What can I expect in my first NST treatment?
Firstly we will discuss the factors around your injury or health concern and I will do some physical assessments, including Kinesiology to determine any imbalances in your ‘core’ and on-going monitoring of your treatment.
NST begins on your back and spinal column and then focuses on specific core muscles according to your needs. It can be done through clothes although direct skin contact may be preferable. During a session the client will usually lie on a therapy table. Although each session will vary according to the presenting problems of the client, an initial treatment will address the whole body. If getting on and off a table is difficult, treatment can be done seated and standing.
The treatment consists of specific rolling moves over muscles and connective tissue. These moves place your body into a state of relaxation and sedation, allowing various neural reflexes to be activated in your body. There may be slight pauses at various times of your treatment to allow your body to process changes to your neuro-muscular system.
You are likely to feel pain relief and a deep sense of relaxation on the table, although for some people it takes a day to settle in.
What to wear
Please wear loose fitting clothing (no jeans or thick cargo pants please).
A session will last generally around 45 minutes to one hour .
Treatments should be scheduled for between five and ten days apart and an initial set of three treatments is recommended in order to establish whether the client is likely to respond to treatment.
After care
Following your treatment:
maintain adequate water intake
avoid crossing your legs or ankles
refrain from other therapies in the 7 days following such as massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy as it can interfere with the capacity of NST to settle in that time.
Most people will have responses within three to four sessions, when even long standing chronic pain can be relieved. Other conditions might need to be treated more often, but in either case it is recommended that clients return for regular treatments every six to eight weeks to maintain optimum health.
Occasionally individuals receiving this work experience a wide range of reactions such as shifting body aches, hot and cold flushes, sweating and at times emotional releases, however these are a positive sign that the individual is returning to a better state of well being. Aftercare advice given to each client will emphasise the importance of movement, the drinking of water and the return for treatments. It is vital that a client does not cease the treatment in response to a strong reaction. The moves are so subtle that if a strong reaction is experienced it demonstrates how profound the work can be and further treatments are essential if the full effect is going to be felt.
Much like maintaining your car, your body needs some regular maintenance and TLC to keep it ticking along smoothly. So, some clients may come once a month “just because it feels so relaxing“, others come every couple of months because they realise their body is getting tense or they feel pain from repetitive movements/heavy workloads/intense sporting activities. Some just come a few times a year, or when they notice they are feeling stressed or tight. It is entirely up to you and your body. You certainly don’t need to be here every week. It is about listening to your body. Most people comment that the Bowen/NST’s effect lasts longer than a massage, and is far more relaxing.
