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.
Presenting a wider scope than traditional how-to books on Thai Massage, this authoritative study uncovers a wealth of previously unavailable information on the historical, spiritual, and cultural connections to this powerful healing art.
"Bob Haddad has poured his extensive knowledge into this beautiful text, and carefully, comprehensively, and lovingly deconstructs the art of Thai Massage for the reader. His personal and professional experiences woven throughout the book add depth of character and treasured authenticity. As an additional demonstration that this text is his gift to the bodywork profession, the book shares wisdom from more than a dozen other practitioners."