The Healing Touch Of Massage PDF
Preview The Healing Touch Of Massage
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation https://archive.0rg/detaiis/heaiingtouchofmaOOOOdepa Carlo dePaoli Photography by Sue Atkinson Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York I would like to dedicate this book to all the bodyworkers past and present who use and have used body therapy to treat the whole being. PLEASE NOTE This book is nof intended as guidance for the treatment of serioLis heaith probiems; please refer to a medical professional if you are in any doubt about any aspect of a person's condition. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available 468 10 9753 Published 1995 by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. 387 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10016 Originally published in Great Britain by Headline Book Publishing, a division of Hodder Headline PLC 3 38 Euston Road, London NWl 3BH under the title Massage and Bodywork for Health Text copyright © 1995 by Carlo De Paoli Photographs copyright © 1995 by Sue Atkinson This edition copyright © 1995 by Eddison Sadd Editions Distributed in Canada by Sterling Publishing c/o Canadian Manda Group, One Atlantic Avenue, Suite 105 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6K 3E7 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. AN EDDISON-SADD EDITION Edited, designed and produced by Eddison Sadd Editions Limited St Chad's House 148 King's Cross Road London WCIX 9DH Phototypeset in Meridien and Americana Bold by SX Composing Ltd, Rayleigh, UK Origination by Tipongraph Sri, Italy Printed in China by Donnelley Bright Sun Sterling ISBN 0-8069-1359-2 Contents PAR I' ONli Massage Techniques ? rhe I listory and Benefits of Massage 8 Schools of I'herapy 1 1 'B^pes of Touch 19 'I'he ITeparation 23 rwo PARI' Caring for the Body -i- ctiAPTEi^ ONE A 1 lealffiy Back 28 Cl i/\PTEi^ TWO Improved Circulctfion 51 CHAPTER THREE FlCXif^lC JoillfS (39 Cl 1APTE13 FOUR Bcffcr I3reaffiing 79 ci lAiH'ER FIVE Good DigcsfioH 89 CHAPTER SIX Cleait Wafer 99 CHAP'Hiit SEVEN Kcproducfive Issues 105 CHAPTEit ek;ht a Clear Head 1 13 CHAP'HiR NINE 1 lappy and Relaxed 138 Index 142 Acknowledgements 144 Thumb Pressure Wringing Palm Pressure Articulation Cupped-hand Effleurage Kneading PART ONE Massage Techniques P art One sets the scene for a life-time of health-giving massage aided hy the use of aromatherapy and herbal¬ ism. The history of the art of massage over the centuries, from ancient Indian massage to the more contemporary Swedish approach, is all here. And the benefits of massage, to soothe and allay many common complaints as well as maintain a healthy body to resist ailments, are outlined. The principles of each school of therapy - Swedish and Eastern massage, shiatsu, osteopathy, netiro-muscular mas¬ sage, aromatherapy and herbalism - are all set out. Then the types of touch - from effleurage to acupressure and per¬ cussion to articulation - that you will use in the massage sequences in Part Two are clearly explained. Finally, there is a section on how to prepare yourself for a massage treatment, both mentally and physically, pre¬ paring the treatment room and the massage receiver. Now you are ready to begin your massage. With a hrm grasp of the principles and techniques laid out here you can feel confident to move on to Part Two where you will learn how to put them into practice. Massage Techniques The History and Benefits of Massage R ecent research suggests that massage, as a empire, the Western world adopted a more form of therapy, was already in use puritanical view of life, and any so-called pam¬ several centuries before the birth of Christ. pering of the body was viewed as sinful. As a Mentioned in ancient Greek, Egyptian, Indian result, massage, both as a form of relaxation and Chinese medical texts, it played a particu¬ and as a form of medicine, was ostracized. This larly important role in the traditional medicine situation remained for several centuries, and in of the Far East and India and, throughout Europe it was not until the end of the eight¬ history, was taught along with other therapies, eenth century that the relaxing and therapeutic such as herbalism, exercise and acupuncture. effects of massage witnessed a true revival. Homer, who lived around the eighth century The art of massage is as ancient as touch Bc, mentioned it in his book, Odyssey, as a itself. Both human beings and animals have restorative treatment for warriors; about the always been endowed with the intuitive fourth century bc, Hippocrates, the father of knowledge that stroking and caressing with a Western medicine, made extensive use of it for caring, loving attitude brings comfort, re¬ the treatment and prevention of diseases; and laxation and general well-being. In our so did the renowned physician Galen (ad 150) scientifically-minded age, studies have over¬ who is recognized as the major authority of tra¬ whelmingly confirmed that a loving touch can ditional Western herbalism. In ancient Egypt, also relieve pain, soothe sorrows, promote massage was taught in temples as a sacred art health, and ensure the growth and develop¬ alongside herbal medicine and other forms of ment of happy healthy offspring, both human religious rituals and divination. and animal. Studies of children and young animals, such as monkeys, have confirmed this fact time and time again. The Art of Massage As far as plants are concerned, the book. Massage has been used also, throughout Secret Life of Plants, by Tompkins and Bird, has history, as a form of relaxation and beauty sold over a million copies and dramatically treatment. It was particularly popular with the changed people's perception of other forms of ancient Romans. Base oils were mixed with life. It certainly had a remarkable impact on essential oils and herbs, and applied with full- me. In their book, Tompkins and Bird cite body massage techniques to regenerate and many experiments that show that even plants beautify the skin, especially the skin of the face. are endowed with intelligence and feelings, and The ointments were attributed with various have a tremendous response to touch, words properties, some factual, some vastly exagger¬ and, perhaps even more astonishingly, to ated. Certainly it must have been a real treat to thoughts. For example, plants that are regularly spend all day at the Roman Baths indulging touched and sent loving thoughts are now oneself with hot vapours, swimming and then known to grow far more strongly than plants being massaged with aromatic ointments! that are deprived of such contact. Unfortunately, after the fall of the Roman The essence of massage, then, is a loving. 8
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