Thai Massage is the touch that enhances health, happiness, and wholeness--and with more than 150 expertly demonstrated sequences unfolding on these pages, everyone can enjoy its benefits. Sometimes called "yoga in action," Thai massage has worked its relaxing wonders for more than 1,000 years. Explore its secrets with a detailed program that includes ten complete lessons, each concentrating on a particular part of the body. Like other forms of massage, it employs a flowing sequence of stretches, but instead of using only your fingers, pressure is applied with the thumbs, palms, elbows, knees, and feet. Full-color photographs of every move match still shots with superimposed artwork that indicate the direction of the movements. Each technique is clearly explained and its benefits--from improved flexibility to increased vitality--detailed. "All of the techniques are shown in sharp color photographs that are pleasing to the eye. Descriptions of the techniques are clear."--Massage Therapy Journal.

Thai Massage, Sacred Bodywork is a complete guide to an ancient practice that benefits body, mind, and spirit. Interest in Thai massage has been growing rapidly. This is no surprise given its unique multifaceted approach to the body. Thai massage combines acupressure, stretching, reflexology, assisted yoga postures, herbal compresses, prayer and meditation. It benefits everyone. Sometimes called the "lazy person's yoga", Thai massage stretches and relaxes the muscles, increases the joints' range of motion, and balances energy flow throughout the body. Thai Massage, Sacred Bodywork provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions which enable the reader to use this integrative and interactive therapy with a partner at home or with a client. The book explains the historical and philosophical background of Thai massage as well as its religious origins. Throughout the book, Ananda always reminds us of the deeper meaning of this sacred modality—compassion in action. A must for all those interested in the healing arts.

This fascinating anthology presents a much wider scope than other books on Thai massage, and uncovers a wealth of previously unavailable information on the historical, spiritual, and cultural connections to this powerful healing art. Topics include ways to refine and maintain a healthy practice, breathwork and body mechanics, self-protection techniques, reading body language, acupressure concepts, and Thai herbal compress therapy. The spiritual and cultural section offers modern translations of ancient texts, Indian and Buddhist influences, magic amulets and sacred tattoos, and accessory modalities such as reusi dat ton (stretching) and tok sen (hammering therapy). Rounding out this thorough text, the final section features essays about actual practice with clients, written by therapists and teachers from around the world. The extensive experience and information provided in this reference book is invaluable to students or practitioners who wish to deepen their personal and professional understanding of traditional Thai healing arts.

Expand your Thai yoga massage practice with advanced postures and energy work to treat stress, back pain, headaches, and several other common conditions • Includes step-by-step photographs for more than 50 advanced Thai yoga massage postures • Illustrates in full color the locations of the sen lines and explains their specific therapeutic qualities and connections to ayurveda and the 5 kosha bodies • Details successful treatment plans for 8 common ailments with custom 60-minute Thai yoga massage posture flows as well as ayurvedic and yoga recommendations for continued healing and prevention at home In the unique healing system of Thai yoga massage--based on yoga, ayurveda, and the martial arts--the practitioner uses his or her own hands, feet, arms, and legs to gently guide the recipient through a series of yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy pathways and pressure points, known in the Thai tradition as sen lines and in ayurveda as marma points. Providing a way to expand one’s Thai yoga massage practice, this book includes step-by-step photos and guidelines for more than 50 advanced Thai yoga postures as well as successful treatment plans for 8 common ailments: stress, back pain, stiff neck and shoulders, arm and hand exhaustion, headaches, constipation, fibromyalgia, and anxiety/depression. Each treatment plan offers a customized one-hour Thai yoga massage posture flow specific to that ailment along with ayurvedic and yoga recommendations for continued healing and prevention after the massage session. This comprehensive guide also illustrates the exact location of the sen lines and marma points, detailing their therapeutic indications and connections to ayurveda and the five kosha bodies, as well as explaining how to incorporate them into sessions for deeper healing.

This practical and highly illustrated introduction to the principles and techniques of Thai massage discusses the theories of Thai medicine and its Chinese and Ayurvedic influences. It offers clear and easy-to-follow descriptions for all Thai massage techniques accompanied by full color photographs and drawings, with arrows to indicate direction of movement. Basic explanations describe how massage therapists can use elements of these techniques and apply them immediately in their own practice. Gives clear and easy-to-follow descriptions for each technique. Techniques can be used alone, in conjunction with other forms of massage, or to facilitate Yoga and other meditation practices. Clinically valuable and practical explanations of how to use elements of the procedures make it easy for therapists to enrich their practice with these techniques -- whether applying all of the methods, or starting with stretches alone. Features an icon throughout the text that calls attention to precautions therapists must be aware of for safe and effective sessions. Includes a 45-minute DVD presenting video of techniques and routines in real time, to demonstrate proper pacing. Photographs, drawings, and illustrations of techniques are now in full color, for greater clarity of concepts. More historical background provides a deeper understanding of this ancient medical art. An accompanying DVD offers a 45-minute video of a Thai massage session in real time - demonstrating procedures with proper pacing. The visual approach along with its step-by-step narration helps viewers understand how the concepts discussed in the book translate to actual practice. The book also includes DVD icons that indicate which techniques are demonstrated on the DVD. Increased coverage of body mechanics helps readers understand the difference between correct and incorrect technique. Legends below the photographs provide specific information on the muscles being pressed or stretched with each technique to help therapists understand how this art of Asian healing corresponds to Western anatomy. A new Muscle Atlas appendix helps to further identify muscles mentioned in these legends. A new chapter, Correlations to Yoga, outlines the correlations between specific Thai massage procedures and yoga postures to help therapists incorporate Yoga into their practices. A new chapter, Suggested Sequences, provides guidelines for 60-, 90-, and 120-minute sessions - taking the guesswork out of planning Thai massage sessions.

Drawing from Thai history, cultural studies, Buddhist religion, and yogic practices, as well as a modern understanding of anatomy and physiology, this guidebook bridges the gap between theory and practice while presenting bodywork as it is understood in Thailand--as a therapeutic medical science. Presenting detailed analysis of each step in a Thai massage routine, the history, spiritual traditions, and ethical codes are offered in an engaging, informal style. Numerous photographs and diagrams illustrate the variety of techniques used, and examples of routines for treating specific disorders are discussed. Updated with new layout, photos, and expanded text, this exhaustive handbook is complete with a section on the main energy meridians and diagrams of acupressure points, making it the perfect tool to accompany anyone studying this popular healing modality.