Complete Guide to Traditional Thai Massage Therapy and Acupressure

Encyclopedia of Thai Massage: A Complete Guide to Traditional Thai Massage Therapy and Acupressure

by C. Pierce Salguero, David Roylance

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Book Review
Drawing from Thai history, cultural studies, Buddhist religion, and yogic practices, as well as a modern understanding of anatomy and physiology, this guidebook bridges the gap between theory and practice while presenting bodywork as it is understood in Thailand, as a therapeutic medical science. Presenting detailed analysis of each step in a Thai massage routine, the history, spiritual traditions, and ethical codes are offered in an engaging, informal style. Numerous photographs and diagrams illustrate the variety of techniques used, and examples of routines for treating specific disorders are discussed. Updated with new layout, photos, and expanded text, this exhaustive handbook is complete with a section on the main energy meridians and diagrams of acupressure points, making it the perfect tool to accompany anyone studying this popular healing modality.

About the Author
Dr. Pierce Salguero is a professor and the director of research at the Thai Institute of Healing Arts. He is the author of The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand, A Thai Herbal, Thai Massage Workbook, and Traditional Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Animism, Ayurveda. He lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. David Roylance is an instructor of Thai massage and Thai healing arts, as well as the executive director of the Thai Institute of Healing Arts. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.

One Family's Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope

Ben Behind His Voices: One Family's Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope

by Randye Kaye

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Book Review
When readers first meet Ben, he is a sweet, intelligent, seemingly well-adjusted youngster. Fast forward to his teenage years, though, and Ben's life has spun out of control. Ben is swept along by an illness over which he has no control one that results in runaway episodes, periods of homelessness, seven psychotic breaks, seven hospitalizations, and finally a diagnosis and treatment plan that begins to work. Schizophrenia strikes an estimated one in a hundred people worldwide by some estimates, and yet understanding of the illness is lacking. Through Ben's experiences, and those of his mother and sister, who supported Ben through every stage of his illness and treatment, readers gain a better understanding of schizophrenia, as well as mental illness in general, and the way it affects individuals and families.

Here, Kaye encourages families to stay together and find strength while accepting the reality of a loved one's illness; she illustrates, through her experiences as Ben's mother, the delicate balance between letting go and staying involved. She honors the courage of anyone who suffers with mental illness and is trying to improve his life and participate in his own recovery. Ben Behind His Voices also reminds professionals in the psychiatric field that every patient who comes through their doors has a life, one that he has lost through no fault of his own. It shows what goes right when professionals treat the family as part of the recovery process and help them find support, education, and acceptance. And it reminds readers that those who suffer from mental illness, and their families, deserve respect, concern, and dignity.

About the Author
Randye Kaye is an actress, broadcaster, voice talent, and speaker. She served more than twenty years as a major radio personality in Connecticut, and continues to work in theater, TV, film, commercials, industrials, and audiobooks. She is also the Connecticut trainer of Family-to-Family Educators for the National Alliance of Mental Illness, and a diversity trainer for the Anti-Defamation League.

The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques

The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques

by Margaret Wehrenberg

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Book Review
Anxiety disorders-grouped into three main categories: panic, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety are among the most common and pervasive mental health complaints. From the subtlest effect of sweaty palms during a work presentation to the more severe symptom of reclusion, anxiety casts a wide net.

Medication, once considered the treatment of choice, is losing favor as more and more sufferers complain of unpleasant side effects and its temporary, quick-fix nature. Now, thanks to a flood of fresh neurobiology research and insights into the anatomy of the anxious brain, effective, practical strategies have emerged allowing us to manage day-to-day anxiety on our own.

Addressing physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, Margaret Wehrenberg, a leading mental health clinician, draws on basic brain science to highlight the top ten anxiety-defeating tips. Everything from breathing techniques and mindful awareness to cognitive control and self-talk are included-all guaranteed to evict your anxious thoughts. 20 illustrations

About the Author
Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice and a popular public speaker. She is the author of The Anxious Brain, The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques, and The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques. She lives in St. Charles, Missouri.

