trainers, and community of passionate Bowen Therapists and advocates. Everyone has a story about how they discovered Bowen and the difference it’s made in their lives, whether as a patient, practitioner or both, and we’re proud to share some of them with you.
Meet Gold Coast trainer, Samantha Ashley.
When did you first discover Bowen Therapy and what prompted you to try it?
I discovered the Bowen Technique while looking for a solution to chronic pain and loss of use of my hand and arm and a constant headache I had endured for over four months from a severe shoulder injury. Other therapies I had tried were not successful but with the Bowen Technique, my pain was gone and my mobility and use of my arm and hand were restored after 3 sessions.*
What impact did it make?
I was working in administration and as a remedial massage therapist at the time and was looking at having to stop work due to the injuries and presenting issues from those injuries. Once those issues were resolved I was able to return to work in a full-time capacity with no pain or discomfort. This then inspired me to look at becoming a Bowen Therapist myself and over the years continue my studies to also become a Bowen Instructor, so I suppose you could say it completely changed my life and gave me a new career that I am passionate about and absolutely love doing every day.
Why did you decide to become a Bowen Therapist?
Because of how effective the Bowen Technique was in resolving my pain and discomfort* and as I was looking for a new modality to replace remedial massage which can be physically very hard on the therapist’s body, the Bowen Technique was for me the logical choice for progression in my career. It offered me the chance to continue to help others with their physical pain, extend my career in the service industry that I loved and not break my own body in the process. I love that it is a truly holistic therapy and can be suitable for all ages due to the nature of the therapy and how gentle and non-invasive it is for the client.
Tell us about your practice. Where do you work, how many clients do you see, and what sorts of issues do your clients present with?
My business is Green Valley Bowen Therapy and is a stand-alone clinic in a multimodality business centre in Miami on the Gold Coast, QLD. I have created a calm, nurturing, and inviting space for my clients. On an average week, I see approximately 35 – 40 clients for Bowen Therapy who present with everything from lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, sporting injuries, and rehabilitation needs. I have a solid and loyal client base who also come in for maintenance to keep their bodies healthy, balanced and pain-free, and to prevent small issues from becoming large ones that require more invasive and long-term treatment to resolve.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me is generally 7am–7pm to allow for people who work to still access treatment without having to take time away from their workplaces. While my hours are long, I am mindful of looking after myself so after breakfast, my early start, and seeing a couple of clients, I take a Pilates class to look after my own body. Then I return to the clinic to continue to see clients until lunchtime. I take lunch and have a walk on the beach to restore my energy for the afternoon and then go back to the clinic to continue to see clients until the day’s end. In my downtime, if there is a break between clients, I do my administration tasks, clean the clinic and do any other ad hoc duties I may need to.
What do you love most about working as a Bowen Therapist?
I love being able to offer people of all ages and physicalities a highly effective treatment option that is truly holistic, gentle on their bodies (and on mine), and can offer long-term, long-lasting benefits.* As a Bowen Therapist, I can see in real-time the huge impact this modality makes on the lives of others, and it is so rewarding to hear from my clients how they thought they would never find something that would provide them with long-term relief* from their presenting issues and then after they have had a Bowen treatment or series of treatments, they feel like they have been given a new lease on life. Life is meant to be lived and is meant to be lived in a pain-free way, and when I hear that my clients are able to return to doing the things that they love most because their Bowen treatment has resolved physical issues* that were preventing them from doing these things, then that is my reward right there!
What’s one piece of advice you would give to anyone considering becoming a Bowen Therapist?
Don’t hesitate! If you are wanting to embark on a truly rewarding career that not only gives back to your community but is also a modality that won’t break your back and will allow you longevity in your working career, flexibility, not only in the hours that you can work but also the location, something that is truly holistic, aligns with your values, and is extremely effective for your clients* in real-time, then Bowen Therapy is the modality for you. Every day you delay taking that first step toward your new career as a Bowen Therapist is a day missed. If you want to wake up every morning passionate about what you do and want to go to work with a smile on your face, then this is the career for you. As the saying goes, ‘If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life,’ and being a Bowen Therapist is not just a job; once you embark on that journey, it becomes a part of who you are and your life. Being a Bowen Therapist has truly been not only life-changing for me but the best decision I have ever made. My only regret is that I did not find Bowen sooner and start my Bowen journey at a younger age.
*Individual treatment results vary as no two bodies are the same.
Samantha practices Bowen Therapy on the Gold Coast, QLD. You can visit her website here, her Facebook page here, and on Instagram here.
She teaches in the Certificate IV in Bowen Therapy 10846NAT and Diploma of Specialised Bowen Therapy 10847NAT.
Her classes are available on the Gold Coast and Toowoomba. Join a class here.
