YOU & YOUR HEALTH
Bookshelf
Books for summer If you find yourself with some time for reading, we’ve picked out some titles of interest… Thai Massage Dissected Natasha de Grunwald has created the most fascinating book which explores the roots and techniques of Thai medicine and massage, drawing on everything from traditional Buddhist texts to the cadaver lab. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to discover more about Thai anatomy and tools, techniques, herbs and protocols that will enhance all practitioners’ skill sets. It’s very much grounded in the traditions of traditional medicine. There are chapters on traditional healing practices for women and self-care practices that draw on decades of research and learning from village midwives on the Thai/Burmese border.
Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care Janet Penny and Rebecca L Sturgeon have lined up a host of top ranking contributors for this impressive and enlightening book which takes an integrative approach to cancer care. It also includes feedback from clients which makes a valuable addition to the understanding
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of how massage can be used as a safe and effective part of cancer care. Given that one in two people in the UK will get cancer at some point in their lives, most holistic therapists are likely to work with those in remission or recovery at some point in their careers. This thoughtful book is particularly strong on showing how to use adaptations to pressure, site, position and duration during massage to provide safe and effective treatments.
Kriya Yoga for Self-discovery Lowenstein and Lett have produced a detailed guide to Kriya Yoga, an ancient breath and spine focussed meditation practice for spiritual growth, inner stillness, and self-realisation. This book is an excellent primer on the inward mental and spiritual aspects of yoga which are often overlooked including proper posture, breath work exercises (pranayama), visualisation practices, and mantra designed to produce deep states of meditation and ultimately experience inner stillness.
The Ancestral Power of Amulets, Talismans and Mascots Since the earliest beginnings of civilisation, people have used objects to bring about a desired situation, whether that’s cave paintings in the hope of a successful hunt or a
stone that the wearer hopes will bring good fortune, all the way to the mascot sitting on a teenager’s desk during an exam or symbolic jewellery. In this interesting book, Nigel Pennick explores the origins and history of amulets, lucky charms, talismans, and mascots taking us on a fascinating journey through the age-old spiritual principles, folklore, and esoteric traditions behind the creation of magical objects as well as the use of numbers, colours, sigils, geometric emblems, knots, crosses, pentagrams, and other symbols.
Restoring your Intestinal Flora Naturopathic specialist, Christopher Vasey, shares some achievable techniques for rebuilding good gut health, strengthening the immune system, and reducing inflammation using prebiotics and probiotics. This is a rapidly developing area of health research, with new discoveries every day, so Vasey’s guide to the many functions of intestinal flora and their role in a healthy immune system, as well as the major causes of weakened flora, and the negative impact this can have on many aspects of health is a welcome addition to the growing literature.
A Healer’s Journey to Intuitive Knowing One of the emerging explorative trends in holistic therapy is that of exploring how the act of healing impacts on the healer themselves and the effects this can have, both positive and negative, so renowned
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