Menopause isn’t “just” hot flushes.
It can touch your sleep, mood, joints, digestion, relationships, confidence - and sometimes your sense of self. Many women describe it as feeling like their body is no longer playing by the same rules.

If you’re in perimenopause or menopause and you’re curious about how a gentle, hands-on therapy like Bowen could support you alongside medical care, this post is for you.

What’s Actually Happening in Perimenopause & Menopause?

Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause, when your hormones start to fluctuate. Menopause itself is defined as 12 months without a period (not caused by anything else, like surgery or certain medications). Most women reach this naturally between 45–55.

Common symptoms can include:

Hot flushes and night sweats
Sleep problems
Mood swings, anxiety or low mood
Brain fog and memory glitches
Joint and muscle aches
Changes in libido and sexual comfort
Vaginal dryness or discomfort
Fatigue and a general feeling of being “wired and tired”

For many women in the UK, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is offered as a first-line medical treatment for troublesome vasomotor symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats, after a discussion of benefits and risks with a GP or menopause specialist.

At the same time, a large number of women also look for complementary approaches to help with stress, sleep, pain, and overall well-being during this transition.

That’s where Bowen Therapy can fit in.

Bowen Therapy in a Nutshell

Bowen Therapy (also known as the Bowen Technique) is a gentle, hands-on form of bodywork that aims to stimulate your body’s natural ability to rebalance and heal. It was developed by Tom Bowen in Australia in the 1950s.

Here at Release & Repair in Moseley and Stirchley, Birmingham, Bowen sessions involve:

Light, rolling moves over muscles, tendons and fascia (connective tissue)
Specific, precise points on the body - but no forceful manipulation
Built-in pauses, where I step away, giving your nervous system time to respond and “reset”
A whole-body approach, rather than chasing a single symptom

People come to Bowen for many reasons, including pain, stress, fatigue, sports injuries and postural tension. The common thread? They often leave feeling more relaxed, more at ease in their body, and more “themselves” again.

Why the Nervous System Matters in Menopause

One of the big themes in menopause is change in regulation - especially in the brain and nervous system.

Shifts in oestrogen and other hormones influence parts of the brain involved in temperature control, sleep, mood and cognition. That’s one reason why you might feel:

Overheated at the slightest trigger
On edge or anxious for “no reason”
Wired at night, exhausted in the day
More sensitive to pain, noise or stress

Chronic stress itself can keep your body stuck in fight-or-flight mode, increasing muscle tension, pain sensitivity and fatigue – something I explore in more detail in my blog on chronic stress and muscle tension.

To feel better, your body often needs help shifting back into rest, digest and repair mode.

How Bowen Therapy May Support You in Menopause

1. Calming an Overworked Nervous System

The light, rhythmic nature of Bowen moves - plus the quiet pauses between them - can be deeply calming for the nervous system. Many clients report:

A sense of dropping out of their head and back into their body
Feeling “reset” or unusually peaceful after a session
A softer, slower breathing pattern and easier rest

Research into Bowen specifically is still limited and mixed. Some small studies suggest it may help with short-term pain reduction and relaxation, but we don’t yet have large, high-quality trials, especially for menopause.

That said, broader research on mind-body and relaxation-based therapies in menopause suggests they may reduce stress, sleep difficulties and the “bothersomeness” of symptoms, even if they don’t always change hot flush frequency itself.

Bowen sits very comfortably in that calming, nervous-system-focused space.

2. Supporting Sleep and Rest

Poor sleep is one of the most draining aspects of menopause. Night sweats, racing thoughts and physical discomfort can all make it hard to switch off.

Clients often tell me that after Bowen sessions, they:

Fall asleep more easily
Wake feeling a little more rested
Notice fewer “wired at 3 am” nights

Bowen can’t remove every cause of sleep disturbance, but by helping your nervous system downshift, it can give your body a better chance to rest.

3. Easing Joint and Muscle Aches

Hormonal changes in peri and post-menopause are strongly linked with joint pain, muscle stiffness and general aches, even in women who’ve never had pain issues before.

Bowen’s gentle work with muscles and fascia may help by:

Reducing persistent muscle tension
Improving postural balance and ease of movement
Supporting circulation and lymphatic flow
Encouraging the body to let go of old holding patterns

If you’ve developed new pain, it’s always important to discuss it with your GP to rule out other causes. Once you’ve done that, Bowen can be a useful complementary way to manage ongoing discomfort and stiffness.

4. Emotional Grounding and Body Confidence

Menopause can bring emotional waves: irritability, anxiety, low mood, or just a sense of being unlike yourself.

While Bowen isn’t a form of counselling, many women notice that feeling more comfortable in their body also helps them feel more:

Grounded
Emotionally balanced
Able to cope with the day-to-day demands of life

That can make a big difference when you’re navigating big changes at work, home and in relationships.

What a Menopause-Focused Bowen Session Looks Like

When you come to Release & Repair in Moseley or Stirchley, we’ll start with a relaxed chat about:

Where you are in your peri/menopause journey
Your main symptoms (physical and emotional)
Any diagnoses, medications, or HRT you’re currently using
What you most hope to get from the sessions

With over 25 years’ experience in holistic and sports therapy, my aim is to create a safe, calm space where your system can let go and start to rebalance.

During the session itself, you’ll usually:

Remain comfortably clothed (loose, light clothing is ideal)
Lie on a treatment couch, or sit if lying is uncomfortable
Experience a series of light, rolling moves at specific points on your body
Have short, quiet pauses while your body responds - you’re welcome to simply rest, drift, or focus on your breathing

Most sessions last around 45–60 minutes. Some women notice changes after one session; others benefit from a short series of treatments, especially for long-standing patterns.

Important: Bowen is Complementary, Not a Replacement

A quick but crucial note.

Bowen Therapy is considered a complementary therapy.
The scientific evidence base is still developing and currently limited; it should not be used as a replacement for medical care, HRT or other evidence-based treatments recommended by your doctor.
If you have troubling symptoms - especially heavy bleeding, new or severe pain, chest pain, significant low mood, or anything that worries you - please speak to your GP or menopause specialist promptly.

I’m always happy to work alongside your medical team, not instead of them.

Is Bowen Therapy Right for You?

Bowen may be a good fit if you:

Are in perimenopause or menopause and feel tense, achy, or overwhelmed
Want something gentle and non-invasive that respects your body’s limits
Are already using HRT or other treatments but still feel “stuck in stress mode”
Cannot or choose not to take HRT and are looking for additional ways to support your wellbeing

It’s not a magic wand (nothing is), but it can be a soft, supportive space for your body to process change and find a new equilibrium.

Getting Started at Release & Repair

If you’re in Moseley, Stirchley or the surrounding Birmingham area and you’d like to explore how Bowen Therapy could support you through perimenopause or menopause, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

However your menopause journey looks, you don’t have to navigate it feeling tense, alone or unheard. Your body is doing a huge amount of work right now. Bowen offers it a chance to rest, reset, and be listened to.

Click here to contact roland