Bodywork

Claire Thomas

Description

This is the essential guide answering all of the key questions about every different kind of major bodywork therapy, including Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy and more.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Santé du quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Massage
• Fitness
• Health
• Alexander technique
• Reflexology
• Bodywork (alternative medicine)

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2006
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781591205975
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

PRAISE FOR THOMAS CLAIRE’S BODYWORK
“Bodywork is definitely ‘The Bible’ of our time in the field of bodywork. I highly recommend this book for both the layman and the professional.”
—O HASHI
“An excellent resource.”
—D R . B ERNIE SIEGEL, AUTHOR OF L OVE , M EDICINE & M IRACLES
“Bodywork is the best source of information about a wide variety of exciting therapeutic modalities that I have seen. Every chapter is a clear, in-depth description—a gold mine of trustworthy information for anyone seeking a kind of bodywork appropriate for their wants and needs. Practitioners as well as clients will find it invaluable. Thomas Claire has dispelled much of the confusion about the different styles and strengths of the many forms of bodywork in America, and has helped to define bodywork’s rightful place in health care.”
—D EANE J UHAN, AUTHOR OF J OB’S BODY:
A H ANDBOOK FOR B ODYWORK
“Today the field of bodywork is so rich and varied that it can be overwhelming. Thomas Claire’s excellent book, Bodywork, is the perfect guide into this wonderful world.”
—D EBORAH C APLAN , M.A., P.T., AUTHOR OF B ACK T ROUBLE:
A N EW A PPROACH TO P REVENTION AND R ECOVERY
B ASED ON THE A LEXANDER T ECHNIQUE
“I would highly recommend Thomas Claire’s Bodywork as a clear and concise comprehensive guide. Claire’s unique way of explaining the ‘feel’ of a typical session is especially informative and meaningful.”
—J OHN F. B ARNES , P.T., M YOFASCIAL R ELEASE T REATMENT C ENTERS AND S EMINARS
“I’m impressed. In this time when health-care consumers are rediscovering the value of ‘hands-on’ bodywork, a book such as this, which accurately describes for the consumer the majority of bodywork approaches and techniques, is of inestimable value. There is no ‘high-tech’ language here.”
—J OHN E. U PLEDGER , D.O., O.M.M.,
M EDICAL D IRECTOR , THE U PLEDGER I NSTITUTE
“A complete guide to assessing a wide range of therapeutic practices . . . unique and user-friendly . . . deserves a place on the shelves next to guides on how to choose a lawyer or a physician.”
— L IBRARY J OURNAL
“The massage-therapy bible.”
— G ENTLEMEN’S Q UARTERLY
“[This] encyclopedic book . . . is the bible in its field.”
— C OUNTRY L IVING’S H EALTHYLIVING
“The right touch can do wonders . . . But with all the possibilities . . . how do you choose? . . . Mr. Claire . . . makes a fine guide . . . precise and complete . . . his views from the table are both enlightening and entertaining.”
— T HE D ALLAS MORNING NEWS
“Thomas Claire’s Bodywork fills the need for a book that describes the many forms of bodywork and massage currently being practiced. Subtitled What Type of Massage to Get—and How to Make the Most of It, it delivers that information in an enjoyable and easy-to-use format . . . By giving the reader both theoretical information and an experiential sense of each modality . . . Claire succeeds in conveying a more complete understanding of each modality than any other source I know of.”
— M ASSAGE M AGAZINE
“Thomas Claire . . . has written a book on massage and bodywork that offers its readers a distinctive feature, that goes further than so many other competent, useful books on the subject. Bodywork: What Type of Massage to Get—and How to Make the Most of It is intended to ‘convey what each approach actually feels like’ . . . an intimate, personal, friendly—and therefore truly helpful—kind of ‘hands-on’ guide . . . I found most valuable the strongly affirmative human ‘spin’ Claire brings to a vital subject that has nevertheless too often been presented so objectively and dispassionately.”
— M ASSAGE T HERAPY J OURNAL
“We had the ‘baby boom.’ Now, we are witnessing the ‘body boom.’ Bodywork: What Type of Massage to Get—and How to Make the Most of It is a . . . much-needed book that answers the multitude of questions repeatedly asked by people who are searching for a clear description of various bodyworks and types of practitioners.”
—I LANA R UBENFELD , CREATOR OF THE R UBENFELD S YNERGY M ETHOD AND F OUNDER OF THE R UBENFELD T RAINING P ROGRAM
“Thomas Claire has done a magnificent job of defining and describing virtually every type of bodywork therapy from a firsthand perspective. I believe bodywork is one of the most powerful medicines available. With so many effective techniques to choose from it is often overwhelming. In Bodywork, the reader is guided to the best technique for them and their body.”
—M ICHAEL M URRAY , N.D., AUTHOR OF N ATURAL A LTERNATIVES
“In Bodywork Thomas Claire has illuminated with integrity, compassion and eloquence the interconnective web of holistic bodywork. Each modality explored reveals itself as a valuable strand in this diverse yet unified web that serves to honor the developing field of therapeutic bodywork and its contribution for healing and wholeness. It is a true gift to potential client and professional practitioner alike.”
—L AURA N ORMAN , R EFLEXOLOGIST, AUTHOR OF F EET F IRST : A G UIDE TO F OOT R EFLEXOLOGY
BODY WORK
What Type of Massage to Get— and How to Make the Most of It
THOMAS CLAIRE
The information in this book is intended to increase your knowledge about massage and bodywork therapies and by no means is intended to diagnose or treat an individual’s health problems or ailments. The information given is not medical advice, nor is it presented as a course of personalized treatment. There may be risks involved in connection with some of the practices suggested in this book, just as there may be risks involved in connection with any type of physical activity or therapy. Therefore, before starting any type of massage or bodywork therapy, or before discontinuing any course of medical treatment you may now be undergoing, you should consult your own healthcare practitioner.
The publisher does not advocate the use of any particular healthcare protocol but believes the information in this book should be available to the public. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of the suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed in this book.
The following trademarks, registered marks, and service marks are used throughout this book: The American Center for the Alexander Technique, Inc., American Massage Therapy Association, AMTA, American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia, AOBTA, Aston-Patterning, Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy, Esalen, Feldenkrais, Feldenkrais Method, Awareness Through Movement, Functional Integration, Feldenkrais Guild, Hellerwork, Holotropic Breathwork, International Association of Infant Massage, IAIM, International Institute of Reflexology, Ingham Method, International SPA Association, ISPA, Jin Shin Do, Bodymind Acupressure, Jin Shin Jyutsu, KURED, LooyenWork, MLD, NAVALT, Ohashiatsu, Ortho-Bionomy, Society of Ortho-Bionomy International, Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy, The Radiance Technique, Rolf Institute, Rolfer, Rolfing, Rosen Method, Rubenfeld Synergy Method, Rubenfeld Synergist, Therapeutic Touch, Touch for Health, Trager, Mentastics, Transcendental Meditation, TTouch, The Upledger Insititute, Inc., The Upledger Insititute, Inc. HealthPlex Clinicial Services, Somato-Emotional Release, and Zero Balancing.
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
28812 Top of the World Drive • Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-715-7327 • www.basichealthpub.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Claire, Thomas.
Bodywork : what type of massage to get and how to make the most of it/
Thomas Claire.—2nd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59120-597-5
1. Massage. 2. Touch—Therapeutic use. 3. Mind and body therapies. I. Title.
RA780.5.C57 2006
615.8'22—dc22
2006002150
Copyright © 2006 by Thomas Claire
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

