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Dr Kevin Ryan a colleague and friend of Tom Bowen's made this observation.

No matter what we set out to learn we bring with us our previous knowledge and skills. It is to be expected that six (six of Tom’s students) should come away with six interpretations of the master’s work... The difference would have been slight had each of us learned from Tom at the same time . . . Remember that he did not wake up one morning 50 years ago, suddenly inspired with ‘the Bowen Technique’ as you may know it. His road to Damascus extended over some 35 years and is littered with thrown away ideas, new pathways, additions and subtractions, always learning and improving how and what he did best. Indeed on the final morning I spent with him prior to his admission to hospital, he demonstrated a further change to his treatment of one particular lower back presentation. Considering the dynamic nature of his work and his delicate palpatory and manipulative skills. It is little wonder that the point of evolution at which each of us worked with Tom influenced our interpretation greatly...It is worth remembering that Tom’s work and technique was in a sense not complete at his death, just as every body therapy modality is not completed by the loss of the originator. Each of us who come in touch with his approach has the opportunity to continue its development as we consciously or unconsciously incorporate it into what we already do or vice versa.'