THE WORLD'S BEST MASSAGE TECHNI UES THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE THE WORLD'S BEST THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE INNOVATIVE BODYWORK PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE FOR PLEASURE, RELAXATION, AND PAIN RELIEF VICTORIA JORDAN STONE, N.C.M.T. Text © 2010, 2011 Victoria Stone First published in the USA in 2010 by Fair Winds Press, a member of Quayside Publishing Group 100 Cummings Center Suite 406-L Beverly, MA 01915-6101 www.fairwindspress.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. 1413121110 12345 ISBN-13: 978-1-59233-430-8 ISBN-l0: 1-59233-430-X Digital edition: 978-1-61059-383-0 Softcover edition: 978-1-59233-430-8 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available Cover design by Kathie Alexander Book design by Kathie Alexander Photography by Luciana Pampalone Printed and bound in Singapore The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or medical practitioner. Please see your health care provider before beginning any new health program. This book is dedicated to Lloyd Winfree Stone, who instilled in me the habit of lifelong learning, and to Susie Schulze, who personified the spirit of giving. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: A WORLD OF COMFORT IN TOUCH /9 CHAPTER 1: SWEDISH MASSAGE SETS THE STAGE / 11 CHAPTER 2: HOT STONE MASSAGE MELTS MUSCLE TENSION /45 CHAPTER 3: THAI YOGA MASSAGE INTEGRATES MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT / 75 CHAPTER 4: REFLEXOLOGY RELEASES VITAL ENERGY / 103 CHAPTER 5: LOMI LOMI SPIRALS LOVE AND HARMONY / 123 CHAPTER 6: TANTSU ENFOLDS AND SUPPORTS THE RECEIVER / 151 CHAPTER 7: POLARITY CLEARS PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BLOCKS / 175 CHAPTER 8: SHIATSU ACTIVATES ENERGY MERIDIANS /195 CHAPTER 9: UNDERSTANDING BASIC THEORY AND PRACTICE /221 Glossary /235 Bib liography /243 Resources /245 Acknowledgments /248 About the Author /249 Index / 250 INTRODUCTION A World of Comfort in Touch ouch is our earl iest sense, primal and pleasur- These massage techniques are meant to be Table. Being able to ski llful ly touch a person used for relaxation, stress relief, and wellness for you care about is a great blessing for both of you. healthy ind ividua ls. If your partner has any health You can provide your child, spouse, parent, sib- problems, a physician shou ld be consu lted to li ng, or friend with comfort, relief from discomfort, provide a re lease for her to receive massage. The relaxation, harmony, wel lness, and balance. techniques are not meant to be treatments but rather to enhance the general we ll-being of the Are you one of those "touchy-feely" people who people you care about. If you find there are parts can't recall a time you were not massaging other of one form you and your partner enjoy, there people's ach ing necks or backs? Perhaps you'd is absolutely no reason why you can't integrate like to try some new techniques and are curious those parts w ith another massage modality. about the differences in massage from various cu ltu res. In this book, you wil l learn how to ski ll- I highly recommend you learn the Swedish mas- ful ly apply a w ide variety of techniques from other sage sequence before the others and especially cu ltures and enhance the wel l-being of those before hot stone massage and lomi lomi. As you w ith whom you share massage. read each chapter, set up a practice area and keep the book at hand. Try a form several times before We cannot touch w ithout being touched, and th is moving to the next one, so you really get a feel for applies at al l levels: phys ica l, emotional, energetic, each modality of massage. Four of the forms are spiritual, and relational. One of the great blessings practiced on a mat and four are table-based, but of massage is that the giver frequently receives as you can adapt most to mat or massage table. To much benefit as the receiver. For that reason, we understand some of the less-famil iar terminology, often refer in this book to the person receiving please refer to chapter 9 before you continue with the massage as your"partner:' Th is book is not the specific forms of massage. There, you wi ll also intended as a manual for therapeutic massage, find useful information about setup and prepara- which is best left to certified and licensed indi- tion for massage. vidua ls, nor is partner meant to indicate a level of intimate relationship. Although the instructions are very specific, you always may modify them according to your partner's preferences and what feels right for your own body. Massage is an art; enjoy learning and practicing in ways that wi ll fee l good for you as we ll as your partner. Exercise your creativity and have fun!