About Gene Dobkin

During a college break in 1968 Gene Dobkin came home with three things he believed would change the world. Everybody he met was subjected to a lecture on all three whether they were interested or not. What were these three “magic bullets” that could solve all problems? Vitamin C, wheat bran, and foot reflexology.

But a therapeutic career was not yet to be. Gene’s first love was music and he spent the post-college years playing the bass-fiddle in various groups (one of the first touring members of the band Asleep at the Wheel, for you country swing fans).

Asleep at the Wheel, 1973

In the 1970’s Gene settled into an area outside of Mendocino, CA, homesteading and working in carpentry, land surveying, and in a cabinet shop. There he also managed a natural food store, reading and experimenting with almost every dietary and nutritional program that was available. Soon he was practicing applied kinesiology for nutrition in Mendocino county and the Bay Area. Also at this time Gene began practicing Tai Chi and other internal martial arts, learning many styles and forms with a variety of teachers. The music was always present, with participation in a variety of jazz ensembles.

Practicing Penjat Silat, ca. 1990

In the early 1980’s Gene began his full-time study and practice of body modalities, beginning with Polarity and massage, working privately and in spa settings. Though massage can be very soothing, there always seemed something missing if a lasting therapeutic effect was needed. Thus began a determined study of every “deeper” modality that came down the pike. This study included anatomy and physiology classes through a local nursing college, first as a student and later as dissection lab assistant to the Instructor. Gene was director and chief instructor for the Mendocino Institute, teaching anatomy and a variety of bodywork techniques.

Every new technique has its tale to tell, and further therapeutic value, but some dimension was still lacking. In 1992 Gene was exposed to a demonstration of Bowen’s technique and began studies. Here was the missing piece — once again he was playing music! Plunking on and “tuning” human sinews felt as natural as coaxing a counterpoint out of the bass fiddle.

Following were dozens of Bowen classes — participating in, assisting with, and by 1994 teaching through the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia. Gene taught more than 50 classes with the academy, in the U.S. and the Middle East. He published a two volume training manual, which is still in use in 15 countries worldwide.

Visiting with Rene Horwood, Tom Bowen's Assistant

In 1998 Gene traveled to Australia to seek out and learn from more of Tom Bowen’s students and others who were representing the work. He left the Bowen Academy and began working through the International Institute of Applied Health Services teaching Neuro-Structural Technique (NST) with founder Michael Nixon-Livy. Gene has taught 30 classes through this institute.

Almost any variation of Tom Bowen’s work is good, and will produce gratifying and sometimes startling results. However all of the popular systems taught had in common a degree of exclusivity and austerity — a reliance on strict recipes that was widely and mistakenly attributed to Tom Bowen himself. Every good therapeutic practitioner has the inborn talents of intuition and improvisation, but these are not actively encouraged.

Gene began systematically experimenting with breaking down the modern “rules” of Bowen’s technique — altering everything that could be altered and blending in other subtle bodywork techniques and traditions. The results were a quickening and deepening of the results, and a much more satisfying interpersonal “conversation” during the sessions. Gene developed a “breakaway” class for those who had already learned the standard way, and this process confirmed for him that this new way of working had to be introduced to students from their first exposure. Here was the birth of Neural Touch.

Gene Dobkin believes that therapeutic work is not an arena apart from the rest of one’s life. Rather, the totality of who one is, right down to the spiritual core, becomes the toolbox for healing encounters. Functioning mechanically will stifle our nacent creativity and intuition. Focused attention and patience are the true healers. Those who have the courage to go inside for the answers, and to surrender to something higher than themselves, will always be the winners. Relative to this, the specific techniques used almost don’t matter!

Ultimately, though, some modalities are more conducive to a respectful therapist/client interaction (clients have their own higher Source as well!). Some techniques have a deeper and long-lasting effect, though they may seem understated and perplexing in the moment. Some techniques pull us more into our sensitivity and intuition. People who are actively engaged in the quest for these qualities of technique will be those most interested in Gene Dobkin’s Neural Touch.

U.S. Bowen
Gene Dobkin, Director
999 S. Santa Fe Ave, #23
San Jacinto, CA 92583
seminars@usbowen.com
Phone - (951)-654-9907
Fax - (951) 602-6010