Barbara Finlayson, LPN

The Art of Balance
Shiatsu, Bowenwork, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Raindrop Therapy & Hatha Yoga,

Barbara Finlayson became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1971. Barbara worked in Hospitals for 8 years. During those years she noticed that although patients would heal, some never regained the strength or vitality they had once enjoyed, while others would make full recoveries.  Barbara sensed that there had to be more of a body-mind connection to healing. So started a lifelong sojourn into the healing power of the body. Barbara's first endeavor was to become a Shiatsu practitioner. Barbara studied with Waturo Ohashi at the Shiatsu Education Center of America and received her certification in 1982.

Delighted at the success she achieved with her clients, Barbara went on to become certified in Bowen, Reflexology, Yoga, Rebirthing, Mari El, Flower Essences, Herbal Remedies, Spiritual Counseling. Trained in Meditation, Crystals and chakra balancing, Aromatherapy and Essential Oils.

Barbara's mission is to help others attain a longer, healthier, happier and more productive life. With that in mind, she developed The Art of Balance. She is happy to share her extensive knowledge with all who will listen.

The company offers private sessions in the home for families, classes, workshops, lectures and retreats. Another unique service is tailored for corporations, hospital staff & patients, Senior Centers to help them optimize productivity and maximize efficiency by providing on-site trained practitioners who will conduct any or all of the following sessions at your location: Shiatsu, Reflexology, Bowen and Yoga. These sessions will reduce stress and pain, calm the nervous system, improve clarity and reduce absenteeism. Lectures, classes, workshops & retreats are all available.

Barbara Finlayson
The Art of Balance
52 Gordon Street
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
201-641-9008

Email: theartofbalancehealth@gmail.com
Website: www.theartofbalance.org

Members Club Offer:
15% Discount Full Session of Any Services

Additional Testimonial:
"Bowen worked wonders for my body.  I have been dealing with a bad back/neck, poor digestion and related issues most of my adult life. I went to chiropractors on and off since 1987 never feeling as though I was getting healthier, or at least that my back problems were getting better. 

I got used to living in pain due to the misalignments in my spine.  I asked my chiropractor about my condition and what could be done differently to improve my back.  He told me that he could keep my spine properly adjusted which could slow down the degeneration within my vertebra. Basically I had no hope of improving.  I have Osteoarthritis in my spine and joints. 

I stopped going to the chiropractor shortly after, not because he wasn't any good at what he did but because I wanted to stop the pain and try to eliminate the degeneration of my joints not just maintain.  All the while through a lot of searching and phone calls I came upon Bowen Therapy.  I went to their web site, read the materials and located a practitioner within my state.  After talking to Barbara Finlayson I decided that I would give Bowen a try.

Like many practitioners in the "Alternative Health" community, I found Barbara was interested in the overall health of my mind and body.  She explained that during a Bowen therapy session, which could last about 45 mins, she would be treating my body, not for any specific issues or complaints that I was experiencing but overall.  Barbara carefully explained that the Bowen treatments would be performed to different areas of my body in a specific order and that after each Bowen move there would be a short rest period (usually 2-3 mins.) to allow the body to start processing the information before she would treat another area.  Depending upon which problems were affecting me, my body would react to these movements in it's own way and on it's own schedule.

It is during this resting time that we are asked to focus on our bodies and what we can feel or sense is happening.  At first I was not sure what to expect and it was explained that due to the unique conditions within each of our bodies and the problems and health issues we are dealing with, our experiences could be different than someone else having the same symptoms.  After the first session ended I was still not sure what I had just experienced but I knew something felt different.  I decided that I would give this Bowen Therapy a chance to work and try it for a few sessions before I made up my mind.

Almost right away during my second or third Bowen session I started to notice more and more subtle things going on with my body both during and after each treatment.  The first thing I noticed was that my breathing became deep and relaxed.  As if I had never taken a full breath before.  The next thing I began to notice was that after each session on my drive home (I live about 40-50 mins away), I would experience a sense of calm and relaxation similar to leaving a whirlpool bath or hot sauna.  I never felt so calm and relaxed.  I also started to feel more and more comfortable during each session allowing my body to respond quicker and allowing it to react without resistance.  I am sure that I would almost fall asleep during each session, at least momentarily, and I was encouraged to let go of any anxiety and  just let things happen.

Soon I was noticing that my digestion was much better.  I was sleeping better.  I could breathe easier and I wouldn't get out of breath as easily while exerting myself.  All the while my back was not bothering me as much.  I also noticed that I would leave a Bowen session with a greater sense of calm for the things that I was dealing with on a daily basis.  I went to see Barbara for my back problems but I was receiving much more treatment than just a back fix.  Overall though, my back felt much improved because there wasn't nearly as much tension within the muscles.  I experienced pain now and then but usually only after I did something to aggravate my back or neck.  There was something working here. 

I continued with the Bowen treatments until the rest of my life got in the way of my treatment schedule.  It was summer, my kids were out of school and I was needed more at work as well as at home.  I had to leave Bowen treatments because I couldn't fit it in anymore.  I didn't worry at first because for the first time in a long time my body felt great and I wasn't worried about it.  Needless to say I re-injured my back doing too much physical labor around the house but I had to complete the project I had started and had to continue despite the pain. 

That is where I am today.  My time is not as free as it was just a short while ago and I know I need to resume my Bowen Therapy because I know that it is the only methodology that has made any difference to my well being.  Physically, mentally and emotionally, I felt better about my health.  I am confident that I could continue to improve with the help of Bowen therapy.  

It would be great if more traditional practitioners were introduced to and experienced the benefits of Bowen Therapy for themselves and their patients/clients.  Many physical therapists, massage therapists or even chiropractors could easily incorporate Bowen into their practices to enhance or replace what they are already doing.  Athletic trainers who work with kids or adults would also find Bowen useful to improve the health of those injured in physical activity due to sports and recreation."
~by Andrew J Barnett, 50 yrs old, Dunellen, NJ