We are so excited to have Andrea Sandoval working at Collaborative Wellness. She is a Certified Bowen Therapist and we get lots of questions about what that is and what it is for, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to do an interview with her and share that information with all of you.
Lisa: Welcome to Collaborative Wellness, Andrea! We are so happy to have you here. What do you think of our space so far?
Andrea: It's amazing. It's full of like-minded individuals that are full of joy and laughter. I love being in a clinic that is so connected with the community and bring so many families in.
Lisa: Well you bring something very special to our clinic, as well. You are a Certified Bowen Therapist; can you tell us what Bowen Therapy is?
Andrea: It's a connective tissue therapy that helps to resent and rebalance the body back to its original blueprint of health. It works over muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves to facilitate whole body healing by helping the nervous system move out of a state of fight and fight into rest, repair and digest mode.
Lisa: Sounds super interesting! How long as your typical treatments and what is involved?
Andrea: A typical treatment is an hour long and I work on the whole body. I usually start with a basic relaxation procedure which is the foundation of Bowen Therapy, and then I add on whatever procedure is indicated based on the patients individual needs. It's important to come wearing loose fitting clothing, but all clothing stays on during the treatment. I typically do work on both the back and front of the body during the hour. There are pauses between the sets of movements, where I leave the room for a minimum of 2 minutes, which allows the brain to start the healing response. It's a very relaxing hour and patients will usually get up and feel light and calm.
Lisa: How did you get into Bowen Therapy?
Andrea: I had mono and chronic fatigue syndrome and then was involved in a head-on collision. I was really suffering. A family friend mentioned it to me and when I read about it it really resonated with me. I trusted my gut and used it to heal myself, which inspired me to do the same for others. I signed up for the course, and have never looked back. I'm very passionate about it because its gentle but it works.
Lisa: Is Bowen Therapy covered by extended health?
Andrea: Some plans may cover it, but you have to check with your individual insurance provider. Patients can use their health spending accounts for Bowen Therapy. Outside of that, Bowen Therapy, like many other complimentary therapies, are an investment in your health. Sometimes it only takes one or two sessions to notice a substantial change in health.
Lisa: Great, anything else you'd like us to know?
Andrea: I love what I do. Its individual care that is good for all ages and all bodies. I have done Bowen with babies and the elderly. If you want to know if it's a good fit for you, please call the office; I'm happy to answer your questions.
If you would like more information, please call us at 778-630-8930 or email hello@collaborativewellness.ca. Andrea currently works on Monday from 8 am - 2 pm and Tuesday from 2:30 pm - 8:30 pm. You can also read more about her on our website, where you can also book an appointment.