Thai Massage & Thai Healing Arts: Practice, Culture and Spirituality

by Bob Haddad, Kira Balaskas (Contribution by), Michael Reed Gach (Contribution by), C. Pierce Salguero PhD (Contribution by), Enrico Corsi (Contribution by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781844096169
Publisher:	Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Publication date:	10/01/2013
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Bob Haddad is a Registered Thai Therapist, teacher and author who has studied and practiced traditional Thai massage since 1999. He is the founder and director of Thai Healing Alliance International, teaches workshops internationally, and has organized international conferences on Thai healing arts.

Kira Balaskas has studied traditional Thai Yoga Massage extensively in Thailand with Asokananda and other Thai teachers. She has been practising and teaching Thai Yoga Massage in London since 1989, and is recognised by the International Society of Thai Yoga Massage as an experienced and qualified Thai Massage teacher.

Michael Reed Gach, PhD, Dipl ABT, founded the Acupressure Institute in 1976, one of the leading international training schools in Asian bodywork. Gach is a national expert on acupressure therapy and has taught over 100,000 people from all over the world. Gach received his PhD from Columbia Pacific University in health and human services.

C. Pierce Salguero, PhD, is the founder of Tao Mountain, a nonprofit association of Thai massage and herbal medicine instructors who support academic research and clinical trials to build bridges between Thai and modern Western medicine. He is the author of Encyclopedia of Thai Massage, The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand, and Thai Massage Workbook. He lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Enrico Corsi received his degree in traditional Thai massage from the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, Thailand. He is the founder of the Accademia di Massaggio Tradizionale Thailandese in Milan, Italy, and travels to Thailand at least once a year to pursue advanced studies in traditional Thai healing arts. He lives in Milan, Italy.

Nephyr Jacobsen is the founder and director of the Naga Center, School of Traditional Thai Massage and Medicine. She is a writer of articles and curriculum on Thai medicine and massage. She divides her time between Thailand and Portland, Oregon.

Table of Contents

Preface viii

1 Introduction

1 Practice, Culture, and Spirituality: Introduction Bob Haddad 3

2 Traditional Thai Massage: An Overview Kira Balaskas 15

3 Common Myths Associated with Thai Massage C. Pierce Salguero 25

2 Mastery of Practice

4 The Care and Feeding of Your Thai Massage Practice Bob Haddad 35

5 Thai Acupressure and the Wat Po Treatment Protocols Noam Tyroler 62

6 Introduction to Thai Element Theory Nephyr Jacobsen 75

7 The Sen Sip: Understanding Sen Lines Felicity Joy 84

8 Using Your Feet in Thai Yoga Massage Ralf Marzen 88

9 Pregnancy and Thai Massage Bob Haddad 95

10 Considering Body Language Bob Haddad 104

11 Breath and Body Mechanics in Nuad Boran Bob Haddad 115

12 Luk Pra Kob: The Art of Thai Herbal Compress Therapy Bob Haddad 128

13 Self-Protection Techniques for the Thai Therapist Bob Haddad 151

3 Spiritual and Cultural Connections

14 The Art of Tok Sen Joel Sheposh 169

15 Memorial for Chaiyuth Bence Ganti 176

16 The Vinaya Pitaka: Stories about Jivaka Kumarabhaccha Bob Haddad 187

17 Thai Magic Amulets and Sacred Tattoos Chris Jones 201

18 Introduction to Reusi Dat Ton Enrico Corsi 206

19 The Great Doctor of Northern India: Jivaka Kaumara-Bhrtya Gunakar Muley 212

20 The Reusi of Thailand Tevijjo Yogi 216

21 Traditional Healers of Northern Thailand Greg Lawrence 222

22 Om Namo …What?-The Thai Massage Wai Khru Bob Haddad 226

4 Thai Therapists Speak

23 Diabetes and Thai Massage: No Contraindication Karen Ufer 241

24 Acupuncture and Thai Massage: Same-Same but Different Eric Spivack 245

25 One Week with Pichest Boonthumme Michelle Tupko 248

26 Integrating General Acupressure into Traditional Thai Massage Michael Reed Gach 252

27 "Stop the Blood" or "Open the Gates"? Tim Holt 263

28 Exploring Energy in Thai Massage Robert Henderson 265

29 Thai Massage for Multiple Sclerosis Patients Goran Milovanov 273

30 Notes from the Mat various contributors 277

31 Pilgrimage to Rajgir Bob Haddad 283

32 Compassion and Ethics in Thai Massage Emily Canibano 290

33 Interview with Asokananda Bob Haddad 293

34 Understanding Clients in Nuad Boran Danko Lara Radic 301

35 Standing Thai Massage on its Head Paul Fowler 306

36 Thai Massage on an Amputee Client Bob Haddad 308

37 Thai Massage beyond the Physical Robert Henderson 311

Glossary 313

Selected Bibliography 316

Photo and Illustration Credits 318

Author and Contributing Writers 320

Index 324

Editorial Reviews

"This excellent book represents a significant milestone in the establishment and emergence of traditional Thai healing arts in the modern world. The breadth, depth, quality and scope of the contributions is astounding. I congratulate and thank the author and contributing writers for their diligent efforts."

Richard Gold Ph.D.

"I highly recommend this traditional Thai massage anthology for all those interested in healing work. This excellent book provides new insights and perspectives into the world of hands-on healing."

Michael Reed Gach

"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."

Leslie A. Young

"I highly recommend this traditional Thai massage anthology for all those interested in healing work. This excellent book provides new insights and perspectives into the world of hands-on healing." —Micahel Reed Gach, Ph.D., author, Acupressure for Emotional Healing: A Self-Care Guide for Trauma, Sress, & Common Emotional Imbalances

"This excellent book represents a significant milestone in the establishment and emergence of traditional Thai healing arts in the modern world. The breadth, depth, quality and scope of the contributions is astounding." —Richard Gold, Ph.D., L.Ac., Author, Thai Massage: A Traditional Medical Technique

"Bob Haddad has poured his extensive knowledge into this beautiful text 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." —Leslie A. Young, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, Massage & Bodywork Magazine

"This is one of the best books on Thai healing arts ever written. It reveals the essence of Thai massage, and tells the true stories of its history, development, and connections to Thai culture." —Coocky Tassanee Boonsom, Director Loi Kroh Thai Massage School Tailand

"This book is a wonderful contribution to the world of Thai massage. Nothing has ever been written like this before. I highly recommend it." —Chongkon Setthakorn, Director, ITM Massage School Thailand

From the Publisher