The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook

The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook

by Martha Davis Ph.D.

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Book Review
Since its first publication in 1980, "The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook" has become the most indispensable resource for effective and up-to-date techniques for relaxing the body, calming the mind, and refreshing the spirit. Therapists recommend the book to their clients; readers pass it on to their friends. More than half a million copies have helped millions of people take the edge off their stressful lives and find the peace they need to foster happiness and success. The overwhelming popularity of this book is the result of its comprehensive yet simple and straightforward adaptation of all the most effective relaxation techniques.No other book offers easy-to-use, step-by-step instructions for using progressive relaxation, autogenics, self-hypnosis, visualization, mindfulness, acceptance, and more. This revision will significantly update and simplify this timeless classic. The authors provide the most proven-effective worry and anger models based on the latest research. They have simplified many of the chapters so that readers only get the best treatment methods in the most accessible manner. Two new chapters include "Facing Feelings", which focuses on mindfulness and acceptance, and "Coping with Anger". The chapter on time management will be revised to include information on how to unplug from our wealth of electronic communication conveniences when necessary. The book also includes an updated resources section and subject index.

About the Author
Martha Davis, Ph.D., worked as a psychologist at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Department of Psychiatry in Santa Clara, CA, where she did individual, couple, and group psychotherapy. She is now retired and living in northern California with her family. She has co-authored Thoughts & Feelings, Messages, and The Messages Workbook.

Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, MSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who worked as a staff operations consultant for the marketing and internet services group of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. She is now retired and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is preparing to become a certified coach for executives and other individuals and plans to use skills and techniques from this book in her practice.

Matthew McKay, Ph.D., is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored more than twenty-five books, including When Anger Hurts, Self-Esteem, and ACT on Life Not on Anger. In private practice, McKay specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety, anger, and depression.

Healing and Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation

Healing & Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation

by Norman E Rosenthal M.D.

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Book Review
"Dr. Norman Rosenthal's Transcendence is the best-ever book on Transcendental Meditation: accessible and substantive, engaging and scientific, practical and profound. A very enjoyable read that can change your life, for good." - David Lynch

"I have been meditating for over 10 years, and I found Transcendence to be a uniquely compelling introduction to the art and science of Transcendental Meditation. Dr. Norman Rosenthal's book will propel TM into the mainstream where it belongs." - Russell Simmons

In this definitive book on the scientifically proven health and stress-relieving benefits of Transcendental Meditation, a renowned psychiatrist and researcher explores why TM works, what it can do for you, and how to use it for maximum effect.

Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., a twenty-year researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health and the celebrated psychiatrist who pioneered the study and treatment of Season Affective Disorder (SAD), brings us the most important work on Transcendental Meditation since the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Science of Being and Art of Living-- and one of our generation's most significant books on achieving greater physical and mental health and wellness.

Transcendence demystifies the practice and benefits of Transcendental Meditation for a general audience who may have heard about the method but do not necessarily know what it is, how it is learned, or what they stand to gain, physically and emotionally, from achieving transcendence. Dr. Rosenthal clearly and practically explains the basic ideas behind Transcendental Meditation: It is a nonreligious practice that involves sitting comfortably for twenty minutes twice a day while using a silent mantra, or nonverbal sound, to attain a profound state of aware relaxation.

Alongside exclusive celebrity interviews-where figures like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Martin Scorsese, Russell Brand, Laura Dern, Moby, and David Lynch openly discuss their meditation-Dr. Rosenthal draws upon experience from the lives of his patients and a wealth of clinical research amassed on TM over the past generation (340 peer-reviewed published articles). He provides the fullest and most accessible book ever on the broad range of benefits of this remarkably simple practice, from relief of anxiety, stress and depression to new hope for those experiencing addiction, attention-deficit disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

About the Author
Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., is a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School and has maintain a private practice in Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for more than thirty years. He conducted research at the National Institute of Mental Health, as a research fellow, researcher, and senior researcher for more than twenty years.