The Yum List chats with Muna Winder, holistic health care therapist, about Bowen therapy KL and related healing arts in Ampang.
Bowen Therapy KL
What do you do, how did you get into the industry and what started your interest in Bowen Therapy?
I am a holistic health care therapist, working with reflexology, Reiki, scar tissue release and Bowen therapy.
When we first moved to Malaysia, my daughter started to have all sorts of digestive and skin issues. I was reluctant to treat her with conventional medicine only and got interested in alternative and holistic health to help her. With several years of training and many years of working, I have never looked back since.
What type of therapies do you offer at Energy Day Spa?
I offer reflexology, Reiki, scar tissue release, Bowen Therapy at the Energy Day Spa.
What is the difference between Bowen therapy, chiropractic medicine and massage therapy?
Bowen therapy is a fascia release technique, which originated in Australia. It is a simple, non-intrusive remedial therapy which stimulates the body through the nervous system encouraging it to rebalance itself, thus promoting healing, pain relief and the recovery of energy.
Chiropractic treatments address the skeletal body through manipulation, while Bowen therapy addresses the whole body by focusing on the muscular tension. The aim is to release the tension, which provides pain relief.
Massage therapy, unlike Bowen, works with oil on relaxing muscle groups through continuous long strokes in the direction of the muscle fibres using different massage techniques. Bowen works over muscles too but also works over tendons or ligaments. We don’t massage but stimulate the nervous system.
What is fascia?
If you have ever wondered what the white skin is covering a chicken breast, that is its fascia. Fascia is the fibrous connective tissue found throughout the body. It covers every muscle, bone and organ, creating a network throughout the body and connects with our nervous system. Nerve signals, lymphatic and blood flow are transmitted through the fascia.
Do I have to take my clothes off?
No, Bowen therapy can be done with your clothes on. We would just advise wearing some loose, comfortable clothes.
How does Reiki work if you don’t actually have any skin contact? How much of its success do you think depends on the state of mind?
Reiki works on connecting to the person’s energy field. We are all energy. I am able to connect with the client’s energy field without touching, although occasionally in some places it helps to touch. I can feel the different energy frequencies as Reiki works on the subtle energy of the body and Reiki always works, the question is how in tune the receiver is with his or her own energy.
How do I know which healing therapy would be just right for me?
If you have a lower back issue that stems from an injury or too much sitting at work, combined with stress, I would always start with a Bowen treatment. Anything structural that needs addressing, Bowen is an excellent therapy to start with.
If you have more hormonal, digestive, stress-related or emotional problems, reflexology can be very balancing.
Reiki is fantastic to help a person relax and feel more grounded and is very powerful in addressing emotional issues. It can facilitate the release of unwanted energies and help a person move forward in their life.
Are there any age limits to participate in healing therapies?
There are no age limitations with any of the therapies. These can be helpful for everyone at any age.
Share with us an interesting story from behind the scenes.
My favourite Bowen experience was with a 17-year-old girl, who came in with her parents. She was suffering from severe anxiety and could not even look me in the eyes during the initial assessment. I could feel how her body started to melt with every Bowen move. When she got up from the bed, she looked different. Her eyes were open, she could focus and I even got a smile from her.
The next day I received a long message from her mother telling me that they had actually been on their way to a psychiatrist to get her medicated for her severe state.
She still sees me once in a while when things get too much, but has been able to move forward without medication.
What’s the best/ worst part of your job?
Meeting and treating people of all backgrounds, ages and challenges and helping them is the best part of my job. I love the diversity of my work.
The part I find more difficult is to realize how much pain some people have to live with, physically and emotionally. It makes you understand that health is the ultimate wealth.
The perfect day off would be…
… having a buffet breakfast with my family, sitting there for hours, chatting.
A day in the life of a healer is…
Very interesting, I always learn something new, understand some more about people or the body, at times sad and often times just funny. I like to laugh a lot with my clients, if possible.
I imagine that practising healing therapies must mean that you dedicate a lot of time to listening to clients’ woes and also physically realigning their bodies. How do you balance to ensure you avoid becoming mentally and physically exhausted?
I do meditate regularly, as I find it helps me a lot to let go of the things that happened during the day. My infrared sauna is also a wonderful tool to help me with more physical issues.
I do try to eat well, drink lots of water, sleep early and laugh as much as possible.
What do you do for fun?
I love to travel and have coffee with my friends.
What’s something you’d like guests to know about healing therapies at Energy Day Spa?
Energy Day Spa is a wonderful place to relax and come to. The fact that I can offer such a variety of skilled treatments, which I like to combine on a very individual basis, is one of a kind in KL. The therapies are tailor-made to the patient’s unique needs, which makes our healing therapies truly holistic. As a patient moves on from pain to wellbeing, the Energy Day Spa has plenty of yoga and Pilates classes on offer to help a client improve strength and maintain this.
You spend a lot of time giving treatments; do you ever go for therapy yourself? What do you usually have done if you do?
I love a Bowen treatment as this really helps my alignment and I do get a massage once in a while. Who doesn’t relax with a good hands-on massage? I am lucky to be working at a spa with the best hands in town!
What’s your take on the alternative therapies scene in KL?
Malaysians are definitely more and more interested and open to trying out new or different treatment paths. Many are tired of just taking medication and pain killers and are keen to be more adventurous when it comes to looking after their health.
What’s in store for you in the upcoming months?
I am in the process of furthering my reflexology knowledge. I am currently taking some classes in emotional reflexology and nerve reflexology. There might be some reflexology classes coming up soon, too! Very exciting. Watch this space!!
Find out more about Energy Day Spa here and stay up-to-date with the latest in the spa industry in Malaysia here.
Have you tried Bowen therapy in KL? What was your experience?
Perhaps my girl should give this a try!
Oh wow. This is new to me. Thank you for sharing. I’ve tried massages and heard of chiro but not bowen therapy.
I did a course on Reiki several years ago but never practised, Bowen Therapy is new to me but interesting. Have a good week Diane
Maybe one of these days, I should try a spa treatment.
No age limit sounds.. good. 😀
I have had treatments with Muna before, a great heeler and wonderful person as well. Bowen has been better than any massage I have ever recieved. Its very gentle to the extent the first time I recieved the treatment, I thought this was some hocus pocus that was never going to work. Boy was I wrong, my stiff neck and shoulders relaxed continously over the next few days in a way I never experience before. I read some reseach that Bowen works on about 85% of people, so perhaps not everyone will benefit but a vast majority would.