Thai Yoga Massage: A Dynamic Therapy for Physical Well-Being and Spiritual Energy [Paperback]

Kam Thye Chow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 9, 2004

A paperback edition with DVD featuring a unique massage therapy that combines stretching, breath work, assisted yoga postures, and pressure point therapy

• Text includes more than 125 black-and-white photographs of instructional postures

• DVD features author demonstrating techniques for performing a one-hour massage

In the temples of Thailand many centuries ago, a dynamic bodywork therapy based on yoga, ayurveda, and the martial arts was born. In this unique healing system of Thai Yoga Massage, the practitioner guides the recipient through a series of yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy lines and pressure points. Together these actions result in a treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system, and balances the body energetically.

In this paperback edition of Thai Yoga Massage, Kam Thye Chow not only leads readers through every aspect of this ancient bodywork therapy using more than 125 detailed, step-by-step photographs, but he also demonstrates the techniques for performing a one-hour massage in the accompanying DVD. Kam Thye Chow is one of the world’s foremost practitioners and has taught massage in Thailand and throughout Europe and North America. With this text and DVD set, his personal training is now available for those who wish to see the techniques demonstrated live as a complement to the points discussed in the text.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Only a true master of Thai massage could present this profound healing art with such clarity and precision, and make it so accessible.”
(Swami Ramananda, president of the Integral Yoga Institute of New York )

“Necessary reading for anyone interested in this indigenous healing art and its contemporary practice. Kam Thye Chow is a sensei of the art and spirit of his work.” (Robert Calvert, founder of Massage Magazine and author of The History of Massage )

"A supremely accessible teacher, Kam Thye is masterful with detail and nuance in the develpment and transmission of this ancient practice."
(Stephen Cope, author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self )

"I highly recommend this text for practicioners who are flexible and love floor work."
(Massage Today, November 2003, Vol.3 No.11 )

"This is a must-have for anyone interested in a dynamic therapy for physical well being."
(Nexus, March/April 2004 )

"A dynamic guide, therapists should add Thai Yoga Massage to their home instructional reference libraries."
(The Bookwatch, September 2004, Vol.26 No.9 )

From the Back Cover

MASSAGE / BODYWORK

“Only a true master of Thai massage could present this profound healing art with such clarity and precision, and make it so accessible.”
Swami Ramananda, president of the Integral Yoga Institute of New York

“Necessary reading for anyone interested in this indigenous healing art and its contemporary practice. Kam Thye Chow is a sensei of the art and spirit of his work.”
Robert Calvert, founder of Massage Magazine and author of The History of Massage

“A supremely accessible teacher, Kam Thye is masterful with detail and nuance in the development and transmission of this ancient practice.”
Stephen Cope, author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

In the temples of Thailand many centuries ago, a dynamic bodywork therapy based on yoga, ayurveda, and the martial arts was born. In this unique healing system of Thai Yoga Massage, the practitioner guides the recipient through a series of yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy lines and pressure points. Together these actions result in a treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system, and balances the body energetically.

Thai Yoga Massage is practiced as a duet. Counterbalancing and levering the recipient’s body with his own, the practitioner works with gravity, breath, and directed touch to create a harmonious and therapeutic “dance” with the recipient that imparts physical vibrancy, grace, and spiritual energy.

In this fully illustrated guide to Thai Yoga Massage, Kam Thye Chow leads readers through every aspect of this ancient bodywork therapy using more than 125 detailed, step-by-step photographs. He also includes additional information on important contraindications and fundamental anatomy and physiology that integrates Western medical knowledge and theory with this ancient healing tradition. In the accompanying DVD Kam Thye presents techniques for performing a one-hour massage, demonstrating effective body mechanics and methods for moving with a gentle steady flow in real time, as a complement to the points discussed in the text. With this text and DVD set, massage therapists, physical therapists, yoga practitioners, and others in the somatic arts will find Thai Yoga Massage an important and innovative complement to their work.

KAM THYE CHOW is one of the world’s foremost practitioners and has taught massage in Thailand and throughout Europe and North America. He is the author of Tai Chi Chuan: Mindfulness in Motion and his writings also have been featured in Massage Magazine, Bodywork, and other healing arts journals. He is the founder and director of the Lotus Palm School in Montreal.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Healing Arts Press (March 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892811463
• ISBN-13: 978-0892811465
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, August 25, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thai Yoga Massage: A Dynamic Therapy for Physical Well-being and Spiritual Energy (Hardcover)

I ordered this book without knowing too much about Thai Yoga Massage. I also ordered another book on the same subject. This book is far superior as it accentuates the stance of the therapist which is of upmost importance in doing Thai Yoga Massage. The other book failed to say much about that aspect. Kam has a great reputation for having lots of integrity. I'm signing up to take one of his workshops. I highly recommend this book!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely guide to thai massage, May 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Thai Yoga Massage: A Dynamic Therapy for Physical Well-being and Spiritual Energy (Hardcover)

kam thye chow brings his expertise and compassion to print! this book is more than nuts and bolts how to do it guide - it opens up the world of thai massage for the reader. kam thye is a great teacher of thai massage and his doesn't disappoint here. the postures are clear, the practitioners dance is well described and the connection to compassionate living is made.
even if you aren't practicing thai massage it is a great complement to yoga practice, other massage practice or just to life!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing discourse on a little-covered technique, June 3, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thai Yoga Massage: A Dynamic Therapy for Physical Well-being and Spiritual Energy (Hardcover)

This therapy for physical well-being and spiritual energy tells how to practice Thai yoga massage, covering the history and techniques of the ancient bodywork therapy and using step-by-step photos to explain postures for a one and two-hour full-body massage. Thai Yoga Massage offers an intriguing discourse on a little-covered technique.