Ηλίας Χατζηιωάννου

Elias Hadjioannou
Even though I've been using the Bowen Technique for several years, I'm still amazed at how it works.

My name is Elias Hadjioannou. I live in Xylotimvou, Larnaca, Cyprus.

Education

  • Graduate, Physiotherapist, TEI Thessaloniki, 1990
  • Graduate, The Bowen Technique, The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia, 2012
  • Teacher in The Bowen Technique, The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia, 2016

In the course of my career as a physiotherapist I have also obtained the following qualifications after relevant training:

  • Acupuncturist of Traditional Chinese Medicine - Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture (Acupuncture, Ear acupuncture, Cupping, Botany, Tuina massage, Moxa, electroacupuncture) from Jiangaxi University of Chinese Medicine China and three other recognised Academies (Greece, England, Germany) Continuous training since 2000 until today…
  • Kaltenborn Manual Therapy
  • Mulligan Manual Therapy
  • Dry Needle
  • Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy
  • Therapeutic Taping
  • Kinesiotaping
  • Fibrolysis
  • CO2 Therapy
  • At the same time, I participated in many Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine seminars and conferences

Professional experience

In 1990, after I graduated, I worked at the Odysea Dimitriou Physiotherapy Center in Larnaca and since 1991 I have been running my own Alexandreion Physiotherapy Center LTD in Xylotimvou.

At the same time, from 1993 to 2016 I was a physiotherapist for Ethnikos Achna Football Club, a team that competes in the Cypriot First Division Championship. From 2020 until today I am a physiotherapist at AEK Larnaca FC and many other teams in the B, C, and D Categories and rural championships.

Social action

As a physiotherapist, I participated in the following:

  • Volunteer Physiotherapist of the Olympic Games - Athens 2004
  • Physiotherapist of the Cyprus Mediterranean Games "Pescara 2009"
  • Physiotherapist of the National Team of the 13th and 14th Games of Small States of Europe (Cyprus 2009, Liechtenstein 2011)
  • Physiotherapist of the Cyprus Olympic Team, Olympic Games – London 2012
  • I have been President of the Pancypriot Association of Physiotherapists (2008-2010), as well as a member of the Association's Board of Directors for six years.

I was an organisational executive in the creation and organisation of the 1st and 2nd Pancypriot Physiotherapy Congress (2008/2010), as well as the organiser of the seminars: Kinesiotaping, Myofascial Release and Trigger Point, Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, etc. I am also the organiser of all Bowen Technique seminars in Cyprus. From 2016 until today, as a teacher of the technique, I have started 12 groups of my own, in Cyprus and Greece, with about 100 students...

The Bowen technique in my life as a physiotherapist

How I discovered 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. 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. At first, I didn't think it worked as a technique and at the same time, I was responsible for organising seminars for other well-known techniques in the field of physiotherapists, such as Kinesiotaping, Myofascial and Trigger Point, Manual Therapy and Acupuncture, and I didn't want to deal with another technique, about which I had serious doubts.

Finally after two years, in early 2008, Mr. Zoppos came to my physicotherapy 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 get the baby to stop crying with just two movements. So I was able to continue my work undisturbed. This incident intrigued and troubled me. I began to wonder if I should get to know this method after all. After several hours of discussion, I promised him that I would try to get a group together for a seminar.

Finally, in May 2008 we held the first seminar with Mr. Andrew Zoppos, who had come from Australia as a teacher. Four days full of surprises and completely new procedures, an approach very different from all other known techniques. We were all amazed at this teacher's knowledge and skills. He told us about the results of this technique, which admittedly none of us believed at first. However, we didn't have anyone else in Cyprus with experience applying the technique to confirm or refute the teacher's claims. I characteristically remember that he told us that this technique is another important tool in the hands of the physiotherapist. He even emphasised to us that this technique will "untie our hands", giving us the possibility to help patients, who with traditional physiotherapy had no improvement. And indeed he was absolutely right. It's something we see and experience every day.

My experience in technique

From my first contact with the technique in 2008 until today, I have been fortunate to participate in over 200 training seminars for The Bowen Technique, alongside my teacher and mentor, Mr. Andrew Zoppos, as a trainee, assistant, apprentice teacher, and teacher of the Technique in Cyprus, Greece, and Romania. During this time, more than 250 physiotherapists have attended the seminars. My participation in these seminars alongside my experienced teacher gave me the opportunity to gain a variety of experiences and knowledge in the field of treatments and teaching.

Since 2016, as a Bowen Technique teacher, I have started 12 groups of my own in Cyprus and Greece, with about 100 students...

Even though I've been using the Bowen Technique for several years, I'm still amazed at how 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 every day and ultimately I end up preferring it patients in most cases for the following reasons:

  • for the physical therapist, it is a pleasant and relaxing technique
  • the Bowen Technique has the potential to be applied to many groups of patients, without side effects or reasons for concern, even in sensitive groups such as infants, and women during pregnancy
  • for the patients, it is a relaxing technique and not at all painful, it does not cause concern or fear, as may be the case with other techniques such as e.g. 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

So, I come now to admit that all these "unbelievable" things that our teacher told us then are confirmed by the above. In recent years this Technique has become very popular. It has been accepted and recommended by many doctors and has been well-loved by the public. This results in the increase and expansion of the clientele of physiotherapists who request this technique.

With all the respect I have for the profession and all methods of physiotherapy, I wholeheartedly recommend the Bowen Technique and dare to predict that it will be the "technique of the future".

So I urge my patients as well as my colleagues to get to know it. They will understand why after applying it.

Elias Hadjioannou
Accredited teacher of The Bowen Technique 
Graduate of The Bowen Academy of Australia (Bowtech)