Body Work: What Kind of Massage to Get And How to Make the Most of It [Paperback]

Thomas Claire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2006

Swedish massage, aromatherapy, shiatsu, Rolfing, Alexander Technique, reflexology, CranioSacral Therapy-these are all different kinds of what is referred to as bodywork. One of the most widespread and powerful of the complementary therapies, bodywork is helping millions of people to feel better and/or achieve a greater integration of body, mind, and spirit. Whether you're a longtime bodywork enthusiast or someone who has little or no experience with massage, "Bodywork" is the essential guide, answering all of the key questions about every different kind of major bodywork therapy. Author and leading message therapist Thomas Claire takes you through a typical session of more than fifteen therapies and outlinesa the health and relaxation benefits of each. He explains what each type of bodywork actually feels like and provides helpful hints for choosing a practioner.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Bodywork," a holistic therapy that involves touch, "has only recently come to mean something other than auto repair," notes Claire, a New York massage therapist at the start of his exhaustive guide to the myriad massage therapies available today. Following a user-friendly design, the book is divided into six parts, the first five of which group profiles of related bodywork practices. Swedish massage and its variants make up the first section, for example, while shiatsu gets a chapter in "Asian Bodywork" and craniosacral therapy is taken up in "Energetic Bodywork." After detailing the background, theory and practice of each modality, Claire presents firsthand impressions of a therapy session. Though unquestionably informative, these sections are marked by Claire's heavy-moving, earnest prose and extensive self-awareness: "I must be developing inner structural clarity," he observes while opening a jar after being rolfed. The last section, "Supplemental Information: Simple Tools," which features extensive lists of resources for further information, a glossary, bibliography, notes and index, rounds out this useful guide.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Claire, a licensed massage therapist, has written a complete guide to assessing a wide range of therapeutic practices, from deep muscle to gentle touch. He demystifies massage by explaining how to evaluate practitioners and where to check their credentials. He then presents the theory, benefits, contraindications, and practitioner training for numerous techniques. He describes how a typical session feels for each type, including Swedish massage, Rolfing, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Myofascial Release, Trager Approach, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Reiki, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Holotropic Breathwork, Polarity Therapy, and Therapeutic Touch. Claire includes a comparative summary of bodywork practices, glossary, extensive bibliography, and directory of professional associations, licensing boards, spas, and health centers. His unique and user-friendly reference deserves a place on the shelves next to guides on how to choose a lawyer or a physician.?Valerie Vaughan, Hatfield P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Basic Health Publications (June 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591201659
• ISBN-13: 978-1591202325
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,888,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Bodywork Bible!, July 5, 2000

By 

Oakland Bodywork Partners (Oakland, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bodywork: What Type of Massage to Get and How to Make the Most of It (Paperback)

We are certified massage therapists in the San Francisco Bay area. When clients ask us about lesser known or unfamiliar modalities, this is the book we reach for. It is concise, well-written, easy to understand from the layman's point of view. It has even helped us in the enhancement of our own practice by providing a guide to further studies and research to improve our practice.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING OVERVIEW OF THE FASCINATING WORLD OF MASSAGE, June 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bodywork: What Type of Massage to Get, and How to Make the Most of It (Hardcover)

This is an excellent overview of the fascinating world of massage and body-mind healing therapies. I've always been interested in massage, but had a hard time figuring out what all the different types are. Thomas Claire's BODYWORK helped demystify this world for me. I especially liked the fist-hand account of the experience of different kinds of massage -- they were really helpful. For instance, the first-hand account of a reflexology session helped me understand what foot massage is all about, and to know that I would like to try it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK ON BODYWORK, June 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bodywork: What Type of Massage to Get, and How to Make the Most of It (Hardcover)

This is the best book on bodywork I've read. I love massage, but was confused by all the diffrerent styles that are out there -- Swedish, Alexander, Reiki, Shiatsu -- to name just a few. I've read a lot of books on massage, but it was Thomas Claire's BODYWORK that helped me find the massage that was right for me -- and make the most of it. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in finding out more about massage and bodywork.