Practitioner Profile

Nicola Hok BTAA BA(UK) was among the first to study the Bowen Technique in the UK, learning from world authorities Ossie & Elaine Rentsch in 1993. She has a life-long interest in complementary medicine and a background in reflexology, massage and shiatsu.

Nicola uses the Bowen Technique in preference to the other disciplines she has studied because: “It’s all about effectiveness. Why make someone come to me with a frozen shoulder for weeks on end when one or two sessions with Bowen will probably do the job?.”

She was invited to become an Academy Instructor by the Rentschs in 1997, and became a Senior Instructor for the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia in 2001.

She has applied Bowen all over the world from South America to Africa & the Middle and Far East and taught in both Northern Ireland and Eire, Spain, Norway and South Africa as well as throughout the UK. She is also hoping to teach Bowen courses in Tanzania, Portugal and the Canary Islands.

Nicola has a highly practical approach to teaching Bowen. Her mantra is “practice, practice practice” and her mission is to produce “the best practitioners on the planet”. Her teaching method is thorough, even perfectionist, because she feels the most vital thing is to give students a solid basis on which to build: Bowen is a study in precision. The more precise you are in where and how you make the moves, the better the results. No matter how caring a practitioner you are, if your work is not precise, it will be less effective.

With clinics in both London and Hampshire, her Bowen teaching commitments, and being on the Bowen Training UK Committee and the International Instructors' Committee working on the creation of global policies for the Bowen Academy, she never has as much time as she would like to pursue her interest in Swing dances from the 30s and 40s - although injured dancers do sometimes become clients!

If you would like to coordinate a class in your area Nicola is willing to travel to start new groups. A minimum of 8-10 students is required for UK courses and larger numbers for locations abroad You can contact her on +44 (0)20 8749 6952 or by email: bowenworks.net@gmail.com or by text on +44 (0)7415 889963

Here are a few comments from past students:

“I have been in training for many years and I found Nicola’s teaching brilliant. She really cares about ‘her students’ doing well and getting the most from her course. I thoroughly enjoyed module 1 and 2 in Northampton and I enjoy practising Bowen more than my day job...so when I qualify I guess it will have to become my day job!
AR - Training Consultant, Spain.


“I write to thank you so very much for all of your kind instruction, guidance and support. Your courses have been highly practical, consistent and very precise. This method of teaching is very valuable. From the first weeks of learning I felt confident to start applying it, [understanding] the details and the care that I had to take to ensure positive results with the least number of moves. You demonstrated the therapy with great precision, elegance and finesse – I believe that this is the mark of a true master. Throughout all of my medical and non-medical courses, I must say that this was one of the most rigorous and most satisfying professional training that I have ever undertaken. It has been an honour and great privilege to have received instructions from you.”
Dr HT – GP and Physician of Oriental medicine, London

“Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your ‘self’. I will cherish and treasure all that you have taught me.”
A, Oxfordshire

“I knew there had to be a reason that I waited for over eighteen months before I decided to learn Bowen – it was you! Thank you for a great start to Bowen – Ossie and Elaine chose well. When I was checking out Bowtech, a practitioner replied to my question saying ‘Nicola was the best of the various ones I had taken (courses) from’.”
MB, Buckinghamshire

“Thank you for an inspiring four days. You are a very gifted teacher and I am very lucky to have had you introduce me to Bowen.”
JB, Surrey

“Thank you for your fantastic teaching style. I still have your voice ringing in my head when I’m practicing Bowen!”
SR, Germany


“Thank you for making the Bowen course last weekend so enjoyable. It makes such a difference to learning when your tutor is so clearly inspired.”
SW, Lincs