This is an illustrated guide to a powerful ancient massage therapy, combining breathwork, acupressure, gentle stretching and applied yoga to promote physical and spiritual health and well-being. From Thai origins, and with Indian influences, Thai yoga massage unites the therapeutic physical benefits of massage with the spiritual aspects of meditation and yoga. It is based on the philosophy of an energy line system in our body through which our life force (prana) flows. Blockages in this life force can cause aches, pain and disease on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. This book explains the background to this increasingly popular therapy and leads the reader through a session - from using chanting and visualization in preparing to give or receive a massage to step-by-step instructions on all the important massage techniques and postures. The author, Kira Balaskas, learnt Thai yoga massage in a hill tribe village in northern Thailand and then practiced in an ashram at the foot of the Himalayas.