In-house editor: Carol Rosenberg • Typesetting: Gary A. Rosenberg
Cover design: Mike Stromberg • Based on original book design by Jessica Shatan
Printed in the United States of America
10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2
This book is gratefully dedicated to my mother, for giving birth to the dream; my friend and colleague Alice Pisciotto, for nuturing it; my agent, Jeanne Fredericks, for sharing it; my editor, Will Schwalbe, for giving it a body; and all other healers, wherever you may be.
CONTENTS
Preface to the Revised Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Getting Started: How to Use This Book
Helpful Hints
How to Make the Most of Your Massage
How to Choose a Practitioner
A Note on Gender
Introduction
What Is Massage?
Bodywork Is Not a Substitute for Medical Treatment
A Brief Overview of the History of Bodywork
The Role of Massage and Bodywork in Health Care in the United States
The Common Foundations of Bodywork
Touch Research Institute: The Scientific Evidence
The Evolving Role of the Massage Therapist

PART I   T RADITIONAL W ESTERN M ASSAGE
‣    Swedish Massage at a Glance
Chapter 1. Swedish Massage and Its Variations
What Is Swedish Massage?
The Origins of Swedish Massage
The Theory Underlying Swedish Massage
The Typical Format of a Swedish Massage Session
The Experience: I Get Rubbed the Right Way
The Benefits of Swedish Massage
Contraindications to Swedish Massage
Background and Training of Practitioners
For Further Information
Suggested Further Reading
Variations on Swedish Massage
Medical Massage: Working from a Doctor’s Rx
Sports Massage: Maximizing Peak Performance
Trigger Point Therapies: Releasing the Pressure Points
On-Site Massage: Chair Massage
Specialty Practices: Endless Variations

PART II   S TRUCTURAL /F UNCTIONAL /M OVEMENT I NTEGRATION:
S OMATIC E DUCATION
‣    The Rolfing Method of Structural Integration at a Glance
Chapter 2. T