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Education
- Graduated Physiotherapist (TEI Thessaloniki), 1990
- Graduated Bowen Technique (“The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia”), 2012
- Teacher in the Bowen Technique (“The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia”), 2016
During my career as a physiotherapist I have also acquired the following titles after relevant training: - Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture (Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, Cupping, Herbalism, Tuina massage, Moxa, Electroacupuncture) from Jiangaxi University of Chinese Medicine China and three other recognized Academies (Greece, England, Germany) Continuous training from 2000 to the present…
- Kaltenborn Manual Therapy
- Mulligan Manual Therapy
- Dry Needling
- Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy
- Therapeutic Taping
- Kinesiotaping
- Fibrolysis
- CO2 Therapy
At the same time, I participated in many seminars and conferences in Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine.
Professional experience
In 1990, when I graduated, I worked at the Odyseas Dimitriou physiotherapy center in Larnaca and since 1991 I have been running my own, the “Alexandreion Physiotherapy Center LTD” in Xylotymvou.
At the same time, from 1993 to 2016 I was a physiotherapist for a football team that competes in the Cyprus First Division Championship, “ETHNIKO ACHNAS”, and from 2020 until today at “AEK LARNAKOS” and many other teams in the Second, Third, Fourth Division championships and the rural championship.
Social action
As a physiotherapist, I participated in the following actions:
- Volunteer Physiotherapist of the Olympic Games – Athens 2004
- Physiotherapist of the Cyprus Delegation of the Mediterranean Games “Pescara 2009”
- Physiotherapist of the National Team of the 13th and 14th Games of the Small States of Europe (Cyprus 2009/ Liechtenstein 2011)
- Physiotherapist of the Cyprus Olympic Delegation of the Olympic Games – London 2012
- I have served as President of the Pancyprian Association of Physiotherapists (2008-2010), as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for six years.
- I was an organizational executive in the creation and organization of the 1st and 2nd Pancyprian Physiotherapy Conference (2008/2010) of the P.S.F., as well as an organizer of the seminars: Kinesiotaping, Myofascial Realease and Trigger Point, Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, etc.
- I am also the organizer of all Bowen technique seminars in Cyprus.
- From 2016 until today 2022, as a teacher of the technique, I have started 12 of my own groups, in Cyprus and Greece, with approximately 100 students…
The Bowen Technique in my life as a physiotherapist
How I learned about the technique
In 2006, I first heard about the Bowen Technique from an uncle of mine, who had a serious problem with his shoulder and neck for several years. By applying the Bowen Technique with Mr. Andreas Zoppos, his problem was completely cured. My uncle told Mr. Zoppos about me and he wanted to meet me. When he mentioned it to me, I avoided it for various reasons. First, I did not believe that it works as a technique and At the same time, at that time I was responsible for organizing seminars on other well-known techniques in the field of physiotherapy, such as Kinesiotaping, Myofascial and Trigger Point, Manual Therapy and Acupuncture, and I did not want to deal with yet another technique, about which I had serious doubts.
Finally, after two years, in early 2008, Mr. Zoppos came to my physiotherapy clinic on his own. While I was treating an infant who was crying incessantly, he asked my permission to help and after I gave him permission, he managed to make the baby stop crying with just two movements. This way, I was able to continue my work undisturbed. This incident piqued my interest and troubled me. I began to wonder if I should learn about this method. After several hours of discussion, I promised him that I would try to form a group for a seminar.
Finally, in May 2008, we held the first seminar with the teacher Mr. Andreas Zoppos, who had come from Australia. A four-day course full of surprises and completely new procedures, an approach very different from all other known techniques. We were all amazed by the knowledge and skills of this teacher. He told us about the results of this technique, which admittedly none of us believed at first. However, we did not have anyone else in Cyprus with experience in applying the technique to confirm or refute the teacher’s claims. I remember specifically that he told us that this technique is another important tool in the hands of the physiotherapist. He even emphasized to us that this technique will “untie our hands”, giving us the opportunity to help patients who had not improved with classical physiotherapy. And indeed he was absolutely right. It is something we see and experience every day.
My experience in the technique
From my first contact with the technique in 2008 until today in 2022, I have been fortunate enough to participate in over 200 training seminars for the Bowen technique, alongside my mentor-teacher Mr. Andreas Zoppos, as a trainee, assistant, apprentice teacher and teacher of the said technique, in Cyprus, Greece. Romania. During this time, over 250 physiotherapists have attended the seminars. My participation in these seminars alongside my experienced teacher gave me the opportunity to gain diverse experiences and knowledge in terms of treatments and teaching.
Since 2016, as a teacher of the technique, I have started 12 of my own groups, in Cyprus and Greece, with approximately 100 students…
Despite the fact that I have been using the Bowen technique for several years, I am still amazed by the way it works. The most impressive thing about this technique is that with such simple movements, one achieves such good and immediate results.
I have studied and applied all the techniques I mentioned above with very good results, for a number of years. My many years of experience allow me to compare the Bowen technique with these methods, which I use daily and ultimately end up preferring it in most patient cases for the following reasons:
- for the physiotherapist, it is a pleasant and relaxing technique the Bowen technique has the ability to be applied to many groups of patients, without any effects or reasons for concern, even to sensitive groups, such as infants and women during pregnancy
- for patients, it is a relaxing and not at all painful technique, it does not cause concern or fear, as may be the case with other techniques such as acupuncture, manual therapy, etc.
- the results of the technique are most often spectacular and immediate, in a wide range of diseases
- it also facilitates the patients’ schedule, since the sessions are weekly
I come, therefore, now to admit that all these “incredible” things that our teacher told us at the time are confirmed by the above. In recent years, this technique has been very popular. It has been admitted and recommended by many doctors and has been greatly loved by the public. This has resulted in the increase and expansion of the clientele of physiotherapists who request this technique.
With all the respect I have for the profession and for all physiotherapy methods, I unreservedly recommend the Bowen technique and dare to predict that it will be the “technique of the future”.
I therefore urge my patients and my colleagues to get to know it. They will understand why after applying it…
Elias Hadjioannou
Recognized teacher of the Bowen technique
Graduate of the Bowen Academy of Australia (Bowtech)