More than three years following Heart bypass surgery, my aging body had failed to release much of the pent up stress following the operation itself and the complicated recovery that ended up taking almost three years. A severe reaction to one of the heart medications, at the year and a half mark, halted rehabilitation, and slowed a return to a normal life.

Work last winter, clearing bush and cutting firewood, left me with the usual aches and pains of extended exertion. However as the spring neared, the aches only intensified rather than diminishing as they normally should, after the work ended. The result was that I lost total range of movement for my arms - reaching over my head was now painful. I required assistance to undress & remove t-shirts.
It had also become increasingly difficult to put on a coat as my arms would not easily reach behind my back without bicep and triceps' pain.
My calves and legs also groaned at any exertion, making it difficult to stand, after kneeling to garden or lay laminate flooring, without assistance.

Initially it all seemed to be the early onset of arthritis. Countless blood tests, and then a sonogram, MRI, physiotherapy sessions, acupuncture, medication and painful injections, foot and leg cramps led me to accept that maybe this was just old age. Relief didn't seem to be part of the equation. Three different doctors uncovered nothing  although they searched for answers and scheduled further investigation.

Deep muscle massage however did provide some improvement, permitting me to finish the installation of floor mouldings, when completing a home office floor. Relief for massage was short term, the advances disappearing within 3-4 days.

By chance, I happened to see part of a CHCH television show (Matt Hayes & Lesley Stewart). 'Amber' of Letitheal.com talked with the hosts about the Bowen Technique, one of their client services.

As I mentioned before, it all sounded unbelievable. The fact that they weren't selling months and months of sessions, lead me to see, if I too, could find some relief at $60.00 a single session - (the price of a massage elsewhere).

To my pleasant surprise, the first session at their Burlington offices started profound changes in my body and life enjoyment. That first day I was charged with what felt as a low level of electricity flowing throughout my body. As I laid done for the night - I realized that I could now feel/hear my heart beating, something that had never been possible before, even when my heart rate was racing at over 180 beats per minute.
I woke up the next morning, after 9 hours of restful sleep.
As I remembered to have both feet touch the ground at the same time, it flashed in my mind that my body had continued to combat the stress and pain throughout the night - I awoke feeling like a 40 year old.

As the day evolved, the 60+ body continued to experience change.
Without any struggle I was able to put on my bulky winter coat and head for a 30 minute walk. I noticed that there was a lightness in my step and I covered an increased distance even in the cold temperatures.
A feeling of peace and tranquility continued throughout the day and the four days following.

The first session was that of whole body alignment and along with the technique and increased water consumption (2 quarts) I had been told that it would take at least 5 days to notice any changes. Abnormal as usual - my experiences were different. Great changes had continued from day 1 - almost a 60% overall improvement.

I looked forward to returning to Let It Heal for Karen's magic to continue, but over the next few days, I slowly started to lose some of the gains. By the appointment (8 days later) the change was now about 40%. I was still pleased that the change would even be that high.

Although by week's end the original pain symptoms had lessened, two other sources of constant pain had appeared. Amber set to make some additional changes as I lay on the table and she started to lay her hands on my back and neck over the next 50-60 minutes. Just as with the first session the techniques were applied in 2 minutes intervals. I left feeling just as good as after the first session./i>

OOver the following week the arm and shoulder pain had all but disappeared. I was now able to remove sweaters without pain and even reach behind my back to loop my belt through the loops on my jeans. My mood and energy were both at a high. Dreaming was once again a peaceful experience. Creativity also soared.

I returned for a third and final session - in a seven days time - for work on my legs and calves. It was Karen once again that set about stimulating my body to set about in healing itself over the next few weeks. Until now the touch had always been soft and gentle, almost a gentle tap at times, a switching off/on of nerve centres.
That was to change as Karen reached my calves.
Since the heart bypass, the area of my legs when the veins had been harvested were left with a long scars from groin to ankle and little or no feeling in my ankles and inside of each leg. There had been little nerve regeneration.
This time as Karen touched my ankle or part of each calf - there was some pain, as there was in deep muscle massage. I had some feeling where there had been none. Before I left that day, the previous foot pain was gone and the tension in both calves was lessening.

Within two days, I accidentally realized while putting on socks that I was now able to experience some feeling at the harvest sites on my legs.
Since the bypass a fly or mosquito could land and I would be oblivious. I cannot wait until summer for the insects to return, for now I will immediately be able to react. I will also know when I have bumped up against something and won't have to worry when the bruises show up days later.

The three Bowen technique sessions keep on giving, even now over a month since they first started.
Both creative and bodily energy are at a high, something I haven't experienced for years.
I am almost tension & pain free, but still experience normal stiffness after strenuous activity.

I am not sure if Bowen is responsible for the following but guess that it is./i>

* blood tests are now pain free
   - heavy scarring from years of specimen collections
     pain was experienced as the vein was entered.
   After Bowen therapy, even a needle caused no pain
   as it had in the past 3 years.

* I am able to fall and get up.
   Kneeling and getting up unassisted is possible.
   I'll be able to install new floor mouldings throughout
   the house without any trouble.

I look forward to recovering more of the abilities of my younger days and continue to the evolution of my new lifestyle. The  Bowen technique can be used, in months to come, as a tune-up for a total body change.